Prospect Village Redevelopment Site (Joplin, MO)

In July 2025, the Prospect Village Redevelopment site came across the desk of EcoSavvy Insights. We welcome and encourage positive sustainable development in our local communities. When we learned about that the Prospect Village project involved remediating a previous superfund site, we were excited to learn how exactly that would be done. The City of Joplin approved the use of $148,000 of taxpayer funds to pay for a Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site assessment. EcoSavvy Insights submitted a public records request to review the Phase II environmental site assessment and were informed the City of Joplin did not have or require that assessment.

This situation is documented in the following post:

Shining a Light on Prospect Village: The Case for Environmental Transparency

by Kaylann | Aug 15, 2025 | Public Transparency

On August 4th, I stood before the Joplin City Council not to accuse, but to illuminate. Wearing yellow in symbolic honor of Missouri’s Sunshine Law, I brought with me not just a voice, but a packet of documentation and facts, all centered around the redevelopment of the Prospect Village site. What We Know About the Site The International Paper Company Superfund Site, located in Jasper County, Missouri, is a former industrial facility historically used for wood treatment and paper product manufacturing, which led to significant...

Sunshine Request Submitted: 10/9/2025
Sunshine Request Received: 12/09/2025: Cost $32.00

Access the Prospect Village Sunshine request files here

In April 2026, EcoSavvy Insights discovered that Missouri Department of Natural Resources has an open comment period asking the public to provide comment on the developer removing 13 SVOCS (semi-volatile compounds) from their annual reporting.

International Paper Co. Draft Hazardous Waste Class 3 Permit Modification Public Comment Period, March 20, 2026 to May 4, 2026

We encourage the public to review the 2024 Phase II Environmental Site Assessments across the list of 13 contaminates being removed. One argument for removing the contaminants is that they have not been present in groundwater for 3 years, these contaminants are actually still reported in current soil samples, well above approved levels for residential development, per the EPA. If the soil is still contaminated and if disturbed during development, we cannot rule out that it will not have various unexpected impacts. We should maintain a detailed record of all contaminants to ensure public health is not at risk. This also sets a precedent to remove environmental safeguards in the future. This cannot happen in a site as contaminated as this one.

Comments on the draft permit modification are more effective if they point out legal or technical issues or provide information that is not in the record. We prepared a marked-up version of the current hazardous waste permit to clearly show what conditions are proposed for modification. Only the conditions being modified are open for public comment. All other conditions of the existing Part I Permit will remain in effect until the department or International Paper propose another permit modification or until new permits are issued. Written comments may be submitted by mail to Abby Sawyer, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Waste Management Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 or by email to abby.sawyer@dnr.mo.gov. The department will review and respond to all written comments and questions received during the public comment period before a final decision is made: abby.sawyer@dnr.mo.gov

We are still conducting research to help community members advocate for themselves, if you would like to volunteer and help our research team, please reach out!

Volunteer For EcoSavvy Insights!

EcoSavvy Insights is currently seeking community volunteers to assist with door to door outreach for the Galena Environmental Health Survey. This effort helps ensure residents have the opportunity to share environmental and health concerns related to local air quality and landfill impacts, and that those concerns are documented through community based data.

Volunteers will help distribute survey information, share provided talking points, and encourage participation from residents in a respectful and educational manner. No prior experience is required. All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, comfortable speaking with community members, and willing to follow EcoSavvy Insights’ volunteer guidelines and code of conduct.

Volunteer hours are available for students, organizations, or service requirements, and hours can be verified upon request.

Volunteers will not collect medical records, diagnose health conditions, or provide legal or medical advice. Participation in the survey is always voluntary, and residents choose what information they wish to share.

EcoSavvy Insights will provide training, outreach materials, and guidance to ensure volunteers feel prepared and supported. Volunteers are never expected to enter situations that feel unsafe or uncomfortable. By volunteering, you are helping amplify community voices, support environmental transparency, and protect public health through informed, local action.

Volunteer for EcoSavvy Insights

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