DNR claims lead ore from trucks contaminates soil along highway highways

ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has found what it calls significant soil lead contamination along several southeast Missouri roads traveled by trucks hauling lead ore, including about 50 residential properties.

The DNR said Wednesday it has issued a permit allowing storage of the lead-contaminated soil collected from private land and public right-of-way near the highways. The soil will be kept at Doe Run Co.'s closed mine and mill site in Viburnum, Mo., at least until a plan is developed to deal with the contamination, and perhaps permanently.

Meanwhile, the DNR and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are negotiating with Doe Run to test all properties in and around Viburnum to see if soil there has high levels of lead contamination.

Similar testing was performed in Herculaneum, Mo., where Doe Run operates a smelter. The company is funding cleanup at several properties in Herculaneum.

Lead companies haul lead ore by truck between mines, mills and smelters in what is known as the New Lead Belt region of southeast Missouri. Mines opened there about 45 years ago. The soil contamination occurs when lead ore falls from tires, wheels and elsewhere on the trucks, the DNR said.

The contamination is the result of years of travel on highways in Dent, Iron and Reynolds counties by trucks from five lead companies -- Doe Run, Tech Cominco American Inc., Cyprus AMAX Minerals Co., Homestake Lead Co. of Missouri, and DII Industries LLC. The companies will pay for cleanup.

"We have identified there is contamination," Doe Run spokeswoman Barbara Shepard said. "This is part of the cleanup process."

Along the truck haul routes, DNR sampled 678 properties. Immediate cleanup was ordered for 48, all of which had lead levels of at least 1,200 parts per million. Levels of 400 parts per million are considered potentially unsafe.

"We had some at 17,000 parts per million," said Jeff Weatherford, project manager for the EPA.

Cass said 144 properties had levels between 400 and 1,200 parts per million. Soil at those properties will eventually be removed, but DNR wanted to address the most critical first.

"We've got to get that out of there," Cass said. "If kids are playing at 1,200 parts per million, that's a serious situation."

Testing found some children with elevated levels of lead in their blood. Soil will also be immediately removed at those homes, Cass said.

Studies have shown high lead levels in children in some towns in the region. Elevated levels in young children can slow the growth of young children, lower IQ and cause behavioral problems. Developing organs can also be damaged.

The lead contamination was found along Missouri routes 21, 32, 49, 72, B, J, KK, N and TT in the three counties. Cass said lead testing for any child in Dent, Iron and Reynolds counties is free. Parents are urged to contact their county health departments.

Shepard said the soil stored at Viburnum could eventually be taken to another storage area, or it could be encased permanently at Viburnum.

DNR spokeswoman Renee Bungart said the investigation of soil along the truck route began after high levels of lead were discovered in Herculaneum earlier this decade. The DNR's investigation in Herculaneum found higher lead levels along the routes where trucks drive than in the rest of the town.

"We wanted to look at the haul routes from the mine to Herculaneum," Bungart said.

In Viburnum, Doe Run operates two active mines. Two closed mines also sit in the community of about 900 residents.

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On the Net:

DNR: www.dnr.mo.gov

EPA: http://www.epa.gov

Doe Run Co.: http://www.doerun.com