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[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2953-2954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1213]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6526-1]

Proposed Prospective Purchaser Agreement Pursuant to the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 
1980 (CERCLA), as Amended by the Superfund Amendments and 
Reauthorization Act, Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt Superfund Site, Jasper 
County, Missouri

AGENCY:  Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION:  Notice; request for public comment.

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[[Page 2954]]

SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that a proposed prospective purchaser 
agreement associated with the Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt Superfund 
Site, located in Jasper County, Missouri, was executed by the Agency on 
December 29, 1999. The Site is part of an inactive lead and zinc mining 
area known as the Tri-State Mining District. The Site encompasses 
approximately 270 square miles, with large volumes of abandoned and 
uncontrolled mining wastes spread throughout the Site. The mining 
wastes at the Site contain elevated levels of lead, which is a 
hazardous substance as defined by the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1986 (``CERCLA''). The 
Prospective Purchaser Agreement would resolve certain potential EPA 
claims under CERCLA against the Missouri Highway Transportation 
Commission (``MHTC''), the prospective purchaser (``the purchaser'').
    The settlement requires the purchaser to utilize large quantities 
of materials from past mining activities as fill, which would become 
part of the construction of the ``Rangeline Bypass.'' The purchaser 
must ensure that upon completion of construction, clean cover is in 
place over all mine materials. The purchaser will handle the mine 
material in accordance with a work plan that is designed to ensure that 
contamination is not spread during construction. The purchaser agrees 
to provide to EPA access to the property. EPA may at any time conduct 
an inspection of the property, including sampling, to ensure the work 
is being performed in accordance with the work plan.
    For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this 
document, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the 
proposed settlement.

DATES:  Written comments must be submitted on or before February 18, 
2000.

ADDRESSES:  Comments should reference the ``Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt 
Superfund Site'' and should be forwarded to D. Mark Doolan, Remedial 
Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region VII, 901 
North 5th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101. A copy of the proposed 
agreement may be obtained from Venessa Cobbs (913) 551-7630.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  David Cozad, Senior Associate 
Regional Counsel, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 
VII, 901 North 5th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101, (913) 551-7587.

    Dated: January 4, 2000.
Dennis Grams,
Regional Administrator, Region 7.
[FR Doc. 00-1213 Filed 1-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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