The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 invites the public to comment on the proposed plan for the Plating Inc. Superfund Site west of Great Bend. This is the location of ongoing chromium contamination that dates back to the late 1980s.

Oral and written comments will be accepted during the 30‐day public comment period running May 5 through June 5. The public may submit their comments to EPA prior to the close of the comment period (see sidebar for details).

The EPA will hold a public meeting to provide information and answer questions on the plan as well. Due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, EPA will host the meeting virtually from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, via Adobe Connect video conference (see sidebar for details).

The EPA-recommended plan open for comment includes the removal of the Plating Inc. building and the surrounding soil, said Kansas City, Mo.-based EPA Region 7 Remedial Project Manager Clint Sperry. There are also other alternatives that could be considered.

In addition to the contamination at the site, there was the concern that an underground plume of chromium could migrate eastward towards Great Bend and impact city wells. Test wells have indicated that is no longer a threat, Sperry said.

The idea with this plan is to “remove the head of the snake,” he said. With the building and dirt gone, it is anticipated the plume will dissipate, although testing will continue. 

In all likelihood, the EPA will go with the its preferred plan. Then, following discussion between federal and state officials, the remedy will be put into practice. 

Background

Plating Inc. was chromium and zinc plating facility, which has since gone out of business. The facility was located in the city’s Industrial Park and was surrounded by agricultural land.

Here is a timeline:

• In October 1988, the EPA reported that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Waste Management conducted an inspection at the facility. During the inspection, soil contaminated with chromium was identified on the west side of the building. The facility had operated since 1968 without air pollution control systems.

KDHE ordered the facility to address state and federal violations for the handling and storage of hazardous wastes and remove the contaminated soil.

Soil was excavated and the facility installed a chromium fume scrubber to prevent recontamination of the soil. 

• In 1991, sampling revealed that the ground water was contaminated with chromium.

• In 1994, KDHE and Plating Inc. signed an order which lead to the facility installing a shallow remedial well to contain and remediate the shallow plume.

• In 2002, an additional remedial well was installed. 

• In 2005, the facility ceased operations.

• In 2006, KDHE discovered abandoned tanks of solutions.

Domestic water supply wells for two businesses had been impacted by the contamination and KDHE continues to provide bottled water to these businesses. A contaminated ground water plume was migrating from the facility toward the city of Great Bend.

KDHE has identified three public water supply wells that are threatened by the contamination. testing wells since, all wells fine, 

EPA conducted a Removal Assessment of the facility. Several thousand gallons of plating solutions will need to be removed.