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- Former Coastal Refinery, El Dorado Site
Former Coastal Refinery, El Dorado Site
The Former Coastal Refinery El Dorado Site Facility is located at 1835 North Topeka Street on the northern outskirts of the City of El Dorado, Kansas. It encompasses approximately 420 acres and includes portions of Sections 26, 27, and 34, Township 25 South, Range 5 East in Butler County, Kansas. The site contains several subareas: the former Main Process Area (MPA), the former Asphalt Handling Area (AHA) to the west, Wastewater/Stormwater Ponds to the east, and the former South Tank Farm (STF) located due south of the former refinery. The West Branch Walnut River (WBWR) defines the northeastern boundary of the Site. The Site does not include the adjacent Pester Burn Pond Superfund Site (C2-008-00058), which is located north of the Wastewater/Stormwater Ponds.
Site Background
The oil refinery was operated by various entities between 1917 and 1993. El Paso Merchant Energy-Petroleum Company (El Paso) acquired the facility in 2001. Asphalt blending and terminal operations continued until 2004. Between 2004 and 2010 El Paso decommissioned and demolished the refinery structures.
In February 2003, El Paso entered into a Consent Order with KDHE to conduct a Comprehensive Investigation (CI)/Corrective Action Study (CAS). A phased approach for completing site investigation activities was initiated. Phase I was conducted from 2003-2004, Phase II was conducted from 2004-2006, and Phase III was completed in 2009 with the submittal of the Third Phase CI Report dated September 2009. Investigations identified elevated concentrations of refinery-related contaminants in soil and groundwater. The primary contaminants of concern (COC) include petroleum-related compounds: benzene, naphthalene, total petroleum hydrocarbons; select volatile organic compounds (VOCs); and isolated impacts from metals contamination related to former activities. The investigation and characterization data collected were used to support a transition to the Risk Assessment and Corrective Action phases of the project.
Risk assessment activities were performed as part of the CI between 2008-2012. In July 2011, a Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment (BERA) for the MPA and AHA areas was approved by the KDHE followed by a Final Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) and a separate BERA for the WBWR and STF areas in March 2012.
Remedial Measures
Several interim remedial measures (IRMs) have been completed between 2006 and 2014 and include construction of groundwater (GW), seep, and spring interceptor trenches (IT); stormwater collection structures; a tar removal treatment system; and a wetlands-based GW treatment system. Other IRMs completed include soil and waste excavation, stabilization, consolidation, and capping.
In November 2014, KDHE approved the Corrective Action Study (CAS) Report that evaluated potential remedial alternatives. A Corrective Action Decision (CAD) document was finalized by KDHE in November 2016. This outlined the selected remedial alternatives which include: hydraulic containment via operation of existing and proposed interceptor trenches, phytoremediation technologies, additional soil excavation/disposal, surface water sampling, cap maintenance, environmental use controls (EUC), long term monitoring (LTM), receptor management surveys, LNAPL (Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid) Recovery, Transmissivity, and Natural Source Zone Depletion (NSZD) and Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA).
Completion of the first year of NSZD monitoring was in the Spring of 2017. In July 2018, the 2003 Consent Order was amended in order to conduct Corrective Action Plan (CAP) tasks. During 2019, several parts of the CAP were implemented, including South Tank Farm (STF) excavation and characterization of waste, LNAPL recovery in 22 wells, wetlands controlled burns, MNA monitoring of 53 wells, three STF Creek surface water sampling events, and installation of the STF North East plume groundwater interceptor trench.
Also, as part of the phytoremediation remedy, a multitude of native species was planted to promote the rhizodegredation process: 21.4 acres of mixed tallgrasses (7 species) and forbs (16 species), 12.1 acres of "woodland" trees/savannah (mostly Bur Oak), 4.0 acres of "deep pole" trees (Poplar, Willow, Cottonwood), and 3.6 acres of shrubland (a variety of six woody shrub species).
Additional Information
For additional information, please contact:
Levi Crooke, Professional Geologist Supervisor
Phone: 785-296-0225
KDHE Site Documents
- Quality Assurance Project Plan, October 2019 (PDF)
- Groundwater Interceptor Trench Design, November 2018 (PDF)
- LNAPL Recovery, Transmissivity, and NSZD Work Plan, November 2018 (PDF)
- MPA Phytoremediation Design, October 2018 (PDF)
- STF Creek Surface Water Sample Work Plan, October 2018 (PDF)
- Monitored Natural Attenuation Work Plan, August 2018 (PDF)
- MPA Phytoremediation Operations and Maintenance Plan, August 2018 (PDF)
- STF Waste Area Characterization Report, April 2019 (PDF)
- STF Suspected Waste Area Characterization Work Plan, August 2018 (PDF)
- Amendment to Consent Order 03-E-0021BER, July 2018 (PDF)
- Interceptor Trench Geotechnical Work Plan, June 2017 (PDF)
- Corrective Action Decision, November 2016 (PDF)
- Corrective Action Study, July 2014 (PDF)
- Interim Measures Construction Completion Report, May 2013 (PDF)
- Third Phase Environmental Investigation Report, September 2009, Part 1/6 (PDF)
- Third Phase Environmental Investigation Report, September 2009, Part 2/6 (PDF)
- Third Phase Environmental Investigation Report, September 2009, Part 3/6 (PDF)
- Third Phase Environmental Investigation Report, September 2009, Part 4/6 (PDF)
- Third Phase Environmental Investigation Report, September 2009, Part 5/6 (PDF)
- Third Phase Environmental Investigation Report, September 2009, Part 5/6 (PDF)
- Subslab Vapor Investigation Report, Residence 1800 North Topeka Street, March 2009 (PDF)
- Second Phase Investigation Report, October 2005 (PDF)
- First Phase Comprehensive Investigation Report, January 2004 (PDF)
- Consent Order 03-E-0021, February 2003 (PDF)
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Eric Parker
Geology Trainee