KDHE Home - Division of Environment
Kansas Environmental News
October 2000
It has been quite a busy summer with many projects underway at KDHE. Drafts of proposed rules and regulations for confined animal feeding operations should be finalized within a few weeks. In addition, we are now beginning to look into the area of swine operations and air quality. KDHE recently issued its first swine permit to include an air quality monitoring requirement which we anticipate will help us better understand the emissions around these facilities.
Over the last several months, much work has gone into the development of the web site to identify potential and existing pollutants of the Equus Beds region and other sensitive ground water areas of the state. The largest part of the project has involved staff working to combine into one format the numerous databases of pollution information from various agencies. Much of this work has been completed. The project is on schedule and will be ready February 1, 2001 as required by an executive order from Governor Graves.
Our recent annual environmental conference was a success and now efforts are underway to plan next year's conference which will be in Hutchinson. It's a great opportunity for KDHE to interact with regional and local environmental entities in the state as well as share information about our programs. We also presented several pollution prevention awards to companies, municipalities, community groups and individuals. It is so important that we continue to recognize these efforts and promote additional pollution activities across our state.
I want to commend the environment staff for all of the hard work you have been doing. It does not go unnoticed. Thank you for your continued efforts and dedication.
Research scientists from the EPA Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Laboratory (RSKERL) have asked the KDHE Underground Storage Tank (UST) Section to facilitate a joint research project on attenuation and migration of the gasoline additives Methyl Tert Butyl Ether (MTBE) and ethanol.
Initially, MTBE was thought to be resistant to natural degradation and difficult to cleanup in the environment. Recent national research has indicated that MTBE degrades under natural conditions and typical remediation techniques should be effective. This corresponds with the results that the KDHE UST Section has been documenting for several years. In an effort to confirm the laboratory research with the successful remedial efforts in Kansas, a "joint venture" has been proposed by EPA research scientists to conduct a more thorough investigation at several UST sites.
Research topics will focus on MTBE breakdown, remediation techniques, and plume migration. This research will be funded by EPA and will not inhibit the ongoing remedial effort at the sites. The KDHE UST Section is considered a national leader in the field of environmental remediation for gasoline releases. At present, there are 95 sites in active remediation and 87% have MTBE contamination. A recent survey of all of the active remedial sites indicates that a large number show a significant reduction in MTBE concentrations over the course of the remedial effort. The successful cleanup of MTBE sites contradicts information that was nationally broadcast last winter on a popular news program. Recent cleanup efforts have expanded to include all of the oxygenates, including ethanol, and Tertiary Butyl Alcohol (TBA), a degradation compound of MTBE. Kansas has some of the only information on successful MTBE remediation efforts and water supply treatment systems for public wells in the nation.
The success of the UST Section in MTBE remediation has attracted the attention of several other organizations including the American Petroleum Institute (API), the National Ground Water Association (NGWA), Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development (EPA ORD), and scientists from several state universities. The national exposure from the successful remediation and treatment of MTBE has demonstrated the effectiveness of the hand-on approach of the KDHE UST program.
Greg Hattan, Bureau of Environmental Remediation
Thanks to numerous partners and the support of many people, KDHE had another successful year at the Kansas State Fair.
This year the Great Hunt for Recyclables was expanded into the Great Hunt for Your Health and Environment. The Great Hunt featured health issues like clean hands, food borne illness, children car safety and tobacco along with our regular recycling, composting, source reduction and buy recycled product themes. Hundreds of people participated. Some of the partners included: The College of Human Ecology of Kansas State University exhibiting straw recycled into particle board; the Reno County Master Gardeners Association demonstrating home composting; Wichita's Wood Recycle and Compost Center displaying colored wood mulch and compost; and KDHE's Bureau of Consumer Health, Food Protection & Consumer Safety Section Did You Wash 'Em? hand washing demonstration and My! How Times Have Changed demonstration on present food safety challenges.
The Bureau of Health Promotion provided a great Healthy Communities booth, Teens Against Smoking in Kansas and The Kansas Safe Kids Coalition's Safe Kids Buckle Up Mobile Car Seat Check Up Van.
With the help of KDHE staff and volunteers, thousands of KDHE bags were distributed on Friday, September 15th, Kansas Don't Spoil It! DAY and numerous people were recruited for our activities. Over 250 children participated in the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE) eco-quiz; hundreds of people enjoyed the eco-entertainer and magician, Steve Trash shows at the Kansas Farm Bureau Arena and thousands learned more about KDHE and some of the environmental and health issues of the day.
Governor Graves and Secretary Graeber recognized thirteen individual
(K-12) winners of the Kansas Don't Spoil It! 2001 Calendar Contest
at the 1:00 P.M. show as well as announcing the Great Hunt winners of Millennium
Plastic Wood, LLC. recycled plastic lumber picnic tables and bird baths,
and Kansas Recyclers Association (KRA) recycled steel (yard art) birds.
KDHE's health and environmental activities at the Kansas State Fair are another example of how people can form partnerships and work together to make a difference.
Kent Foerster, Bureau of Waste Management
George Aponte Clarke, Natural Resources Defense Council, New York City, and coauthor of Stormwater Strategies - Community Responses to Runoff Pollution was a speaker at the recent Kansas environmental conference. The publication is the result of the review of over 100 case studies highlighting effective pollution prevention, administrative and financing measures for addressing stormwater runoff.
The publication provides information on effective strategies to address stormwater in new development and redevelopment, public education and participation, construction site runoff, finding and eliminating improper or illegal connections and discharges, and implementing pollution prevention for municipal operations. KDHE's Nonpoint Source Section has copies of the publication available for $10 per copy. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, send a check payable to KDHE Training Fee Fund to Lisa Duncan, KDHE Nonpoint Source Section, Building 283, Forbes Field, Topeka, 66620.
Don Snethen, Bureau of Water
On July 1, 2000 new statutory provisions went into effect authorizing KDHE to implement an illegal dump clean-up program. This new program is designed to eliminate small to medium-sized illegal dumps containing non-hazardous solid waste. It is anticipated that typical sites will contain waste that had been dumped in vacant lots, in streams and creeks, on abandoned properties, or along rural roadsides. The program will be administered by the Bureau of Waste Management.
The new provisions of the law allow KDHE to pay for 75 percent of the costs of site clean-up, not to exceed $10,000 per site. The remaining 25 percent of costs must be covered by local government -- either a city or county. KDHE will allow cities and counties to make their 25 percent match through in-kind services. Examples of in-kind services include labor, equipment, supplies, and even landfill space in a county or city-run facility.
Before KDHE can utilize state funds to clean up a site, certain criteria must be satisfied. The responsible party must be "unknown," or "unable or unwilling" to perform the work. If the responsible party is unknown, the property owner will be asked to sign a certified statement of this fact. To show "unable" to perform the work, the responsible party must make a demonstration to KDHE using standard information describing financial condition. KDHE will determine that a responsible party is "unwilling" when they have failed to implement clean-up within some specified time.
KDHE has developed a preferred method of contracting with local governments to perform the clean-up work at eligible and prioritized sites. KDHE will offer a contract to cities or counties agreeing to reimburse them for 75 percent of the costs of clean-up, not to exceed $10,000 per site. A single contract may address more than one site. The local government may perform the work themselves or hire one or more contractors to do the work. Upon receiving documentation of project expenses, KDHE will reimburse the city or county.
We encourage cities and counties to take advantage of this opportunity to partner with KDHE to clean-up dangerous or environmentally harmful illegal dumps. We also encourage businesses to work with cities or counties to help clean up our state. Sites may be nominated for clean-up by submitting "Illegal Dump Notification and Information Forms" to the Bureau of Waste Management. Copies of the form can be obtained and questions can be answered by calling (785) 296-1600.
Bill Bider, Bureau of Waste Management
The Environmental Conference, held in Topeka September 12-13 was attended by 275 enthusiastic people. The evaluations indicated that most everyone felt this conference provided a good variety of presentations and well prepared and knowledgeable speakers. A special thanks to those speakers who traveled great distances to attend, and to all speakers for outstanding presentations.
Thank you exhibitors for providing interesting and informative booths. We're looking forward to seeing you again next year!
Most of all, thank you to the people who took time away from their businesses, communities, firms or other places of work to attend. Each year, the growing numbers indicate that more and more people are interested in knowing about environmental regulations, pollution prevention, and the state of the Kansas environment.
Companies, municipalities, community groups and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to prevent pollution were recognized during the Pollution Prevention (P2) Awards presentation at this year's state environmental conference, "Kansas Environment: Future Challenges," on September 12 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka.
"The prevention of pollution before it occurs is a vital part of the Kansas plan to help ensure the environment is clean, safe and healthy," stated Secretary of Health and Environment Clyde D. Graeber. "We are proud to offer the P2 Awards so that these accomplishments which protect our environment receive the recognition they deserve."
Winners were chosen by an independent committee comprised of business and community representatives and university staff.
DTE Biomass Energy was selected a winner in the Cooperative Efforts category for their "Wichita Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project." DTE owns and operates a landfill gas collection and delivery system that captures nearly 3 million cubic feet of gas per day from a landfill owned by the City of Wichita. The project provides environmental improvements equivalent to removing 75,000 old cars from the road or planting 18 million trees.
The Catalytic Industrial Group, developed a unique new infrared drying system for wood-based products and was selected for an award in the New Technologies category. The system provides significant cost savings and higher productivity. This project was originally funded through the National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment and Economics grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The
A.O. Smith Engineered Storage Products Company, Parsons, has been selected for
an award in the New Initiatives category for their "Paint Line Improvement Project."
The project resulted in a reduction of about $448,000 per year through savings
in paint and solvent waste and improved efficiency. Other improvements included
replacing wash booths and adding two solvent distilling units which significantly
reduced volatile organic compounds emissions. The Hazardous Material Management
Program at Fort Riley was also selected for an award in the New Initiatives
category. This project centralizes the management of hazardous materials within
a single distribution center and tracking system. This new system has already
diverted over 36,000 pounds of hazardous materials from Fort Riley's solid waste
stream and saved the installation over $57,500 in acquisition and disposal costs.
The Sand Springs Aquifer Protection Project, Dickinson County Water Improvement Program, was selected for an award in the Education and Communication category. The project resulted in community-wide support for a new county sanitary code, a full-time sanitarian and the extension of city service to 110 homes in the county.
The "Earth Awareness Researchers for Tomorrow's Habitat" (EARTH) project is a collaborative effort among City of Wichita Natural Resources, KSU Research and Extension Sedgwick County, Derby Schools, Catholic Diocese of Wichita, Wichita School District/Great Plains Nature Center,
Wichita/Sedgwick County Dept. of Community Health, Wichita State University, Bothwell Environmental Services, Great Plains Earth Institute and the Wichita Water and Sewer Department. Students studied various aspects of environmental issues and stewardship. More than 150 volunteers participated in this project, along with over 600 students.
Sherry Davis, a Pollution Prevention Specialist with the Pollution Prevention Institute at Kansas State University, was selected for an award in the Education and Communication category. Sherry has been a leader in pollution prevention for the last five years through her work with Kansas businesses and industries in providing technical assistance in environmental compliance and pollution prevention.
A special award has been presented to Stanley McEnroe and his son, Michael. Stanley and Michael were riding their bikes together near Kingman when they saw some workers dumping fluorescent bulbs into a creek. They wrote down the license tag on a paper cup, then notified the authorities of this illegal activity. The workers were caught and the company was prosecuted. Stanley and Michael are to be commended for their quick thinking and concern for the creek.
Next year's award applications will be available in January 2001.
Three sets of administrative regulations are being drafted which have the potential to affect many Kansans managing solid waste. The process of developing new or updating existing regulations, briefly described below, is similar in all three cases. The process begins with establishment of task forces comprised of individuals having particular expertise.
Last Spring, the Bureau of Waste Management (BWM) hosted a task force meeting to begin updating the solid waste management planning regulations, K.A.R. 28-29-75 through 28-29-82. Current efforts are aimed at removing confusion and contradictions from the planning regulations. The Medical Waste Task Force met in June to begin the process of updating the existing medical waste regulation, K.A.R. 28-29-27, Medical Services Waste. The task force was made up of representatives from health departments, health care facilities, health care associations, medical waste transporters and processors, county agencies, and consultants. This regulation needs to be revised because the original was written in 1984 and needs to be updated to reflect current standards and technology. The existing regulation is difficult to interpret and raises questions frequently. In addition, new air quality regulations, which became effective September 12, 2000 provide for facilities with medical/hospital/infections waste incinerators to comply by September 12, 2001 if they have submitted a request for a permit. If they have not submitted a request for a permit, they may no longer operate after September 12, 2000. Closure of these incinerators may result in medical waste being introduced into the solid waste stream.
The third task force met in July to discuss various topics related to construction/demolition (C/D) landfills and proposed content for new C/D landfill regulations. Based on recommendations from the task force, staff was directed to proceed with drafting regulations for C/D landfills.
In each case, BWM will draft regulations based on the comments received during the task force meetings as well as from additional information acquired from other sources. Following the drafting process, each task force member will be asked to review the respective draft regulation and if needed, additional task force meetings will be scheduled, to revise draft regulations. Final drafts will be reviewed by the Kansas Department of Administration and the Attorney General's Office for form and legality. Following their approval, a public hearing on each regulation package will be held to receive additional comments from individuals or groups that were not included in the task force process. It is the bureau's goal to complete the development and adoption of these regulation packages during the first half of 2001.
John Mitchell, Bureau of Waste Management