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Fact Sheet

January 2013

Proposed Corrective Measures and Permit Modification Released for Public Comment, McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 invites the public to review and comment on the proposed corrective measures and permit modification for four Solid Waste Management Units (SWMUs), one Installation Restoration Program (IRP) site, and one additional site on the McConnell Air Force Base (McConnell) Facility located at 2801 South Rock Road, Wichita, Kansas.

The public is encouraged to review EPA’s investigation reports and other historic information regarding these sites on McConnell. This information is available at the following locations during normal business hours:

Wichita Public Library
223 S. Main St.
Wichita, Kansas
(316) 261-8500

EPA Region 7 Library
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, Kansas
(913) 551-7979

The public comment period runs January 29 to March 15, 2013, to enable the public to comment on the proposed corrective measures. Written comments should be mailed or emailed to:

Ruby Crysler
U.S. EPA, AWMD/WRAP
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
Email: crysler.ruby@epa.gov

Comments should be received no later than March 15, 2013.

Comments received will be summarized in a Response to Comments, and responses will be provided to those individuals providing the comments. The Response to Comments will be drafted at the conclusion of the public comment period and incorporated into the Administrative Record. EPA may modify the corrective measures, based upon new information and comments from the public.

A public hearing is not scheduled at this time. If one is requested in writing with a statement of issues to be raised, EPA will conduct a hearing and receive both oral and written comments.

BACKGROUND

McConnell is an active U.S. Air Force installation where the 22nd Air Refueling Wing supports, flies, and maintains the KC-135R “Stratotanker.” The KC-135R provides air-refueling operations worldwide for the United States and its allies. McConnell was originally established in 1941 as a Kansas Air Guard facility at the Wichita Municipal Airport and was activated in 1951, when Air Training Command began conducting B-47 combat crew training. Since 1951, McConnell has operated as a training and missile support facility and as a base for USAF strategic, tactical and refueling operations.

These sites are five of 22 IRP sites and 107 SWMUs listed on McConnell’s RCRA Permit. The Building 12 Oil Water Separator (OWS) site will be added to the Permit. Each IRP site and SWMU will be addressed in future decision documents.

PROPOSED CORRRECTIVE MEASURES

EPA has issued proposed corrective measures for six sites at McConnell, as described in the Statements of Basis:

The proposed corrective measures for these sites are as follows:

Building 12 OWS
This site is not currently listed on McConnell’s RCRA Permit. The OWS was a 550-gallon single-walled steel tank, located northeast of Building 12. Institutional Controls (ICs) are proposed for this site, since the tank was removed in 2008. However, petroleum hydrocarbon contamination was detected in groundwater at concentrations above residential or unrestricted use standards, but below industrial standards. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and petroleum hydrocarbons were also detected in soil, but at concentrations below EPA and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) residential or unrestricted use standards.

Building 36, OWS #K3
The OWS was a 550-gallon, single-walled steel tank with a 165-gallon oil capacity, located east of Building 36. No Further Action is proposed for this site. The tank was removed at an unknown date. Petroleum hydrocarbons were detected in soil and trichloroethylene was detected in groundwater at concentrations below EPA and KDHE residential or unrestricted use standards.

Building 37, OWS #K4
The OWS was a 550-gallon tank located south of Building 37. Building 37 is located on the northwest side of McConnell in an industrial area. No Further Action is proposed for this site. The tank was removed in 2008, and no compounds were detected in soil samples. Chlorinated solvents were detected in groundwater at concentrations below EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (drinking water standards).

Building 51, OWS #K9
This was a 1,000-gallon, single-walled steel tank with a 300-gallon oil capacity, located approximately 30 feet south of Building 51 and north of Building 50. No Further Action is proposed for this site. The tank was removed in 2008. Volatile organic compounds were detected in soil at concentrations below EPA and KDHE residential or unrestricted use standards. No contaminants were detected in groundwater.

SWMU 116/Fire Training Area 4
SWMU 116 is located in the southern portion of McConnell within the fenced area of the current Weapons Storage Area (WSA). The proposed remedy outlined in the Statement of Basis consists of ICs to prevent exposure of on-site receptors to soil and groundwater contaminants (metals), which exist at concentrations above EPA residential or unrestricted use standards. The 200-feet by 400-feet area was temporarily used for fire training operations in 1972. Petroleum hydrocarbons were detected in soil at concentrations below KDHE residential or unrestricted use standards. Mercury was detected in soil above EPA residential standards but below industrial standards. Arsenic was detected in soil above EPA residential and industrial standards. Volatile organics and phthalates were detected in groundwater below drinking water standards. However, metals were detected in groundwater, and arsenic concentrations exceeded drinking water standards in filtered samples.

Site OT-18/Abandoned Wells M-4, S-98
The site consisted of four wells located on McConnell that were likely used for livestock watering or as a potential source of water for firefighting operations. The wells were located in and around the secured flight line. No Further Action is proposed for the site, since no industrial operations were known to have occurred at the well sites, and the wells were abandoned in 1992. Sampling from a well near the golf course well indicated the presence of metals below drinking water standards in filtered samples.

PROPOSED PERMIT MODIFICATIONS

McConnell’s RCRA Part II Permit was issued on November 8, 1993, and renewed on August 9, 2007. Since that time, multiple investigations have gathered new data and provided new information regarding the nature and extent of contamination. EPA proposes the following modifications to the Permit in response to this new data:

THE CONTAMINATION

Investigations detected the presence of the following contaminants:

In Soil: In Groundwater:

FOR MORE INFORMATION

If you have questions, or want to join the mailing list, please contact:

Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 7
Office of Public Affairs
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
Toll-free: (800) 223-0425, ext. 7253
Email: himes.beckie@epa.gov

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