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Fact Sheet

November 2005

Proposed Cleanup Plan Released for Public Comment, Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, Parsons, Kansas

INTRODUCTION

EPA Region 7 invites the public to comment on the proposed cleanup plan and draft permit for the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons, Kansas. The public comment period will start November 23, 2005, and end on January 6, 2006.

Also, EPA will hold a public meeting so community members can learn about proposal. EPA and Kansas Army Ammunition Plant representatives will be available to answer questions. The meeting is open to the public. See box below for details. This work is addressed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

How to Submit Your Comments

Please submit your written comments on the proposed cleanup plan to:
Ken Herstowski
EPA Region 7 ARTD/RCAP
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7631 or
Toll free: 800-223-0425
Written comments will be accepted from November 23, 2005 to January 6, 2006.

How to Learn More

Please attend the public meeting to learn more about the proposed cleanup plan:

For Whom:

When:

Where:

Who:

Parsons community and other members of the public

December 7, 2005, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Parsons Public Library, Multi-Purpose Room, 311 S. 17th St.

EPA and Kansas Army Ammunition Plant representatives will be available to answer questions.

PROPOSED CLEANUP PLAN

EPA proposes new cleanup levels to allow for residential use after facility closure, a cleanup plan for solid waste management units, and modifications to the hazardous waste management permit to require completion of the cleanup plan.

Change Cleanup Levels
EPA proposes new cleanup levels to allow for residential use at on-site areas that were originally cleaned to meet industrial cleanup levels. EPA previously approved a cleanup plan for solid waste management units (SWMUs) 8, 9, 10, and 11 and the Water Towers Area of Concern (AOC). To meet the more stringent residential use cleanup levels, the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant will remove additional soil according to the previously approved work plans. Soil will be disposed at an off-site landfill.

Excavate, Treat, and Dispose Soil
EPA proposes excavation, on-site treatment, and off-site disposal as the remedy for contaminated soil. The Kansas Army Ammunition Plant used this remedy for soil at SWMUs 8, 9, 10, and 11 and the Water Towers AOC.

Also, the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant has relocated SWMU 13 (Closed Landfill) to the current landfill location and removed contaminated soil from SWMU 23 (Burning Cages) to an off-site landfill. EPA proposes to accept these two actions as the final remedy for cleanup at the two sites.

Monitor Ground Water
EPA proposes long-term ground water monitoring at the following SWMUs:

Also, EPA proposes monitored natural attenuation at SWMUs 14, 15, 16, and 24 in addition to long-term ground water monitoring. Monitored natural attenuation is the monitoring of natural processes that reduce contaminant concentrations by adsorption, degradation, dilution, and/or transformation.

THE CONTAMINATION

The Kansas Army Ammunition Plant loads, assembles, and packs ammunition items for the United States. These operations have contaminated soil and ground water with explosives and toxic metals. The contaminants include metals (such as arsenic, lead, and mercury), explosives, and solvents (such as trichloroethylene and polychlorinated biphenyls).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EPA encourages the community to review the Administrative Record and comment on the proposed cleanup plan. Comments or requests should be submitted by January 6, 2006.

Guidelines for Commenting:

The administrative record is available at the following locations:

Parsons Public Library
311 S. 17th St.
Parsons, KS 67357
(620) 421-5920
Hours of Operation:
Mon. – Thurs., 9 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Fri., 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sat., 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

EPA Region 7
Information Resource Center
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
(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 at the address listed on Page 1 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 may 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
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7003
Toll free: 1-800-223-0425
martin.shawntell@epa.gov



 

 

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