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Missouri Portion of the Tri-State Mining District
The Tri-State Mining District (Tri-State) spans portions of the states of Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. The Missouri portion of Tri-State includes Barry, Christian, Greene, Lawrence, Jasper, and Newton Counties. Commercial mining began in about 1848 in Newton County, Missouri and moved westward into Kansas and southward into Oklahoma. Commercial smelters occurred in all three states within Tri-State. Historically, lead was the ore of primary interest within Tri-State; however, the ore was rich in zinc deposits and zinc production became increasingly important over time. Tri-State is identified as the fourth largest historic producer of lead and the number one historic producer of zinc within the United States.
As a result of this mining and related activities, large amounts of metals including cadmium, lead, and zinc were released and are continuing to be released into Missouri's environment. Cadmium, lead, zinc, and other metals associated with mining are potentially toxic to a wide variety of plants and animals. Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, and implementing regulations, the Director of the Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) are Trustees for natural resources in the SEMOLMD. Natural resources over which MDNR and DOI exercise trusteeship include surface waters (rivers, lakes, streams, etc.), ground water, soils, air, plants, and animals. As Trustees, the State of Missouri and DOI serve as stewards for these resources within the Tri-State and have the authority to assess whether the resources and their services have been injured as a result of release(s) of hazardous substances. Injuries to natural resources can occur if the resources are exposed to concentrations of hazardous substances that are high enough to cause specific adverse effects. For example, injuries can occur if lead and/or zinc concentrations in surface waters are so high that relevant water quality criteria are exceeded. Plants and animals are injured if they die, cannot reproduce normally, become sick or are otherwise negatively affected as defined under relevant laws and regulations.
The process through which the Trustees evaluate injuries to natural resources associated with the release(s) of hazardous substances and determine appropriate compensation for those injuries is called natural resource damage assessment and restoration (NRDAR). DOI promulgated and published NRDAR regulations in the Federal Register (43 CFR Part 11.). These regulations provide procedures by which trustees can identify natural resource injuries, quantify those injuries, determine appropriate compensation (damages) for the injured resources and the services they provide, and restore those injured resources. The NRDAR process includes a number of different steps, specifically:
1) Pre-assessment
2) Assessment planning
3) Assessment
4) Post-Assessment Planning and Implementation
DOI and the State of Missouri have begun a NRDAR for portions of Tri-State. The Trustees have completed the pre-assessment phase for both the Jasper County and the Newton County Mine Tailings Superfund Site. In the PASs, in accordance with applicable regulations, the Trustees concluded that further investigation and assessment of natural resource injury and damages was warranted at the Sites described above. 43 C.F.R ยงยง11.24 and 11.25.
In addition to this website, you can learn more about the Tri-State NRDA by visiting the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at: http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/sfund/nrda.htm (leave this website)
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Contacts and Reports
During the NRDAR process, the Trustees create a number of key documents which are released to the public for review and comment. The links below will allow you to view the Trustee reports for the Tri-State Natural Resource Damage Assessment. Bookmark this page to keep up to date with the latest information released. If you have any questions concerning information found in any of these reports or any other comments related to the Tri-State NRDA, contact us via email.
Contacts
Dave Mosby, Case Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Ms. Frances Hayes Klahr, Case Manager, Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Reports
Preassessment Screen for Newton County (743KB; .pdf)
Notice of Intent to Conduct Assessment for Newton County (119KB; .pdf)
Preassessment Screen for Jasper County (915KB; .pdf)
Notice of Intent to Conduct Assessment for Jasper County (106KB; .pdf)
Migratory Bird Study Plan (25KB .pdf)
