29th and Grove Site
Updates
KDHE finalized the Corrective Action Decision (PDF), also known as CAD, for the 29th and Grove Site on February 2, 2023. The Final CAD identifies and describes the remedy selected for cleanup of the contamination and also documents public comments on the draft CAD and KDHE’s responses to the comments.
Cruiser Lake Testing Update – Due to citizen’s concerns about contamination in Cruiser Lake (also known as the K-96 Lake), KDHE collected samples of water and sediment from the lake in December 2022. The samples collected from the lake were tested for volatile organic compounds to determine whether the lake was impacted by the trichloroethene spill that occurred on the UP rail yard. The Preliminary Assessment Report indicates water and sediment samples from the lake did not contain trichloroethene; therefore, the lake has not been impacted by the trichloroethene spill. \
Summary
The 29th and Grove Site (Site) is located along the northern part of a Union Pacific Railroad (UP) rail yard south of the K-96 Highway, between Highway I-135 and Grove Street, in Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas. Land use in the immediate vicinity of the northern rail yard consists of rail transportation, recreation, and military land-use categories. The K-96 Lake Park is located to the north of the railroad tracks. The Heartland Preparedness Center is located south of the railroad tracks. Land use farther to the south is primarily residential and commercial.
The contaminants of concern (COCs) are trichloroethene (TCE) and associated degradation compounds including 1,2-dichoroethene, 1,1-dichlorothene, and vinyl chloride. TCE is a solvent commonly used for metal degreasing. Contamination from the Site was first discovered during investigations conducted in advance of redevelopment of the 21st Street corridor between I-135 and Grove Street.
Find information and related documents about the investigation, risk assessment, and feasibility study at the bottom of the page.
Investigation
In 1999, KDHE and Union Pacific Rail Road (UP) executed an Interim Agreement for a Preliminary Investigation (PI) to evaluate whether a release of trichloroethylene (TCE) had occurred on the UP rail yard right-of-way. Detections of TCE in soil and groundwater at the rail yard confirmed a release had occurred on the rail yard property in the past. TCE is present in the soil at the rail yard at concentrations above the Tier 2 Risk-based Standards for Kansas (RSK) level of 84.2 micrograms per kilogram. TCE is present in groundwater at concentrations above the Tier 2 RSK level of 5 micrograms per liter.
In 2002, UP entered into a Consent Order with KDHE to conduct a Remedial Investigation to determine the nature and extent of contamination and a Feasibility Study to evaluate remedial alternatives that could be used for cleanup. The Remedial Investigation was completed in 2006 and determined the plume of contaminated groundwater extended from the UP rail yard to the south to Murdock Avenue.