The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Pools Prairie Superfund site was discovered in July 1994 through a citizen's complaint of gasoline contamination in a well located west of Highway 71 on Quince Road, southwest of the Neosho city limits. Numerous studies conducted since 1994 have indicated the presence of thousands of pounds of solvent-related compounds in multiple areas of the Pools Prairie site. Causes of the solvent contamination (primarily trichloroethylene) have included placement of waste solvent into unlined lagoons, leaking of solvent from man made structures, and use of the solvent for weed control. Four potential source areas were identified and divided into four operable units (OUs): the Components Test Area, the Quince Road Area, the Engine Test Area, and the Manufacturing Plant Area (OU6).
The MPA, or OU6, is the last of four source areas to be remediated and the subject of this removal action as follows:.
Manufacturing Plant Area
A source removal action to address this area began May 4, 2015. The approved Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) for the Manufacturing Plant Area recommended a combination of soil excavation with treatment by landfarming, soil vapor extraction (SVE) and bio-venting at four primary and three secondary source areas. Approximately 10,000 cubic yards of soil will be excavated and treated and SVE will be applied to 24 SVE wells and 10 SVE trenches. The bio-venting system will include the injection of atmospheric air into the shallow soil through 18 wells. This removal action is anticipated for completion in 2017.
