Old mining areas can leave records worth checking

Long ago, Jasper County was a main center for digging lead and zinc out of the ground. It sat at the heart of what was called the Tri-State mining district, an area where this kind of mining went on for years. That work left behind piles of leftover rock and mine waste. People often call this waste “chat.” It also left some areas that the government has cleaned up or is still cleaning up, around Joplin, Webb City, and Oronogo. There is no need to panic. The U.S. EPA (the federal agency that handles pollution) and Missouri DNR (the state office for natural resources) keep records you can read. A lot of cleanup has already been done. If you are looking at property nearby, the smart step is to check the EPA site information and Missouri DNR for the current status of that exact spot. Trust the official records, not rumors.