29th and Grove Site
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.
Share Your Feedback
Submit Your Comments
KDHE is soliciting public comments regarding this proposal to address environmental contamination at the Site. A draft Corrective Action Decision (CAD) document that outlines the proposal for cleanup is available for public review at the KDHE offices in Topeka and at the Wichita Angelou Northeast Library Branch. Appointments to review Site documents in Topeka may be made by contacting Mary Daily at 785-296-8896. Review of documents at the Wichita Angelou Northeast Library Branch, 3501 E. 21st North, Wichita, can be done during regular business hours without appointment. The draft CAD and other pertinent information are also electronically available below.
KDHE is receiving comments during the 30-day comment period, August 18 through September 16, 2022, which must be submitted in writing by electronic mail to Mary Daily or postmarked by U. S. mail by September 16, 2022 and sent to:
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Bureau of Environmental Remediation
Attention: Mary Daily, Professional Geologist
1000 SW Jackson Street, Suite 410
Topeka, Kansas 66612-1367
Attend the Meeting
On September 8, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. KDHE will hold a public meeting at the Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center, 2755 E. 19th St N., Wichita, Kansas regarding the plan to address contamination at the 29th and Grove Site. Written comments on the draft Corrective Action Decision may also be submitted to KDHE during the public meeting. Spanish interpretation services will be provided during the public meeting if needed. If accommodations are needed for persons with disabilities planning to attend the September 8, 2022, meeting, please notify Mary Daily by calling 785-296-8896 or e-mailing by September 2, so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
More Information About 29th & Grove Site
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.
Risk Assessment
A risk assessment determined the current and future effects of contaminants on human health and the environment if no cleanup action was taken. Results of the risk assessment indicated that exposure to contaminated soil at the UP rail yard does not present a significant health risk to workers or residents. There is some potential health risk to people who contact contaminated groundwater. Most of the risk was associated with ingestion of or dermal contact with contaminated groundwater. It should be noted that homes and businesses in and near the contaminated area have been provided with a safe drinking water supply and that current workers are not normally exposed to the contaminated groundwater. The risk assessment did not identify any significant ecological risk related to Chisholm Creek which runs south of the UP rail yard.
Interim Remedial Measures
Several interim remedial measures (IRMs) for soil and groundwater have been implemented to reduce the mass of contamination at the UP rail yard and shorten the time to achieve overall cleanup goals. The list of IRMs implemented at the source area in chronological order include: accelerated remediation technology wells, soil excavation, in-situ chemical oxidation, and enhanced reductive dechlorination (also known as bioremediation). In addition, an IRM to establish hydraulic control of the groundwater plume was implemented in 2009 by installation and operation of six groundwater extraction wells along Murdock Avenue, south of Murdock Park. The groundwater extraction system was installed to prevent the contaminated groundwater plume from continuing to spread in the subsurface.
Feasibility Study
A Feasibility Study that includes the evaluation of remedial alternatives that could be used for cleanup was completed in December 2020. The Feasibility Study also summarizes supplemental investigations and pilot testing conducted in support of the evaluation of remedial alternatives. After investigation of the contamination and evaluation of remedial alternatives, KDHE identified the following actions as the best way to protect the public health and the environment:
• At the source area, enhance the natural process of bioremediation of the contaminants by adding nutrients and other amendments to the soil and groundwater so that bacteria can degrade the contamination.
• At the source area, removing remaining shallow contaminated soil present under a concrete pad for a storage area.
• Pump contaminated groundwater to the surface and treat the water to remove contaminants. The water would be treated by air stripping technology and/or granular activated carbon technology. After contaminants are removed from the water, the treated water would be reinjected back into the subsurface and/or discharged to a nearby stream by permit.
• Establish an environmental use control to restrict the use of the rail yard where the release of TCE occurred to prevent exposure to contaminated soil and groundwater.
• Evaluate the performance of the remedy by monitoring groundwater and surface water.
• Prevent installation of new domestic-use wells in areas with groundwater contamination.
• Conduct periodic reviews of receptors and potential exposure pathways to ensure that the remedy remains protective of human health.
Related Documents
- Draft Corrective Action Decision, August 2022 (pdf)
- Feasibility Study – Source Area and Mid-Plume Area, part 1/6, December 3, 2020 (pdf)
- Feasibility Study – Source Area and Mid-Plume Area, part 2/6, December 3, 2020 (pdf)
- Feasibility Study – Source Area and Mid-Plume Area, part 3/6, December 3, 2020 (pdf)
- Feasibility Study – Source Area and Mid-Plume Area, part 4/6, December 3, 2020 (pdf)
- Feasibility Study – Source Area and Mid-Plume Area, part 5/6, December 3, 2020 (pdf)
- Feasibility Study – Source Area and Mid-Plume Area, part 6/6, December 3, 2020 (pdf)
- Revised Remedial Investigation Report part 1/11. June 16, 2006 (pdf)
- Revised Remedial Investigation Report part 2/11. June 16, 2006 (pdf)
- Revised Remedial Investigation Report part 3/11. June 16, 2006 (pdf)
- Revised Remedial Investigation Report part 4/11. June 16, 2006 (pdf)
- Revised Remedial Investigation Report part 5/11. June 16, 2006 (pdf)
- Revised Remedial Investigation Report part 6/11. June 16, 2006 (pdf)
- Revised Remedial Investigation Report part 7/11. June 16, 2006 (pdf)
- Revised Remedial Investigation Report part 8/11. June 16, 2006 (pdf)
- Revised Remedial Investigation Report part 9/11. June 16, 2006 (pdf)
- Revised Remedial Investigation Report part 10/11. June 16, 2006 (pdf)
- Revised Remedial Investigation Report part 11/11. June 16, 2006 (pdf)
- Consent Order, October 4, 2002 (pdf)
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Mary Daily
Professional GeologistPhone: 785-296-8896