Treece ? Residents in a southeast Kansas town that was contaminated by decades of mining will begin learning next month how much they could receive from a federal buyout.

The Joplin Globe reported that the owners of 80 homes and buildings have applied for relocation. Each of the property owners will receive three independent appraisals. If those don’t agree, a fourth appraiser will make recommendations.

Bob Jurgens is overseeing the procedure for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. He says the appraisals will be done by the end of the month.

The Environmental Protection Agency has allocated $3.5 million for the buyout.