Commissioner: EPA monitoring Soil contamination at Chemical Commodities Inc. site in Old Town Olathe
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Summary
Commissioner Ashcraft summarized an EPA briefing about the Chemical Commodities Inc. Superfund site near Keeler and Cedar in Old Town Olathe, noting soil contamination affecting about 50 homes and ongoing monitoring and mitigation steps including air filtration and resident outreach.
Commissioner Ashcraft told the Board of County Commissioners on May 15 that the EPA is actively monitoring the Chemical Commodities Inc. Superfund site in Old Town Olathe and has begun outreach and mitigation measures to protect nearby residents.
"There doesn't appear to be a ready concern about groundwater contamination," Commissioner David Ashcraft (full name and title per transcript) said, "but it does have a soil contamination impact and will eventually reach groundwater." He said the site sits near the intersection of Keeler and Cedar and that his notes indicate the facilities stored and repackaged chemicals from roughly 1951 to 1989. Ashcraft said about 50 homes are currently in the potentially affected area.
Ashcraft described EPA steps including monitoring and offering air-filtration systems to households because contaminants can migrate into crawl spaces and trapped areas similar to radon. He asked county staff to consider posting an easier-to-use link on the county website because the federal materials provided to residents were, in his words, "cumbersome for typing." County staff said the health department and EPA are coordinating outreach.
No immediate county action or funding decision occurred at the meeting; the item was reported as an update from the commissioner and staff. Commissioners were advised the site is being monitored and that residents are being contacted about mitigation and monitoring options.
