As a part of 2024 routine Cherokee
County Site-wide sampling of residential properties, the EPA Region 7 Superfund Remedial program performed directed sampling of two properties at the request of the property
owners, one in Columbus, Kansas, and one in Scammon, Kansas. The two property owners share a child, and both reported a lead
exposure, which was confirmed by the Cherokee County Health Department.
Sampling identified potentially elevated soil lead concentrations and both properties were referred to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) for further evaluation. On December 9, 2024,
KDHE referred both properties to the EPA Region7 Superfund Removal program for assessment
and possible action.
The EPA Removal program reviewed
data for the two properties consistent with processes described in the 2024 Superfund
Residential Lead Sites Handbook. Per the recently updated guidance, an area
weighted average (AWA) for each property was calculated. The property in
Columbus had an AWA of 337ppm for lead, exceeding the recently established Removal Management Level of
200 parts per million for lead in surface soil. The second property in Scammon, Kansas had an AWA of 116ppm
for lead in surface soil and for this reason, does not
qualify for a removal action. A removal action for the Columbus property was approved in April 2025.
May 28, 2025, EPA resources mobilized to the site to conduct the removal action cleanup. During the initial phase of the cleanup, lead impacted soil was excavated from the front yard, side yards and road easement. Soil was excavated until lead levels fell below the RML of 200ppm or 12 inches of soil was removed. Excavated soil was transported to an offsite EPA managed repository. June 2, 2025, excavation concluded and clean topsoil was used to backfill in the excavations. Backfill soil was sourced from a local provider and screened for environmental contaminants. Significant rain between June 4 and June 9 delayed additional cleanup activities. Backfilled soil was leveled to grade and grass sod was applied to restore the yard. EPA resources demobilized from the site June 12, 2025.
To ensure the lawn was restored to original condition, EPA provided support for the maintenance of the new yard for four weeks after instillation. EPA provided guidance for lawn care, watering equipment and periodically inspected ground conditions. The homeowner conducted the labor to cultivate the new lawn. July 18, 2025, after ensuring the property had been fully restored, EPA concluded cleanup activities at the property.
The administrative record for this project can be located at: https://semspub.epa.gov/src/collection/07/AR67844
