EPA Superfund site
ORONOGO-DUENWEG MINING BELT
Human exposure is NOT currently under control
Data limitations: Proximity to a Superfund site boundary does not mean your property is contaminated. EPA site boundaries show the area designated for cleanup, not the full extent of contamination. Groundwater plumes can extend beyond site boundaries. This tool shows publicly available EPA federal data. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by EPA, and is not a substitute for a professional environmental assessment.
About this site's exposure pathways
As of June 2026, the Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt Superfund site’s environmental indicator status is “Current Human Exposure Not Under Control” (HENC) because residents and recreational users of the mine waste areas and impacted surface water can be exposed through direct contact to lead, cadmium, and zinc contaminated soils and sediments. The planned activities to address these pathways are continuation of ongoing remediation of heavy metals contaminated soils and sediments. Site specific cleanup levels are 400 ppm lead, 40 ppm cadmium, and 6,400 ppm zinc for mine waste source areas; 219 ppm lead, 17 ppm cadmium, and 2,949 ppm zinc for sediment in the Spring River watershed; 500 ppm lead for residential yard soils; and 0.015 mg/L lead and 0.005 mg/L cadmium in drinking water from groundwater wells. The EPA and PRPs have completed multiple removal and remedial actions throughout the site where these cleanup levels are exceeded. Remedial actions began in 1996, addressing contaminated residential yards. The EPA is conducting ongoing remediation and investigative work for remaining mine waste source areas, residential yards, groundwater, and the Spring River watershed. While work is ongoing, the EPA has partnered with the Jasper County Health Department to provide health education to residents on ways to reduce their exposure risks and to implement institutional controls to prevent residential building on contaminated soil. Human exposure is expected to be under control by September 2099, with Long-Term Human Health Protection estimated to be achieved by the same date.