EPA Superfund Site

FORMER UNITED ZINC & ASSOCIATED SMELTERS

KS | EPA ID KSN000705026

About this site’s exposure pathways: As of March 2025, the Former United Zinc & Associated Smelters Superfund site is considered 'Current Human Exposure Not Under Control' because residents and recreational users at their homes, parks and creeks can be exposed through direct contact to arsenic and lead in contaminated soils and sediments. The planned activities to address the pathways are a continuation of ongoing removal of soil contaminated with arsenic and lead. Additional actions include implementing health education and institutional controls at a local level. These programs will target the entire community and stakeholders, such as builders or others who disturb soil, informing them of the risks of exposure, methods to prevent exposure, and measures to control the future spread of contamination through education and best management practices. EPA has already begun cleaning up the contaminated soil. Cleanup actions have resulted in the remediation of 1,126 residential properties. EPA continues working in conjunction with local officials to assist in the health education and institutional control efforts that include the dissemination of relevant information and with future focus to incorporate building permit requirements, in addition to the possible use of deed restrictions and/or environmental covenants for residential properties with contamination left at depth.