Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024:
EPA Region 7, in coordination with the Fredericktown Fire
Department and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR), has
demobilized from the scene of the Critical Mineral Recovery (CMR) fire in
Fredericktown, Missouri.
EPA Region 7 supported the response in Fredericktown since
Wednesday, Oct. 30, after receiving a Request for Federal Assistance (RFA) from
MoDNR to perform perimeter and community air monitoring support.
EPA’s fixed location air monitoring data summary tables are
available in the Documents
section. Roving air monitoring data and additional fixed air monitoring
data will be uploaded to the Documents section when they are available.
EPA's operational updates are archived and available on
the Notices
page.
EPA encourages anyone with questions with the ongoing
response at the scene of the fire in Fredericktown to contact MoDNR and CMR.
Questions about EPA’s role in the response from Oct. 30 to Nov. 13 should be
directed to EPA’s Public Information Officer.
Background:
EPA Region 7's Spill Line received a call from a citizen
living near Fredericktown, Missouri, reporting a fire at the CMR facility on
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. MoDNR was notified of the incident and deployed
two State On-Scene Coordinators (SOSCs) to assist with the response efforts.
EPA Region 7 received an RFA from MoDNR on October 30 to provide air monitoring
support for the incident and deployed a Federal On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) and
response resources to the scene.
The Fredericktown Fire Department issued an evacuation
order and a shelter in-place order for residents north of the nearby
town of Junction City and the surrounding area of Fredericktown.
The 225,000 square-foot CMR facility processing plant
reportedly deenergizes, dismantles, and processes materials associated with
electric vehicles and other, rechargeable batteries for recycling and reuse.
The cause of the fire - as of Nov. 13 - continues to remain unknown.
Incident Objectives:
EPA's incident objectives supporting this response were:
- Ensure the safety of the
community and first responders.
- Continue to provide air
monitoring and sampling support until the fire has been completely
extinguished and the incident has stabilized.
- Provide and/or
facilitate clear, consistent, and accurate information to response
partners and the community in a timely manner.
Coordinating Agencies:
Agencies currently, or previously, involved in the CMR
response include:
- U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7
- Missouri Department of
Natural Resources (MoDNR)
- Missouri Department of
Conservation (MDC)
- Missouri Department of
Health and Senior Services
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service
- Fredericktown Fire
Department - View incident updates
via their Facebook page.
- Fredericktown Police
Department
- Madison County Emergency
Management
- Madison County Health
Department
- Madison County Sheriff's
Department
- Missouri State Highway
Patrol
- Missouri State Emergency Management Agency
