ACE SERVICES
KANSAS
EPA ID# KSD046746731
EPA Region 7
City: Colby
County: Thomas County
Other Names:
12/12/2005
SITE DESCRIPTION
The 2 1/2-acre Ace Services site is a former chrome plating facility where chrome plating was
applied to farm implement parts. The facility operated from 1969 to 1989, and was permanently
closed in early 1990. From 1969 to 1975, chrome plating wastewater generated during
operations at the Ace Services facility was discharged directly to the ground surface immediately
west of the unnamed tributary to Prairie Dog Creek. A local citizen filed a complaint with the
Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) in early 1971. KDHE and EPA
collected wastewater samples in 1971 and 1972 that showed the presence of chromium. In 1974
and 1975, concrete retention vats were installed at the Ace Services facility, and an evaporation
lagoon was built immediately adjacent to the facility to receive discharged wastewater. The
evaporation lagoon was not lined; however, and chromium-contaminated wastewater was
allowed to contaminate soil and infiltrate into the ground. Chrome plating solutions, bulk
hazardous wastes, and caustic acidic processing materials contained in vats and drums were
present at the site. Ground water from the Ogallala Aquifer is the sole source of municipal and
private drinking water in and around Colby. The Colby public water supply well No. 8 is located
one-fifth of a mile from the site. This well was closed by KDHE in 1980 due to chromium
concentrations measuring above Federal drinking water standards. Approximately 6,180 people
are currently served by seven Colby municipal drinking water wells. All of these wells are
located within a 4-mile radius of the site, and each draws water from the Ogallala Aquifer. The
area is an agricultural community with a total population of approximately 6,525, including
college students and nearby rural residents. Residences and commercial property surround the
site.
Site Responsibility:
The site is being addressed through Federal,
State, and potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 02/13/95

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Final Date:	09/29/95
Deleted Date:
THREATS AND CONTAMINANTS
Soils and sludge in the lagoon area were contaminated with chromium prior to
removal by Ace Services, KDHE and EPA. Surface wastewater was also
contaminated with chromium prior to treatment and disposal by KDHE and EPA.
The ground water in the Ogallala Aquifer is contaminated with chromium.
Inhalation exposure to lead and chromium VI in indoor air within on-site buildings
and ingesting contaminated ground water were the primary threats to the public.
CLEANUP APPROACH
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1981, Ace Services excavated approximately 2,200 cubic yards of
chromium-contaminated soil and sludge from the lagoon area and disposed of it at the Thomas
County Landfill, a municipal sanitary landfill. In early 1992, KDHE removed the bulk hazardous
liquid and solid wastes stored inside the Ace Services facility. In mid-1994, EPA removed
residual contamination (mainly dusts) from the building interior, excavated the concrete trough
and the underlying soil, installed additional building support columns near the trough,
demolished the wastewater treatment building, excavated underlying soil, and excavated and
stabilized the lagoon soil. All waste was shipped off site for disposal, except for approximately
3,000 gallons of wastewater, which were treated on site and discharged to a publicly-owned
treatment works.
Buildings: The EPA conducted indoor air sampling in the building in 1996. The Remedial
Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) was completed in 1999. A remedy for the buildings was
selected in the Record of Decision (ROD) signed May 5, 1999. The Remedial Design was
completed for the buildings in 1999. The cleanup of the buildings was completed in March
2000. The Final Remedial Action Report was approved December 5, 2000. Because of a large
increase in the size of the ground water plume, EPA decided in a ROD amendment dated September
13, 2001 to demolish the buildings at the site so that a ground water treatment plant could be
constructed there. This demolition was the first phase of construction at the site, and was completed
in May 2002. During this demolition, more than 1000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and concrete
rubble was removed and disposed at a hazardous waste landfill; this was much more than anticipated
during project design.
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Ground water: KDHE installed and sampled three ground water monitoring wells at the site in
1990. During 1995, KDHE sampled ground water monitoring wells and residential wells. The
EPA conducted ground water sampling of monitoring wells and residential wells in 1996. During
1997, EPA installed two additional ground water monitoring wells and sampled all ground water
monitoring wells and residential wells. The RI/FS was completed in 1999, and a remedy for final
cleanup was selected in the ROD signed on May 5, 1999, following a public meeting in Colby.
Additional monitoring wells were installed in 2000 during remedial design, revealing a
larger-than-expected plume. Residential wells were sampled in 1999, 2000 and 2001. A ROD
amendment was completed on September 13, 2001 for a larger treatment plant, to be placed on the
Ace Services property, utilizing ion exchange technology to remove chromium from the extracted
ground water. The amendment also addresses the provision of a city water line to serve residences
with affected residential water wells. Design was completed on the ground water extraction and
treatment system, and notice to proceed was given to the subcontractor on May 28, 2002. Work on
the construction was completed and a performance test of the treatment plant showed it to work very
well. Operation began on August 12, 2003, and has operated successfully since then.
The amended remedy includes institutional controls including deed restrictions, as permitted by
law, to prevent use of contaminated ground water. Active restoration of the aquifer will be
achieved by pumping and treating the contaminated ground water. Treatment of contaminated
ground water is done by ion exchange processes. Treated ground water is discharged to the on-site
tributary to Prairie Dog Creek, or alternatively and as appropriate, treated ground water
discharged to the local Colby publically owned drinking water system as needed. Ground water
monitoring and periodic review of	results are being done.
Description:
Site Facts:
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS
Removing containers of hazardous waste and removing and stabilizing contaminated
soils, sludges, dust, and buildings, and treating contaminated wastewater reduced threats at the
Ace Service site while investigations into ground water contamination were conducted.
Remedial design for the ground water remedy has been completed, construction of the ground
water treatment system is complete, and the treatment system is operating successfully.

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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT	
6/98 - Community involvement interviews/community involvement plan.
12/98 - Public meeting, public comment period, fact sheet, display ad published in Colby Free
Press, announcing the Proposed Plan.
8/99 - Fact Sheet, display ad published in Colby Free Press announcing ROD.
6/01 - Fact Sheet, public comment period, display ad published in Colby Free Press, announcing
Amendment to ROD and public meeting 7/9/01.

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SITE REPOSITORY
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EPA Region 7 Superfund	Superfund Records Center
Community Relations Section at 901 N. 5th St.
5*| (913) 551-7000	Kansas City, KS 66101
Mail Stop SUPR
(913)551-4038
REGIONAL CONTACTS
SITE MANAGER:	Bob Stewart
E-MAIL ADDRESS:	Stewart.robert@epa.gov.
PHONENUMBER:	(913) 551-7654
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
COORDINATOR:
PHONE NUMBER:
E-MAIL ADDRESS:
STATE CONTACT:
PHONE NUMBER:
Beckie Himes
(913)551-7003
himes.beckie@epa.gov
Leo Henning
(785)296-1914
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
STATE:	KS
07GE
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:	01
EPA ORGANIZATION:	SFD-MOKS/SUPR
MODIFICATIONS
Created by:	Karla	Created Date:	01/16/98 10:36 AM
Asb erry/SUPRFUND/R7/U S
EPA/US
Last Modified by: Hattie	Last Modified Date: 12/12/2005 05:12 PM
Thomas/OEP/R7/U SEP A/U
S

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