CONTAMINANTS SURVEY OF THE PROPOSED MARAIS DES CYGNES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

We sampled sediments and fish at 16 locations at the proposed Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge in Kansas and Missouri. All of the samples were analyzed for metals and organochlorine compounds. Selected sediment samples also were analyzed for aliphatic hydrocarbons. There are no apparent serious contaminants concerns with the proposed acquisition, with the exception of two dump sites. The former municipal dump for Pleasanton, in section 26 of Township 21S, Range 25E in Kansas has not been cleaned up. Therefore, the land it is on should be excluded from acquisition. A former dump in section 6, Township 39N, Range 33W in Missouri is under investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and acquisition of the land should be considered only after the report of the EPA contractor in spring 1992