July 22nd, 2025 Local News
Farmington, Mo. (KFMO) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has opened a 30-day public comment period for the Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis (EE/CA) concerning the Big River Mine Tailings/St. Joe Minerals Corp. National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund Site located in St. Francois County. The proposed cleanup plan is now available for public review online through August 17, 2025.
The EE/CA, which outlines potential cleanup actions and associated costs for Operable Unit 2 (OU2) of the site, can be accessed on the EPA’s Superfund site page under the “Site Documents & Data” and “Administrative Record (AR) File” sections. Direct access to the document is available here:
Big River Mine Tailings EE/CA - EPA Superfund Site
Community members are encouraged to review the document and submit written comments or provide verbal feedback. A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 22, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the First State Community Center (Centene Center) Conference Rooms in Farmington. Attendees can make statements or ask questions about the proposed cleanup during the event.
Those unable to attend can also leave a voicemail comment by calling 816-589-5534.
The site is part of ongoing federal and state efforts to address environmental and health risks associated with historic lead mining and tailings disposal throughout the region. The public’s input will help guide the EPA’s next steps in addressing contamination and improving environmental safety in the Parkland area.
