
St. Joe Minerals Corp was founded in 1902 in St. Joe, Idaho.
The company was originally involved in the mining of lead and zinc.
The St. Joe Mine was a significant operation for the company, with production peaking in the 1950s.
It was one of the largest lead and zinc mines in the United States at the time.
The mine was eventually closed in 1985 due to declining ore reserves and increasing production costs.
The site has since been reclaimed and is now a wildlife habitat.
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Mine Information
The Big River Mine Tailings site is located in Desloge, MO, and is associated with St. Joe Minerals Corp. It's listed as a Superfund site.
This site is part of the Superfund program, which aims to clean up contaminated sites across the country.
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Background and Status
The Big River Mine Tailings/St. Joe Minerals Corp. Site is located in the "Old Lead Belt", a former mining region 70 miles south of St. Louis. This area is approximately 110 square miles in size.
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The site is composed of eight large areas of mine waste, including the Bonne Terre Mine Tailings Site, the Leadwood Mine Tailings Site, and the Desloge Mine Tailings Site, among others. Some of these areas are still used today as aggregate and fill.
The mine waste contains elevated levels of lead and other heavy metals, posing a threat to human health and the environment. The EPA is the lead agency for the site, with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources serving as the support agency.
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Background
The Big River Mine Tailings/St. Joe Minerals Corp. Site is located in the "Old Lead Belt", a former mining region 70 miles south of St. Louis.
This site covers approximately 110 square miles and consists of eight large areas of mine waste, including the Bonne Terre Mine Tailings Site, the Leadwood Mine Tailings Site, and the Federal Tailings Pile Site.
The mine waste has been extensively used as aggregate for ballast in railroads, aggregate in concrete and asphalt, and construction fill.
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The site also includes surrounding residential and recreational areas.
The mine waste contains elevated levels of lead and other heavy metals, which pose a threat to human health and the environment.
The site was added to the National Priorities List in 1992.
The EPA is the lead agency, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is the support agency for the site.
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Current Site Status
The site is actively undergoing various operations and maintenance inspections, with the most recent one taking place in December 2024.
Annual inspections are a crucial part of ensuring the site's operability, and it's reassuring to know that these checks are being performed regularly.
The remedial action for residential yard cleanup is ongoing, aiming to address contaminated wastes at Hayden Creek as per the 2018 Consent Decree.
However, work on the remainder of contaminated wastes has not yet begun.
The Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study of the Big River is still ongoing, with the EPA planning to address high-priority areas through a non-time critical removal action.
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This action is expected to be finalized with the issuance of the Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis in 2025.
The completion of the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study of the Big River is anticipated to be a significant milestone in the site's cleanup process.
The removal action is expected to bring about substantial progress in addressing the site's contamination issues.
The RI/FS for the Doe Run Mine Tailings is ongoing and expected to be completed in 2026, marking a crucial step towards the site's full recovery.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is lead still mined?
Yes, lead is still mined in the United States, primarily in Missouri, Alaska, and Idaho, as well as recovered as a by-product from zinc and silver-copper mines.
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