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EPA Proposes Great Bend, Kansas, Site for Federal Cleanup Priorities List

Release Date: 09/19/2007
Contact Information: Fritz Hirter, (913) 551-7130, hirter.fritz@epa.gov

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., Sept. 19, 2007) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced its proposal to add the Plating Inc. site to the federal Superfund National Priorities List.

Plating Inc. is located in Great Bend, Barton County, Kansas, in an industrial area at the Great Bend Airport surrounded by agricultural land. Contamination from chromium plating has contributed to elevated levels of chromium in soil and ground water in this area.

A National Priorities Listing notifies the public that EPA believes a site requires further study and possible cleanup under EPA's Superfund program. EPA Regional Administrator John Askew said, "Adding this site to the National Priorities List makes federal resources available to help protect Great Bend residents from high concentrations of chromium in soil and drinking water."

Listing the Plating Inc. site on the National Priorities List guarantees the public an opportunity to participate in cleanup decisions. Affected communities are also eligible for technical assistance grants from EPA to facilitate understanding of technical documents and to promote community involvement at the sites. The comment period for this proposal is open from September 19 to November 19, 2007.

The EPA Headquarters Docket maintains documents which support the Agency’s proposal to add this site to the National Priorities List. These materials can be accessed electronically by going to http://www.regulations.gov and following the online instructions for submitting comments.