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Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis Available

Tri-County Public Airport Site, Herington, Kansas

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Region 7 has completed
the development of an Engineering
Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) to
address contaminated soils in the vicinity
of the north hangar (hangar 1) at the
Herington Regional Airport (Tri-County
Public Airport Site). This area is believed
to be a source of ground water
contamination at the Herington Regional
Airport. The EPA prepared the EE/CA at
the request of the Kansas Department of
Health and Environment (KDHE) in
anticipation of a response action to
address contaminated soils in the north
hangar area.

BACKGROUND

The Herington Army Air Field (HAAF)
was utilized by the Department of
Defense between 1942 and 1947. In
1948, the federal government transferred
the property to the city of Herington.
Since 1948, the city of Herington or an
agency of the City has owned the
Herington Regional Airport property. In
addition to the use of the site by the
Department of Defense and the City, the
property has been leased to numerous
other entities who have used it for
industrial purposes.

Starting in 1995, investigations of the
former HAAF and the surrounding area
have been conducted by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, KDHE, EPA, and
Raytheon Aircraft Company. Several
volatile organic compounds (VOCs),

including trichloroethylene (TCE), and
vinyl chloride were detected in ground
water as were fuel-related chemicals such
as: benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and
xylene. Samples taken from residential
wells located north and northwest of the
site indicated VOC-contamination above
the EPA health based levels for safe
drinking water (maximum contaminant
levels). TCE is commonly used as an
industrial solvent.

EE/CA PROCESS

The EE/CA process for the Herington
Regional Airport north hangar area
involved reviewing available site
investigations, collecting samples, and
conducting a pilot study. After completion
of the sampling and pilot study activities,
an EE/CA report was prepared. The
EE/CA report provides background
information on the site, identifies the
removal action objectives, reviews
potential cleanup alternatives, and
recommends a final response action
alternative. EPA's proposed removal
alternative is excavation and off-site
disposal of contaminated soil within an
engineered disposal cell.

The EE/CA and supporting
documents are available for public
viewing at the Herington Public Library,
102 South Broadway, Herington, Kansas,
(758) 258-2011.


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PUBLIC AVAILABILITY SESSION

EPA invites you to an informal meeting:

Tuesday, September 16, 2003
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Herington Community Building
810 South Broadway
Herington, Kansas

Representatives involved at the site
will be available to answer your
questions on the EE/CA or other site
issues one-on-one. You can attend the
meeting at your convenience at any time
between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

The EPA is accepting written
comments on the EE/CA report for a
period of 30 days starting on September
4, 2003. The EPA will then respond to
comments from the public and select the
final response action for cleanup of soils
in the north hangar area of the Herington
Regional Airport.

Comments may be made at the
Availability Session or sent in writing to:

Debbie Kring

Community Involvement Coordinator

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of External Programs

901 North 5th Street

Kansas City, Kansas 66101

krina.debbie@epa.aov

Toll-free @ 1-800-223-0425

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