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Critical Mineral Recovery Fire

 
Site Contact:
Brendan Martin
On-Scene Coordinator

(martin.brendan@epa.gov)

Site Location:
815 State Highway OO
Fredericktown, MO 63645
response.epa.gov/cmrfire
NRC#: 1415185

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


For additional information, visit the Notices section.