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.
The removal action scope involves the excavation and removal of lead contaminated soil, backfilling the excavated area to original grade with clean topsoil or gravel, and restoring a grass lawn. Excavated soils will be taken to an off-site repository.
Site work is projected to be complete in June 2025.
