KDHE Seeks Public Comment on Great Bend Site

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is requesting public comment on a Draft Corrective Action Decision (CAD) document that describes the preferred plan for addressing groundwater contamination at the Exxon Chemical Site in Great Bend, KS. The Draft CAD and other pertinent documents are available for public review through January 15, 2006 at the Great Bend Public Library, and at KDHE offices in Topeka.

The Exxon Chemical Site operated as a distribution facility for oil field treating chemicals from 1987 to 1992. Prior to Exxon's acquisition of the site in 1987, past practices by previous owners included sand and gravel borrow operations, storage, blending and distribution of oil field chemicals, and drum reconditioning. Contaminated soil and groundwater were discovered at the site in August 1991 during a Phase 1 Preliminary Assessment. Exxon notified KDHE of contamination at the site in 1992. On April 7, 1993, a consent order to conduct a Comprehensive Investigation and Corrective Action Study was executed between KDHE and Exxon.

Exxon ceased operations at the site in 1992, removed or demolished the surface facility and aboveground storage tanks in April 1993, and excavated and removed three underground storage tanks in 1995. Soil contamination at the site was largely remediated in 1995 by excavation, thermal desorption treatment to remove contaminants from the soil, and backfilling the excavation with the treated soil. Additional data collection and continued groundwater monitoring have been conducted since 1995.

Historically, soil and ground water at the site have been contaminated by a variety of petroleum hydrocarbons. Currently, concentrations of 1,2,4 trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5 trimethylbenzene, and n-proplybenzene in ground water at the site exceed Federal Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for public drinking water supplies as established by the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The Draft CAD proposes monitoring natural environmental changes that normally reduce the movement and concentration of contaminants in groundwater. In addition, it proposes actions such as property deed restrictions to minimize potential human exposure to contaminants in groundwater. KDHE may modify the preferred cleanup alternative or select another alternative presented in the Draft CAD based on new information or public comments.

Public comments on the Draft CAD can be submitted to KDHE in writing during the 30-day public comment period from December 16, 2005 through January 15, 2006 at the address listed below. KDHE may schedule a public availability session to provide information and/or answer questions about site activities, if requested. Documents concerning the Exxon Chemical site will be available for review and copying by appointment during normal business hours at the following locations:

Great Bend Public Library
1409 Williams
Great Bend, Kansas 67530
CONTACT: Cara Negaard, Head of Reference
(620) 792-2409

Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Bureau of Environmental Remediation
1000 SW Jackson Street, Suite 410
Topeka, KS 66612
CONTACT: Nathan Luna, Environmental Scientist
(785) 296-1976

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