City of Sedalia Receives EPA Confirmation of Compliance at Former Sutherlands Redevelopment Site

The City of Sedalia has received written confirmation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 7, that redevelopment work at the former Sutherlands site on Highway 50 is fully compliant with all environmental regulations.

The EPA review was initiated after a citizen complaint alleged that construction activities were taking place on contaminated ground. In response, City officials promptly provided the EPA with detailed background information on the property, descriptions of redevelopment activities, and all related environmental documentation. This included soil and groundwater management plans and site assessment reports completed in partnership with environmental consultants and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR).

After reviewing the submitted documents, the EPA concluded that the City has met all necessary requirements. In its response, EPA officials stated:

“It is clear to us that a significant amount of due diligence work has been done to address the environmental conditions on the properties in questions. Development plans are in place and there is a soil and groundwater management plan in place. Based on the documents provided, our research, and our discussions with you and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), we believe that the concerns expressed by the citizen plaintiff are not merited. At this time, USEPA sees no reason to further inject ourselves into this situation. Your redevelopment plans sound quite interesting. We wish you luck and success with them.”

City Administrator Matthew Wirt emphasized the City’s ongoing commitment to responsible redevelopment:

“The City of Sedalia has worked diligently to ensure that redevelopment at this site meets all federal and state environmental standards. We are committed to transparency and responsible redevelopment, and we appreciate the EPA’s review and confirmation of our compliance.”

With the matter now closed, the City will continue advancing redevelopment efforts at the site, following the soil and ground water management plan and coordinating with MDNR to address any new or unforeseen issues that may arise.