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AgForce

All POL/SITREP's for this site AgForce
Herington, KS - EPA Region VII
POLREP #1
Pollution Report (Initial) #1
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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
AgForce - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII

Subject: POLREP #1
Pollution Report (Initial) #1
AgForce
KSN000705876
Herington, KS
Latitude: 38.6772000 Longitude: -96.9265000


To:
From: Randy Schademann, OSC
Date: 3/17/2009
Reporting Period: 3/15/2009

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number: KSN000705876    Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date: 3/15/2009
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Time-Critical
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:      Start Date:  
Demob Date:      Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:



1.1.1 Incident Category

            Time-critical, fund-lead removal action from state referral.

1.1.2 Site Description

 

The AgForce Site (Site) is located at the northeast boundary of the city limits of Herington, Morris County, Kansas.  The Site has been the location of a succession of failed agricultural chemical businesses, the latest being AgForce Chemical, LLC.  AgForce, along with Northeast Kansas Ag Chemical, LLC (the owner of the property) and Gregory D. Bachman, Managing Member/President of both AgForce Chemical, LLC and Northeast Kansas Ag Chemical, LLC, filed for bankruptcy in May 2007.  The Site is currently being used by former employees of AgForce as an equipment staging area for row crop agriculture.

                                   

            The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has conducted several investigations at the Site.  In 2003 when Sunflower Services Inc. owned and conducted business operations on the property, KDHE conducted a Site Reconnaissance and Evaluation (RSE).  Sunflower Services, apparently not related to AgForce, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2005.   The Receiver for Sunflower Services transferred title to the property to Northeast Kansas Ag Chemical, LLC, in March 2006. 

 

The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) conducted several inspections in the fall of 2006 and noted cracks in secondary containment walls, various unlabeled containers filled with unidentified liquids stored outside containment area – some of which were leaking, and areas of stained soil, indicating materials had leaked onto the ground.  According to information garnered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), AgForce, LLC, last conducted operations at the property in March 2007.  KDHE conducted a Preliminary Removal Site Evaluation (PRE) in March 2008.  KDHE identified a number of tanks, drums, and stained soil on the Site.  Samples collected during the PRE identified multiple herbicides, including 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), atrazine, simazine, and propachlor.  KDHE also prepared a Preliminary Assessment (PA) in May 2008.  Based on the PA, KDHE concluded that releases from the Site were entering an off-site pond on property adjacent to the Site.

 

EPA conducted a removal assessment in August 2008 and additional samples were collected in 2009.  All on-site tanks (26), drums (23), and totes (1) were evaluated to determine whether they contained any material.  Samples were collected from 11 of the tanks for laboratory analysis.  All of the drums were sampled and field screened to determine waste category.  Three soil samples were collected from bare areas that would have otherwise likely have had vegetative cover.  An additional six soil samples were collected from several inches beneath these bare areas and in close proximity to delineate the contamination.



1.1.2.1 Location

            The Site is located at 1401 Helen Street, Herington, Kansas (38.6772 degrees north latitude and 96.92650 west longitude.
            

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

            The Action Memorandum was signed on March 16, 2009.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

             Efforts to locate a viable PRP continue.
           
2.1.4 Progress Metrics

            Removal activities are scheduled to begin in late March 2009.


 

Wastestream

 

Medium

 

Quantity



Manifest #

 

Treatment

 

Disposal

     

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

            Removal activities are scheduled to begin in late March.  The following waste streams are anticipated:

  •      Approximately 50,000 gallons of herbicide-tainted fertilizer will be land applied following the Kansas Department of Agriculture specifications.
  •      Approximately 5,000 gallons of herbicide-tainted fertilizer will require treatment (e.g., through a wastewater treatment facility).
  •      Approximately 1,200 gallons of miscellaneous hazardous waste will require incineration.
  •      Approximately 200 cubic yards of herbicide-contaminated soil will be land applied.       
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues

  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.

  2.5 Other Command Staff
    No information available at this time.

3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command


3.2 Cooperating Agencies
            The KDHE and KDA have been active in developing the response strategy on this site.

4. Personnel On Site
  No information available at this time.

5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.

6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
For additional information please refer to http://www.epaosc.org/agforce.

6.2 Reporting Schedule
            The next PolRep will be developed upon initiation of on-site activities in late March.

7. Situational Reference Materials
  No information available at this time.