Assessment and Restoration Section
Bob Jurgens, Section Chief
Phone: (785) 296-1914 Fax: (785) 296-4823
Email: bjurgens@kdheks.gov
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 410
Topeka, KS 66612-1367
Purpose
The Assessment and Restoration Section is responsible for: tracking and clean-up at emergency spill response sites; administration of the Kansas Natural Resources Damages program; administration of the Drycleaning Facility Release Trust Fund; state oversight of U. S. EPA National Priorities List "Superfund" sites; and state oversight of U. S. Department of Defense sites.
Drycleaning/Superfund Unit Scott Yankey, Unit Manager
The Drycleaning/Superfund Unit manages the Kansas Drycleaning Program and the Superfund (MACA) Program.
The Kansas Drycleaning Program
The Kansas Drycleaning Program was created by the Drycleaner Environmental Response Act (DERA) in July 1995. The program regulates existing drycleaning facilities and provides corrective action at contaminated sites.
Drycleaning facilities complete an annual registration and implement pollution prevention and waste management measures. Random inspections are conducted to ensure compliance with DERA.
The Kansas Drycleaning Facility Release Trust Fund provides financial assistance to owners or operators of contaminated existing and former drycleaning facilities that require environmental assessment and corrective action. This unit manages the state-level corrective action and utilizes an environmental consultant to conduct the assessments and corrective actions. The fund may also reimburse some past costs related to corrective action at the prioritized sites. The trust fund is financed by a gross receipts fee on drycleaning and laundry services, a solvent fee on drycleaning solvents, and the annual registration fee paid by the drycleaning facilities.
Kansas Management Assistance Cooperative Agreement (MACA) Program
The MACA Program provides state oversight of sites on EPA's National Priorities List and under the EPA Superfund Removal Program. The MACA Program is funded by and coordinates closely with the EPA. KDHE project managers provide technical expertise and field oversight of federal investigations and cleanups, and communicate state priorities and regulatory positions to the EPA.
Federal Facilities Unit Jorge Jacobs, Unit Manager
The Federal Facilities Program provides state oversight of environmental assessments and corrective actions at current and former federal facilities including U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) installations and Formerly-Used Defense Sites (FUDS). This work is done through the Defense/State Memorandum of Agreement (DSMOA), whose purpose is to expedite environmental restoration through partnerships with States; DSMOA was established pursuant to section 211 (B) of SARA and is funded by DOD. The Federal Facilities Unit works closely with project managers and technical staff at the federal agencies to provide technical expertise and field oversight of federal environmental investigations and cleanups, and to communicate state priorities and regulatory positions to the federal agencies.
Response/Restoration Unit Kent Schierkolk, Unit Manager
Unpermitted discharge or accidental spills and releasese that may be detrimental to soil or water within the State of Kansas must be reported to the Spills Program within the KDHE Response Unit. The Spill Response Program's primary objective is to insure that containment and immediate environmental remedial measures associated with the discharge or spill are implemented. The Response Unit administers the KDHE Spill Reporting Hotline which is monitored 24/7 by the staff. This task is completed by tracking the progress of all spill response activities and assuring clean up of the impacted soil and water is done to appropriate standards or referred to a remedial program. Spills are tracked on a database maintained by the KDHE Response Unit.
Mercury: The Spills Program also provides technical guidance assistance for mercury-related spill projects and direct response to mercury spills at publically owned buildings and properties.
Meth Labs and Meth Watch: The Response Unit can provide technical advice regarding meth lab waste disposal and clean up guidance to local authorities, property owners and contractors who are cleaning up former meth labs in Kansas. The program also implemented the Kansas Retailer Meth Watch Program which was created to help control the precursors needed for production of meth. The program's goals are to help prevent the chemicals used in the production of illegal drugs from contaminating the soils or waters of the state.
Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program
The Kansas Natural Resource Damages (NRD) program, based primarily upon authority vested in the federal Superfund law, is charged with assessing injuries to and restoring public natural resources that have been injured by environmental hazards such as oil discharges and hazardous substances releases. The designated State of Kansas Trustee for natural resources at KDHE seeks to restore damaged resources in cooperation with the responsible parties. The Response/Restoration Unit provides for primary technical and administrative support to the Kansas Trustee for NRD actions.
Treece Relocation Bob Jurgens, Section Chief
Treece Voluntary Relocation Program
Treece, Kansas, is part of the Tar Creek mining area, formerly a source for lead, zinc, and iron ore. Like Picher, Oklahoma, the town is heavily impacted by contamination from past mining activities. Citizens of Picher were voluntarily relocated by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, using funds from the EPA. The citizens of Treece signed a resolution in 2006 stating they would also like to be included in the relocation efforts.
Kansas Senate Bill 2168 formed the Treece Relocation Assistance Trust to facilitate relocation of the citizens in this community in 2007. EPA has allocated another $3.5 million to buying out qualified occupants of the affected area.
Identified Sites List
Contaminated sites managed by the Assessment & Restoration Section are included in the Identified Sites List (ISL) database. A fact sheet for each ISL site can be found at http://www.kdheks.gov/remedial/isl_disclaimer.html. More detailed information is available from KDHE through a Kansas Open Records Act request. Please contact the program representatives listed on this web page for additional information
Staff
Name |
Title |
Unit |
Phone |
Section Chief |
Section Chief |
(785) 296-1914 |
|
Professional Geologist IV |
Assessment and Restoration Section |
(785) 291-3089 |
|
Program Consultant I |
Administration |
(785) 291-3121 |
|
Env. Scientist II |
Federal Facilities Unit |
(785) 296-6378 |
|
Professional Geologist III |
Drycleaning/Superfund Unit |
(785) 296-4367 |
|
Env. Scientist II |
Drycleaning/Superfund Unit |
(785) 296-1682 |
|
Env. Scientist II |
Federal Facilities Unit |
(785) 291-3249 |
|
Env. Scientist II |
Response/Restoration Unit |
(785) 296-2866 |
|
Administrative Assistant |
Assessment and Restoration Section |
(785) 296-6370 |
|
Unit Manager |
Federal Facilities Unit |
(785) 296-8801 |
|
Env. Scientist II |
Response/Restoration Unit |
(785) 296-1679 |
|
Env. Scientist II |
Federal Facilities Unit |
(785) 213-6312 |
|
Unit Manager |
Response/Restoration Unit |
(785) 368-7301 |
|
Env. Scientist II |
Federal Facilities Unit |
(785) 291-3245 |
|
Senior Administrative Assistant |
Federal Facilities Unit |
(785) 291-3252 |
|
Unit Manager |
Drycleaning/Superfund Unit |
(785) 296-8025 |
- U.S. EPA Region VII Home Page
- U.S. EPA National Home Page
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, Home Page
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Home Page
- KDHE Dry Cleaning Environmental Response Act (DERA) Home Page
- KDHE Spill and Radiation Reporting Home Page