Site Narrative:
The Eagle Picher Smelter Site is located at the eastern edge of Galena in Cherokee County, Kansas. The site consists of approximately 148 acres of land at and adjacent to the former smelting facility.
The smelter was built in 1878 and was active until 1971processing lead, zinc and cadmium ores at various periods throughout its operation. A sulfuric acid plant was constructed on the property in 1954, operating until 1971. Other products included zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, manganese dioxide and ferrous sulfate.
In April 2005 Eagle Picher Holdings filed chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment/Bureau of Environmental Remediation (KDHE/BER) conducted an expedited assessment of the site in March 2006 in order to provide data for the pending bankruptcy settlement. Elevated levels of several metals were observed at the site, most notably lead, zinc, cadmium, arsenic, copper and mercury. Surface water samples indicated cadmium and zinc above the upstream concentration; sediment samples indicated arsenic, zinc, lead, mercury, and copper above the upstream concentration.
In June 2006 EaglePicher and KDHE settled for environmental cleanup costs for this site. A Custodial Trustee was working with KDHE to remediate the site.
A cleanup of on-site buildings was completed in June 2009. A multi-phase Extent of Contamination Investigation was completed in 2010 and an Evaluation of Remedial Alternatives Report submitted in April 2011. The Agency Decision Statement was signed in October 2012; the remedial design was finalized in May 2013 and construction of the on-site encapsulation cell completed in January 2014.
As of 03/30/2017, the Trustee was discharged by court order. The EUC program continues to do inspections, and a determination is being made regarding which program the Site will be enrolled. |