The Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Brownfields are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Often the potential liability associated with contamination complicates business development, property transactions, or expansion on these properties. Cleaning up and redeveloping brownfields properties is necessary to preserve neighborhoods, reduce urban sprawl, and stop the continued development of new industrial and commercial facilities on farmland. By investigating and cleaning up a brownfields property and taking care of the site's potential health or environmental risks, communities can use local land again - producing jobs, increasing the tax base, or adding other benefits such as creating a park or residential area.

Brownfields Program Accomplishments

State Water Program

The SWP program is funded annually from the State Water Plan, i.e., the State Water Resources Planning Act (K.S.A. 82a-901 et seq.). The overall objective of the SWP program is to provide a mechanism to ensure that the water resources of the State of Kansas are of sufficient quantity and quality to meet current and future needs of its citizens. The program is based on the "Water Pollution Remediation" policy which "require[s] the State to initiate remedial procedures when a responsible party is unknown or cannot or will not undertake necessary action. Any person determined responsible is still responsible for repayment of the costs of the clean-up work."

State Water Program Accomplishments

Voluntary Cleanup and Property Redevelopment Program (VCPRP)

The unit provides oversight and approval of investigations and remedial actions conducted by voluntary or responsible parties at contaminated properties in the Voluntary Cleanup and Property Redevelopment Program (VCPRP). Under the VCPRP, developers and buyers who perform successful cleanups of contaminated properties that are within established criterion will be granted a "No Further Action" determination by the department, satisfying the regulated community's need for protection from potential future liabilities. Adjacent property owners who did not contribute to the contamination would receive protection from the department through such determinations.

A streamlined process is utilized to address these sites in an expeditious manner to encourage the redevelopment or enhancement of such properties and to discourage the use of pristine land in the State at the expense of established commercial and industrial tracts. This program is voluntary and is designed to allow industry and businesses to bring forth sites that need attention so their properties are appropriately addressed in a timely manner through a local/state partnership.

Voluntary Cleanup Property Redevelopment Program Accomplishments

State Cooperative Program

The State Cooperative Program is a program through which the department works cooperatively with industry, municipalities, private citizens, and other parties potentially responsible for environmental contamination to investigate and remediate contaminated sites. The program provides professional and objective technical oversight of environmental investigation and remedial activities at contaminated sites to provide quality assurance and quality control. This function is critical to ensure the safety and welfare of people in Kansas and to protect or remediate critical natural resources of the State, including surface water bodies and ground water aquifers which serve as drinking water supplies. The program endeavors to provide safe drinking water supplies to private water well owners and to public water supplies which are contaminated or threatened by environmental contamination resulting from releases of toxic chemicals into the environment. Participation within the program protects potentially responsible parties from potential Superfund listing and involvement with the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Over a ten year period the program has seen a dramatic increase in the number of contaminated sites, from 201 known contaminated sites in 1986 to 668 known contaminated sites in 1996.

State Cooperative Program Accomplishments

Site Assessment Unit

The Site Assessment Unit is responsible for performing assessments at sites with actual or potential releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants which may impact the human health and/or environment of the citizens of the State of Kansas. Citizens' complaints, new site discoveries, and local government referrals are assessed using money obtained through a grant agreement from the Environmental Protection Agency. Sites that have been properly assessed by the program are then referred to a state or federal program for appropriate response action.

The Site Assessment Unit also provides field support for the other sections within BER. Staff in the unit are highly trained to properly assess contaminated sites and have a variety of field equipment available to assist in the site assessments. Field resources include drilling rigs, Geoprobe units, a mobile laboratory, geophysical tools, an x-ray fractionator, a ground water sampling trailer, and other numerous types of field equipment.

Site Assessment Unit Accomplishments