By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com
BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. — Representatives from two federal agencies on Tuesday night presented to members of a Spring River watershed group progress reports on cleanup and restoration projects.
John Miesner, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, reported on a $2.6 million project to restore Spring River and other waterways in Cherokee County that have been damaged by mine waste.
Bryant Burnett, a project manager with the Environmental Protection Agency, reported on mine-waste cleanup in Baxter Springs, Treece and northern Cherokee County. The contracts for the Baxter Springs and Treece projects are valued at $20.5 million.
The officials made their presentations to the Spring River Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy group, also called WRAPS.
Miesner said his agency this week will publish a notice that will start a 30-day period, after which it will have access to the funds to start the restoration project.
“We’re almost there,” he said. “We’re almost to the point of sending people out to start purchasing easements and acres.”
The plans developed by the Fish and Wildlife Service include preserving high-quality river and stream banks or preserving a buffer area around Empire Lake in Riverton.
“Some of the details we’re working through right now,” Miesner said.
He said removing the sediment from Empire Lake remains among the alternatives available. The plan notes that option may be too costly.
Miesner said the plan includes many options because the agency must have the cooperation of landowners. He said their level of cooperation will help determine which options the agency chooses to pursue.
“We can’t do anything without the private landowner,” he said.
In response to a question, Miesner said there may be ways in which the Spring River group can assist with the project. He said it already has done that by gathering a list of landowners along Spring River.
“That was a gold mine for us,” he said.
There is no time limit for the Fish and Wildlife Service project.
Burnett said a mine-waste cleanup project began in April, with a contractor working along the state line at Waco, Mo. He said most of the project is on the Kansas side of the border.
He said cleanup work began recently in Baxter Springs, and that the contractor arrived in Treece to begin work there earlier Tuesday.
Burnett said a contract for the Badger and Lawton areas in Cherokee County should be in place by May. He said that project could be complicated.
“That site straddles Spring River,” he said.
Burnett said mine waste is used to fill cave-in pits, then clean fill also is added. The location then is capped with 12 inches of clay and 6 inches of topsoil. Native plants then are planted. The areas aren’t allowed to be developed after cleanup is complete, he said.
The cleanup projects are expected to take up to 10 years.
“It’s moving forward rapidly right now,” Burnett said. “I would say in the next five years, a significant amount will be complete.”
EPA projects
The Environmental Protection Agency projects in Cherokee County are designed to address mine waste in the former Tri-State Mining District, which is now an EPA Superfund site.
Local News
Federal agencies provide progress reports to Spring River group
- Local News
-
-
City wants to buy weather radios for those without
Phil Jones had been working on a construction project outside his house all day on May 22 and was unaware that a tornado watch had been issued. Once he was inside, though, his weather radio went off, and he learned that a warning had been issued.
-
Architects present preliminary JHS plans at community meeting
Reaction appeared mostly supportive Thursday night among the roughly 50 people who attended a community meeting at which architects presented their preliminary site plans for the future combined Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center.
-
Confessed shooter testifies against co-defendants in Pittsburg murder case
Rickey Smith testified Thursday that as he came in the back door of Ryan Bailey’s home in Pittsburg with a 9 mm pistol in his hand, Bailey looked up from the couch in his living room.
-
School district’s proposed street-closing plan questioned
Plans to close some streets near the proposed Joplin High School drew questions, including a challenge from a former Joplin mayor, during a public hearing this week.
-
Neosho council approves new golf cart contract
The purchase of golf carts was back on the agenda this week for the Neosho City Council. City Attorney Steve Hays said there were errors in the financing terms that were part of a bid approved last month for the purchase of 55 gas-powered carts from E-Z-Go for $144,195, so the purchase of a new fleet was rebid.
-
Mike Pound: Spirit of competition evident during double-overtime game
When I played basketball in high school, I played in several very close games.
Now, some people who may have known me in high school are probably laughing right now and saying, “What Mike meant to say is that when he was in high school, he came very close to playing in some games.” -
Mo. optometrist filed $40 million refund claim
A southwest Missouri optometrist who filed a tax return claiming a $40 million refund has been sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison.
-
Okla. receives waiver from No Child Left Behind
Oklahoma’s top education official reacted with glee Thursday with the announcement that the state is one of 10 states being granted a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind law that requires students be proficient in reading and math by 2014 — but focused on getting students to “just pass the tests.”
-
Kan. House approves bipartisan redistricting bill
Power in the Kansas House is likely to shift next year from rural parts of the state to the Kansas City area after members overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan bill Thursday for redrawing their districts.
-
Fugitive in 1993 British heist arrested in Ozark
A man suspected of stealing about $1.5 million from a security van in England in 1993 has been arrested in southwest Missouri.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
