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Fact Sheet
April 2005
Proposed Cleanup Plan Released for Public Comment
Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, De Soto, Kansas
INTRODUCTION
EPA Region 7 invites the public to comment on the proposed cleanup plan and draft permit for the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in De Soto, Kan. The public comment period will start April 4, 2005, and end May 20, 2005.
EPA is proposing a cleanup plan for solid waste management units and an area of concern, changes to the cleanup levels for contaminants at four solid waste management units to allow residential use of those areas, and modifications to the hazardous waste management permit.
This work is addressed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
EPA will hold a public meeting so that community members can learn about the proposal. EPA and other involved parties will be available to answer questions.
THE CONTAMINATION
Investigations by the Army have detected the presence of contaminants in soil. The contaminants include metals such as antimony, arsenic, lead, and mercury, pesticides such as Aldrin and Dieldrin, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, dioxins, nitroglycerine, polychlorinated biphenyls, and petroleum hydrocarbons.
PROPOSED CLEANUP PLAN
Residential Cleanup Levels at Management Units 10, 11, 22 and
32
EPA proposes new cleanup levels that will be protective for unrestricted
future use of the facility at Units 10, 11, 22 and 32. Residential use
is the common reference for unrestricted future use. The Army has removed
additional soil to meet the new cleanup levels. The soil was disposed
off-site at an approved landfill.
Cleanup at Area of Concern 6
The Army has completed a soil removal from area of concern 6. EPA proposes to accept the removal as the final cleanup. The removal was completed to allow unrestricted future use of the area. The soil was disposed off-site at an approved landfill.
Cleanup of Management Unit 21
EPA proposes excavating contaminated soil, treating the soil on site to meet disposal requirements, and disposing the soil at an approved off-site landfill. EPA proposes cleanup levels that will be protective for unrestricted future use of the facility at Unit 21. Residential use is the common reference for unrestricted future use.
Also, EPA proposes changes to the original hazardous waste permit. The
proposed permit modifications include:
• Implementing corrective measures at management units and the area
of concern in the proposed cleanup plan
• Adding 19 management units, 24 areas of concern, and 3 groundwater
operable units to Part II of permit
• Change definition of facility in Part II of permit
• Defer permit corrective action to Kansas Department of Health
and Environment if facility is sold to developer.
BACKGROUND
The plant, in the northwest corner of Johnson County, is about 30 miles southwest of Kansas City, Kan., and 16 miles east of Lawrence, Kan. The U.S. Army owns the facility and has declared the property as excess to its needs. The Army, with the U.S. General Services Administration, is negotiating the sale of the property to a private developer. Most of the assets of the plant are no longer in active use. The plant was commissioned to produce smokeless powder and other propellants in March 1942. De Soto, Kan., leases the facility’s wastewater treatment plant and drinking water facility.
Guidelines for Commenting
EPA encourages the community to review the administrative record and comment on the proposed cleanup plan. Comments or requests should be submitted by May 20, 2005. Explain your views. Tell us if you support or disagree with the recommendation. Please be specific. Can you provide alternatives? The administrative record is available at the Johnson County Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park, Kan., (913) 495-2400.
Hours of operation:
Mon. – Thurs., 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Fri., 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sat., 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sun., 1pm - 5p.m.
It is also available in the EPA Region 7 Information Resource Center, 901 N. Fifth St., Kansas City, Kan. (913) 551-7241.
Hours of Operation:
Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
A formal public hearing has not been scheduled but will be held if there is sufficient public interest.
Requests for a public hearing must be made in writing to the EPA contact listed below and must state the nature of issues to be raised at the hearing. EPA will evaluate any request and hold a formal hearing if it finds that a hearing will contribute to the decision-making process by clarifying significant issues affecting the cleanup remedy.
EPA will make a final cleanup decision only after the public comment period ends and all comments are reviewed. EPA might modify the proposed remedy or choose another one based on any new information and comments from the public.
Questions about this fact sheet and requests for additional information should be addressed to:
Shawntell Martin
Office of External Programs
EPA Region 7
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, Kan. 66101
Phone: (913) 551-7003
Toll free: (800) 223-0425
martin.shawntell@epa.gov
How to Submit Your Comments
Please submit your comments to:
Ken Herstowski
EPA Region 7 (ARTD/RCAP)
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 551-7631 or
(800) 223-0425
Written comments will be accepted from
April 4, 2005 to May 20, 2005.
Public Meeting
Please attend the public meeting to learn more about the proposal and draft permit. The meeting will be Wed., April 20, 2005, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Clearview City Ballroom, 3600 W. 103rd St., Clearview, KS. EPA and other involved parties will be available to answer questions.
