FACT SHEET
A EPA
^1^ Region 7
Johns' Sludge Pond Site

Wichita, Kansas
October 2002
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Introduction
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) conducts regular checkups, called
five-year reviews, on certain Superfund
sites. EPA Region 7 and the Kansas
Department of Health and Environment
(KDHE) recently completed its third, five-
year review of the Johns' Sludge Pond site.
The site is near 29th Street and Hydraulic
Avenue in Wichita, Kansas.
EPA and KDHE conducted the five-year
review to make sure the cleanup continues to
protect people and the environment.
Before cleanup, the pond on site contained
acidic sludge and acidic water. EPA also
found heavy metals in the sludge and water
on the site, including lead and
polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs.
Background
From 1951 to 1970, Super Refined Oil,
which is no longer in business, recycled
waste oil and disposed of an estimated 7,000
cubic yards of oily sludge into an unlined
pond. The site would periodically flood
during heavy rainfalls, releasing its contents
to the surrounding surface waters.
Under EPA oversight, the city of Wichita
removed sludge from the unlined pond and
stored it on site. The city then installed a
liner on the bottom and sides of the empty
pond creating a protective disposal cell.
The stored sludge was treated and put into
the cell. The city built a cap over the cell
and covered it with soil and grass. The site
was fenced to keep people off the site and to
protect the cap and cover. Deed restrictions
were placed on the property to restrict land
uses.
The city of Wichita and the Sedgwick
County Department of Community Health
have been providing long-term maintenance
of the site.
Five Year Review
This five-year review included; 1)
comprehensive reviews of groundwater data
generated since the previous five-year
review and other relevant documents;
2) inspections of the nine monitoring wells
and the disposal cell on site; 3) observation
of surrounding land uses and the security of
the site; and 4) enforcement of deed
restrictions and institutional controls.
Groundwater data indicated that action
levels were not exceeded and the site
inspection revealed that monitoring wells
and the disposal cell were in good repair and
the site was protective of human health and
the environment.
For More Information
The five-year review report and detailed site
information can be found at the following
locations:

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Wichita City Hall EPA Record Center
455 N. Main	901 N. 5th Street
Wichita, Kansas Kansas City, Kansas
If you have questions or need more
information on the Johns' Sludge Pond site
or the Five-Year Review process, please
contact:
Fritz Hirter
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
(913)551-7003
Toll-free (800) 223-0425
E-mail: hirter.fritz@epa.gov
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