KDHE Home - News 2002 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
November 18, 2002
Contact: Sharon Watson, 785-296-5795
Two illegal dumps in Rice County have recently been cleaned up with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) picking up 75 percent of the expense. An illegal dump is an area where trash accumulates without a solid waste permit. The estimated cleanup costs for these two sites located near Chase and Lyons were $2,125 and $4,098.
"Both sites in Rice County consisted primarily of household trash and construction and demolition debris," said Bob Medina, KDHE environmental scientist and coordinator of the department's illegal dump cleanup program. "KDHE is in the process of cleaning up a similar site in Reno County."
KDHE initiated the program in the fall of 2001 to provide financial support to city and county governments to clean up illegal dumps. KDHE has identified 80 of these sites across Kansas and is working with officials in 26 counties to begin the clean up process. To date, 46 illegal dumps have been successfully cleaned up through the program.
State expenditures are limited to $10,000 per site with the local government required to provide 25% of the cleanup costs. Local contribution may be through cash, labor, equipment or landfill space.
Prior to clean up, officials determine if the dump site constitutes a public nuisance or creates a risk to public health or the environment. If the persons responsible for the illegal dumping can be identified, they are directed to properly dispose of the waste.
If a known responsible party does not complete the cleanup work within the required time, KDHE may enter into an agreement with the city or county to complete the work. In these cases, KDHE may recover cleanup costs from the responsible party. Any recovered funds are be shared with the involved local governments.
To report an illegal dump site, contact Bob Medina at (785) 296-6617. In Rice County, contact John Achatz, Public Works Administrator at (785) 257-2231.