KDHE Adds Interactive Maps to Identified Sites List Website

By Glenna Drake, Bureau of Environmental Remediation

The Bureau of Environmental Remediation has recently implemented an interactive mapping feature available to the public on KDHE's Identified Sites List (ISL) website. The interactive mapping feature allows users to move around a map of Kansas and locate contaminated sites anywhere in the state. Clicking a site on the map will bring up detailed information about it. The new mapping feature also includes the availability of statewide aerial photography from 2002.

The original ISL website has been online for public use since June of 2004. The new mapping feature is just a recent upgrade of many new features and functions added since 2004. Users can search for contaminated sites in Kansas by name, city, county, river basin, district office, or section/township/range. Once a list of sites is retrieved, clicking on a site will bring up a detailed site report. The report includes the site's name, location, description, type and level of contamination, remediation, and other activities related to the site. If digital photos of the site are available online, a link is included on the page. A map image of the site area is shown, with a link that will take the user to an interactive map of the area.

From there, the user can:

• Pan and zoom in or out to see surrounding areas of interest.
• Turn an aerial photo layer on and off.
• Turn labels for sites, roads, etc., on and off.
• See other ISL sites in the area and click on them to retrieve their ISL details report.
• Print the map.

In addition, the user can:

• Click Restart to get a map of the entire state, and zoom in to any area.
• Choose from a list of counties in Kansas – the map zooms to the selected county and a list of all ISL sites in the county appears, with links to their detail reports.
• Click Geocode and enter a valid address and zip code – the map will zoom to the address.

Common users of the interactive mapping feature are citizens, developers, bankers, real estate agents, and environmental consultants who are buying, selling, or redeveloping property in the state of Kansas. Prospective purchasers of potentially contaminated property should always conduct due diligence on the property they are attempting to purchase to determine what environmental liabilities, if any, are associated with the property. The ISL is a tool that is available to help make such determinations.

KDHE's Identified Sites List is available at: http://www.kdheks.gov/remedial/isl_disclaimer.htm.