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 ------- 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. as & '/YV / ------- 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. ------- 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. ------- SITE REPOSITORY m 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 ------- |