KDHE Home - Division of Environment
Kansas
Department of Health and Environment
Think of all of the progress we have made in that very short time span. We literally had streams and rivers catching on fire 30 years ago. Today those same waterways have been cleaned up to the point where they can support fish and other forms of aquatic life. Citizens remain concerned about the environment and rightly want to protect and improve the environment for future generations.
But sometimes I marvel at where citizen concerns are focused, or more accurately, not focused. For instance, the recent controversy nationwide over swine production facilities has focused on the impact of swine wastewater lagoons on groundwater. Citizens have focused the public's attention, the news media's attention, and governmental officials attention on animal waste lagoons. Kansas State University continues to research animal waste lagoons and early results re-affirm the fact that KDHE's regulatory program was very far-sighted when the design standards were developed. The lagoons are performing as designed and are protecting the environment in a cost-effective manner that allows the number one industry in Kansas-agriculture- to be competitive.
Compare all the attention that Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) have been receiving with the attention that underground storage tanks have been receiving. You sometimes wonder who came up with the brilliant idea of burying petroleum tanks under ground, but then you have to stop and remember that our environmental awareness has only been brought to the forefront in the last 30 years! Ten years ago, Congress and EPA told underground storage tank owners to upgrade or replace tanks that have a potential to corrode and leak. In fairness to the fuel industry and tank owners, EPA allowed 10 years for the work to be completed. Well, time marches on and that 10 years expires December 22, 1998. But in Kansas, we have 49 percent of our tanks not in compliance and owners are facing the option of going out of business if they don't get into compliance.
More to the point, from an environment standpoint we know that the contents of an underground tank consists of petroleum and petroleum byproducts, and can be acutely harmful to humans, and wildlife. If it leaks, there is no beneficial outcome, just a costly clean-up. Compare that to properly managed animal manure which can be applied to crops as an organic supplement to increase yields and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers.
As Secretary of KDHE, I have run across my share of hog protest rallies. I sometimes wonder how many of those in attendance filled their gas tanks at a station with a non-compliant storage tank. I hope our environmental awareness continues to grow as a society. Part of that growth will be the ability to assess relative risks and focus our attention on the areas that will provide the most benefit to the overall state of public health and the environment.
Governor Bill Graves welcomed everyone to the conference followed by KDHE Secretary Gary Mitchell speaking about a Sustainable Kansas. The Pollution Prevention Luncheon featured the presentation of awards by Dr. Ron Hammerschmidt, Director of KDHE's Division of Environment, and Theresa Hodges, Director of the Bureau of Environmental Field Services.
After an informative day, participants attended a reception, visited with exhibitors and had the opportunity to support KACEE (Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education) by bidding on items donated by many companies auctioned in the "Silent Auction." A variety of unusual and one-of-a-kind items were sold and KACEE made over $400.
On Wednesday, KDHE's Bureau Directors provided a brief look at new and upcoming regulations followed by three seminars. Environmental Man agement Systems, Non-Point Source Pollution, and New Technologies in the Petroleum Industry were the topics discussed by a variety of experts in their fields.
"Thank you" to all speakers and exhibitors with a special thanks to those from communities, and businesses who took the time to help with program planning. A special thank you to the KDHE staff who assisted with the many last minute details at the conference: Scott Bangert, Bureau of Air and Radiation; Cina Poyer, Bureau of Environmental Remediation; Ken Powell, Bureau of Waste Management; Naomi Hostetler, North Central District Office; Kathy Nadeau, Rick Brunetti, and Theresa Hodges, Bureau of Environmental Field Services; and their supervisors for supporting this important conference.
Plans are already underway for next year's conference to be held on September 29-30 at the Wichita Marriott. Anyone interested in participating in program planning should contact Janet Neff in the Planning and Prevention Section, KDHE, 1-800-357-6087.
Janet Neff, Planning and Prevention Section
NPS Project Snapshot: Banner Creek Water Quality Protection Project - Kansas lower Republican River Basin was selected. It involved KDHE assisting Jackson County Conservation District to develop and implement a project to protect a small multi-purpose lake near Holton, in northeast Kansas, using a watershed approach. This lake is envisioned to be a key to economic development and growth because of its public water supply uses. Its attributes have already been publicized regionally. The recently filled Banner Creek Reservoir is 520 surface acres designed primarily for public water supply, flood retention and recreation. The watershed is 12,160 acres and includes multiple land uses such as agricultural (crop and grazing land), residential county roads and highways, and woodlands.
As of March 1997, monitoring at two sites included "spring and fall single grab (from the stream) samples" and one automatic sampler to sample storm events. Results can be summarized in the following manner:
| POLLUTANT | AVERAGE | PRACTICE FOCUS |
| Pesticides | Infrequent | Maintain practices (application, storage, etc.) |
| Bacteria | High | Human/animal waste disposal/management |
| Suspended solids | Moderate | Erosion control |
| Phosphorus | Low | Erosion/nutrient/organic waste management |
| Nitrate | Low | Maintain organic waste control, application, storage, etc. |
| Ammonia | Low | Maintain practices |
| BOD | Moderate | Nutrient/organic waste management |
The project assisted with funding of personnel, travel and monitoring equipment as well as cost share on implementation of water quality protection measures including but not limited to crop and grassland sediment, nutrient and pest management/control, septic system upgrades, stream stabilization, tree plants and others. KDHE NPS staff (and if desired, financial assistance) are available to help interested parties develop projects or activities to address nonpoint source pollution. For more information contact NPS staff at (785) 296-4195 or visit our web site at www.kdheks.gov/water/nps.html.
KDHE Regulations in Process |
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| Prepared 10/15/98 | |||||||
| REGULATION | DIV. DRAFT | EPA REVIEW | DOA REVIEW | AG REVIEW | PUBLIC HEARING | EFFECTIVE | |
| Waste Water Control: | |||||||
| Livestk Wste - Swine | In Process | N/A | Completed | Completed | 10/26,10/28 | ||
| Solid Waste Management: | |||||||
| Special Waste | Completed | N/A | 12/97 | 12/97 | 3/98 | 7/10/98 | |
| Small LF Flexibility (A) | Completed | N/A | 12/97 | 12/97 | 3/98 | 7/10/98 | |
| Composting(N) | Completed | N/A | 8/98 | 8/98 | 10/98 | *12/98 | |
| Monofill Definition (N) | Completed | N/A | 8/98 | 8/98 | 10/98 | *12/98 | |
| Household Hzd Wste (N) | *10/98 | N/A | *11/98 | *12/98 | *3/99 | *3/99 | |
| Medical Waste | *1/99 | *2/99 | *3/99 | *4/99 | *7/99 | *9/99 | |
| Groundwater(A) | *12/99 | *1/99 | *2/99 | *3/99 | *6/99 | *8/99 | |
| Vertical Expansions (N) | *12/98 | *1/99 | *2/99 | *3/99 | *6/99 | *8/99 | |
| Permit Fees (A) | *12/98 | *1/99 | *2/99 | *3/99 | *6/99 | *8/99 | |
| Financial Assurance | *1/99 | *2/99 | *3/99 | *4/99 | *6/99 | *2/00 | |
| Hazardous Waste | |||||||
| Update (A) | Completed | *10/98 | *10/98 | *11/98 | *2/99 | *4/99 | |
| Transfer Facilities (N) | Completed | *10/98 | *10/98 | *11/98 | *2/99 | *4/99 | |
| Universal Waste (N) | Completed | *10/98 | *10/98 | *11/98 | *2/99 | *4/99 | |
| Used Oil | Completed | *10/98 | *10/98 | *11/99 | *2/99 | *4/99 | |
| Permit Fees (A) | *10/98 | NA | *11/98 | *12/98 | *3/99 | *5/99 | |
| Air and Radiation: | |||||||
| Bakery Facility RACT | |||||||
| Rule - KC area | 6/98 | 11/98 | 11/98 | *1/99 | *2/99 | ||
| Wy. Co Opacity Rule | 6/98 | Completed | 11/98 | 11/98 | 12/9/98 | *1/99 | |
| NESHAP'112'(g) Rule | |||||||
| Case by Case | |||||||
| MACT Determination | Completed | Completed | 8/98 | 8/98 | *1/99 | *2/99 | |
| Hospital/Medical/Infectious | |||||||
| Waste Incinerator | |||||||
| Guidelines | 6/98 | *8/98 | *8/98 | *1/99 | *2/99 | ||
| Update Emissions Stnds | Completed | 12/9/98 | *1/98 | ||||
| Update List of VOC's | Completed | 12/9/98 | *1/99 | ||||
| Environmental | |||||||
| |
1/98 | N/A | 2/98 | 2/98 | 5/14/98 | 6/26/98 | |
| Redevelopment Act | |||||||
| |
2/20/97 | 4/7/98 | 5/8/98 | ||||
| *projected | |||||||
| |
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News from the area includes the start up of the state's newest water treatment facility in the City of Abilene. The plant will supply water to Abilene and Dickinson county rural Water District #2. The plant utilizes reverse osmosis technology for the removal of nitrates and other impurities in shallow river alluvium. The plant officially went on-line on October 1, 1998.
Salina has been a very busy place over the past few weeks due to the various environmental conferences held in the city. The Division of Environment's annual conference was held at the Holiday Inn the same week that the Kansas Association of Sanitarians met at the Ramada Inn. I had the district pleasure of making presentations at both conferences and found the level of environmental awareness is very high in the State of Kansas. It was good to have all the visitors in Salina to discuss important health and environmental concerns.
Rick Brunetti, District Environmental Administrator, Northcentral District Office
Kansas Don't Spoil It! Day at the Fair (Friday, September 18th) featured two shows at the Kansas Farm Bureau Arena with Stan Slaughter, the eco-troubadour who teaches and entertains about environmental issues through music, demonstrations and songs. Secretary Gary Mitchell announced the grand, second and third prize winners of the Great Hunt for Recyclables at the second show in the afternoon. The Mid-Continent Resource Recovery Quick Brick waste tire mat winners were Breanna Tatro and Amy Huston of Buhler, Ruth Brunts of Great Bend and J.D. Tripp of Sterling. The winners of the two Millennium Plastic Wood garden benches were Shirleen Augustine and Jordan Hamby of Hutchinson and the Grand Prize winner of the Millennium picnic table was Casey Carroll of Hutchinson.
Over 300 people filled out pledge cards for America Recycles Day (which is November 15, 1998) and will be eligible for the national drawing for a $200,000 home built of recycled materials. Promoting products made of recycled material was also the theme at the department's booth where recycled magnets, recycled plastic rulers and pencils made of U.S. currency and denim were given out through out the fair. Kent Foerster, Bureau of Waste Management
Mercury collection sites were established in 93 Kansas counties which participated in the event. Collection sites included county household hazardous waste facilities, noxious weed offices, landfills, health departments, and highway departments. An extensive public education campaign was conducted to alert schools, homeowners, and county officials as to collection locations and the dangers associated with mercury. Through the Kansas Don't Spoil It! campaign, "Mercury Monster" posters and flyers were developed for statewide distribution, and over 140 newspaper advertisements were purchased. Specific information, posters and flyers were also sent to every public and private school in the state.
As a result of the program, almost 2000 pounds of the elemental mercury was collected from across Kansas. Items collected included thermometers, barometers, mercury switches, blood pressure cuffs, thermostats, and assorted vials and jars of mercury. Some of the more unusual devices collected included hospital esophageal dilators, mercury used as weight for an antique grandfather clock pendulum, and an old fuel pressure sensing gauge. All mercury material collected will be shipped to a suitable recycling facility for processing and reuse.
A special thanks should be given to Paul Belt and M. Saqib Khan of KDHE's Bureau of Environmental Remediation, and Jim Rudeen of KDHE's Bureau of Waste Management for their efforts in coordinating the program. KDHE would especially like to thank those participating city and county governments for their help in making the program a huge success. Jim Rudeen, Bureau of Waste Management
Carbon tetrachloride is a volatile organic compound and was, until the mid-1980's a primary compound of a chemical fumigant (insecticide) used for weevil control in stored grain. The chemical was applied in liquid form to the top of the stored grain to flow down through the grain, often flowing through cracks in the floor of the storage bin into the ground and then into the water table. Historically, carbon tetrachloride had been detected at levels exceeding 500 parts per billion in wells in Navarre; the USEPA Maximum Contaminant Level (a level established by the Safe Drinking Water Act) for carbon tetrachloride is 5 parts per billion. Health effects of exposure to high levels (parts per million) of carbon tetrachloride include liver and kidney damage, and animal studies indicate that carbon tetrachloride is probably a human carcinogen in low-level exposure. A recent KDHE/Bureau of Environmental Remediation (BER) investigation found carbon tetrachloride exceeding 5 parts per billion in numerous Navarre private wells, with one sample indication 290 parts per billion.
Through a joint project involving funding provided by the United States Department of Agriculture which will administered by the KDHE/BER State Water Plan Contamination Remediation Program, residents of Navarre will have the opportunity to be connected to the Dickinson County Rural Water District No. 2. This will be the first instance in Kansas in which KDHE and the USDA have worked together on a project such as this to provide a permanent, safe drinking water supply to affected parties. The USDA has been providing bottled water and in-house water treatment systems to most of Navarre's residents; however, connecting affected residences to an existing public water supply is a more desirable and permanent solution in cases of long term ground water contamination such as Navarre.
The joint venture is now getting started as USDA has just committed the funding to initiate the project. Anticipated activities include planning and preliminary design of a new later line from existing rural water district supply sources to Navarre, moving a standpipe, installation of a booster pump system, distribution lines and meters in Navarre. Following completion of engineering designs, construction on the new supply system could begin in Spring, 1999.
The Thomas county Conservation District's "Citizens for Recycling" project was presented with an award in the Cooperative Efforts category. The project was developed because of the concern of losing the local sanitary landfill. The Thomas county Conservation District and local citizens developed the project to assist the city and county with the solid waste disposal dilemma. Local businesses teamed with the group to assist with a collection point for recycled materials. The group has help 14 collections diverting about 34 tons of materials from the landfill. "Citizens for Recycling" continues to work to make this a permanent solid waste disposal option. This group of dedicated individuals has demonstrated a sincere effort and commitment to recycling and improvement of their local community.
Another winner in the Cooperative Efforts category was Hamm Companies and the City of Lawrence for the "Community Education Partnership for Safe Disposal of Household Batteries and other Hazardous Household Waste." Hamm Companies, Inc., a regional Subtitle D landfill in northeastern Kansas, partnered with the City of Lawrence Waste Reduction and Recycling Division to enable Lawrence and Douglas County residents to easily and properly dispose of household batteries. A plastic bag was designed and produced by Hamm for distribution through the city's Waste Reduction and Recycling Division. The WR/R Division researched and wrote a companion Fact Sheet, "Household Batteries: A Proper Disposal Guide."
Distribution of the bags, along with the educational materials resulted in many positive partnership building activities within the community. "Battery Bags" were distributed through non profit organizations, schools and private businesses. This aggressive and innovative community education project resulted in the Lawrence Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program witnessing a 45% increase in participation from 1996 to 1997 and recycling 733 pounds of household (non-lead) batteries in its first year of operation. This project serves as a model for other communities in the significant reduction in household hazardous wastes that can be achieved through the cooperative efforts of communities and businesses.
The City of Overland Park received an award in the Education and Communication category for their project, "Efficiency and Economy: Two Sides of a Coin." Since the mid 1990's, Overland Park has worked to reduce both physical and energy waste produced from city operations as well as the residential and commercial sector. Ongoing reviews of city operations have led to substantial improvements in pollution prevention while improving economic efficiency. These actions are being modeled as examples to encourage residential and commercial groups to modify practices and behaviors incorporating pollution prevention. The project features P2 measures designed to increase energy efficiency and reduce solid waste volumes. Several components, including energy efficiency in public buildings, solid waste reductions, purchasing procedures and extensive community outreach are used in the project. The newsletter, "Opie Tales: provides information about mowing lawns, recycling, stream cleaning and many other topics.
Precision Dynamics Midwest was presented an award for their New Initiative "Saving Our Landfill." Precision Dynamics Midwest, employing 185 people, manufactures medical and non-medical plastic identification bracelets, protective bed covers and other items for the medical industry in Belleville, Kansas. Ten years ago, they began a campaign to eliminate solid waste from manufacturing operations in response to the rapid rate of filling at the landfill. The company recycles scrap vinyl., aluminum cans, cardboard, used oil and reuses scrap foam and terry cloth. They have recently replaced a hazardous solvent cleaner with a non-hazardous, biodegradable cleaner and may accept two new screen printing products. Recycled materials generate about $1,300 per month for the company who has diverted more than 18,700 pounds of material per month from the local landfill. The initiative this company has taken in Belleville to reduce their waste serves not only as a model, but as an inspiration to other companies (see related article page XXX.)
Case Corporation, Wichita, was presented an award for their outstanding efforts in the New Initiatives category for their "Pollution Prevention Program at Case Corporation, Wichita Plant." This project is a comprehensive waste minimization program with continuous improvement as the goal. Among the areas of waste reduction are elimination of hazardous chemicals, solvents in degreasers and parts washers, and packaging dunnage; and reduction of VOC's, HAPS, and SARA air emissions, waste usage and waste sludges, recycling of used oils, waste solvents, cardboard, computer/bond paper and wood pallets. Spill prevention efforts focus on secondary containment of tanks and drums, and efforts to replace existing underground storage tanks with above ground tanks. Continuing improvements are made through a quarterly review of the plant's pollution prevention program and activities as well as monthly calculation of all waste disposal, air emissions and water usage. Case Corporation has demonstrated their ongoing commitment to a comprehensive pollution prevention program through this variety of projects. In addition to those facilities receiving awards, many Kansans returned the P2 Pledge, promising to do their part to reduce, reuse, recycling and be aware of environmental issues in their community.
The second project is a series of 12 colorful bookmarks. The bookmarks are appropriate for middle school age and above, but may also be of interest to younger children. The 12 bookmarks feature topics such as composting, laundry, yard and gardening, auto issues, recycling and other topics.
The Family P2 Assessments and the Bookmarks were distributed at the Kansas State Fair and are available free from the Planning and Prevention Section at KDHE (Janet Neff, 785-296-0669.)
They began their program by providing management support to the "P2 Champion" at their facility. The company communicated waste issues to their employees in monthly safety meetings, asking for employee participation and ideas and later requesting assistance from the Pollution Prevention Institute at KSU to reduce hazardous waste generation.
Employees originally focused on recycling opportunities for wastes from their production processes, successfully reducing 18,700 pounds of waste to the landfill per month. Their goal of zero scrap material from their pattern cutting processes led them to examine purchasing options for fabric and vinyl. Raw materials were ordered in widths that would maximize number of patterns cut with a minimum of unusable fabric left over, a true "upfront" source reduction practice.
Precision Dynamics ships an average of 16,000 pounds per month of scrap vinyl to Midwest Recycling in Chicago, as feedstock in the vinyl-making process. The waste vinyl is compressed into bales to reduce its shipping volume and shipped on the "run" for new vinyl supplies from a vendor in the sample geographic location thus maximizing shipping efficiency. This effort generations a positive cash flow of one cent/lb. for mixed colors, fifteen cents/lb. for clean, and fifteen cents/lb. for white vinyl.
The Pollution Prevention Institute helped Precision Dynamics calculate their air emissions associated with solvents and inks used in the printing area. Employees were surprised to learn the quantity of air emissions from these materials. Understanding they could save money and improve air quality for themselves and their community by using smaller quantities and less volatile, less hazardous materials, they began to explore other cleaning solvents. They were able to replace two hazardous materials with new products that are non-hazardous and biodegradable, and most importantly, they can do the required cleaning! Precision Dynamics expects to eliminate their hazardous waste with these new cleaners.
Pollution prevention is an ongoing project for Precision Dynamics. Their search for safer and environmentally friendly alternatives is important not only to the environment but to the people using the product as well.
Sherry Davis, Pollution Prevention Institute, KSU