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Fact Sheet

September 2008

Public Comment Period for Proposed Permit Modifications, Ashland Distribution Company, Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 invites the public to comment on the draft proposed  permit modifications for the Ashland Distribution Company, 5420 Speaker Road, Kansas City, KS 66106.

The comment period begins September 15, 2008 and ends November 15, 2008. Comments or requests should be submitted by November 15, 2008.

Comments should be sent to:

Harry Gabbert
U. S. EPA Region 7
AWMD/RCAP
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone:  (913) 551-7652
Toll free:  (800) 223-0425

Background

Ashland Distribution Company is major chemical and plastic products wholesaler located in an industrial service hub of Kansas City, Kan. A subsurface soil and groundwater sampling program was started during the Resource

Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Facility Investigation in 1993 and completed in 1996. Chemicals of Concern (COCs) were identified from soil and groundwater sampling detections which were consistent with the types of chemicals that were historically handled by the facility.

The nature of the contamination and subsurface conditions at Ashland were suitable for air sparging/soil vapor extraction (AS/SVE). From the many remedial alternatives that were evaluated, that system was selected for a pilot test. The positive results of the AS/SVE system pilot test led to its selection and approval by EPA for the Ashland facility in January 2001.

Proposed Permit Modifications

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Part II permit for Ashland Chemical Company was issued September 29, 2000.  Later that year the company notified EPA of their name change to Ashland Distribution Company. The corrective actions have been performed with favorable results. Quarterly groundwater sampling results have registered below the levels of concern established for drinking water standards, for over two years.

EPA has prepared this draft permit modification in the form of a “Corrective Action Complete” determination for the facility.
After the permit modification would become effective, Ashland would be required to plug and abandon all monitoring and AS/SVE wells in accordance with Kansas regulations. Ashland would also submit a plan to EPA for the dismantling and removal of the above ground treatment system and piping. Upon approval, this plan would be implemented and documented in appropriate form for EPA. Ashland would also make application to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to terminate the underground injection permit for air sparging approved on June 26, 2004.

Public Comments

EPA encourages the public to review the Administrative Record and comment on the proposed corrective measures. Comments or requests should be submitted by November 15, 2008.

     Guidelines for Commenting:

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 one 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 final decisions on the corrective measures 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.

Individuals may write to the EPA contact on page one to join the mailing list. Joining the mailing list will allow an individual to receive any updated information directly throughout the cleanup process.

Additional Information

The proposed permit modification and the site administrative record are available at the following locations during normal business hours:

Kansas City Kansas Public Library
West Wyandotte Branch
1737 N. 82nd St.
Kansas City, Kan

EPA Records Center
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, Kan.
(913) 551-7166
M – F     7 - 5

Questions or requests for information can be submitted to:

Fritz Hirter
Office of Public Affairs
EPA Region 7
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Toll free:  (800) 223-0425
e-mail: hirter.fritz@epa.gov

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