The Miami County Planning Commission voted unanimously (7-0) on July 1 to recommend approval of CUP 25003 for a temporary land-farm remediation project referred to as Zarko 66. The permit would allow staged treatment of contaminated soils on several acres south of 300th and Third Street; staff recommended a three-year permit to allow flexibility in case of weather or operational delays.

Kenny Cook, Miami County planning director, explained the proposal: the operation would temporarily remediate soils on roughly three acres, then return the land to agricultural use. Cook said the applicant had worked with KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment) and submitted a stormwater pollution-prevention plan and a notice of intent to ensure runoff is managed. Cook told commissioners the applicant expected to treat about 1,200 cubic yards and estimated 55–85 truck trips in total, with a likely maximum of about 40 loads per day during excavation and backfill activity.

Matt Krolick of Cranko Great Plains, the applicant’s representative, told commissioners the company planned to begin operations as early as Aug. 1 if approvals were received and expected excavation and backfilling to take approximately three weeks, with treatment and monitoring taking five to eight months. Krolick described the remediation process: the contaminated soil would be spread, monitored with field screening and analytical sampling (one analytical sample per 300 cubic yards) and would remain in place until KDHE confirmation of non-detect results.

Concerns raised in the public comment period included proximity to Plum Creek (a neighboring resident asked which side of the creek the site occupies) and routine questions about truck traffic and odors. Cook and the applicant said berms and a stormwater plan would be used to protect waterways and that any short‑term odors typically diminish after the first week of treatment.

Commissioner discussion focused on road impacts. Commissioners noted that part of the route to the site transitions to gravel within about 0.6 miles and that most of the hauling would be short-term. To address potential damage to the unpaved entrance and culvert, a commissioner proposed amending the recommended conditions so the applicant is responsible for repairing any damage to the site entrance or culvert; commissioners adopted that change and made it part of condition 7. The motion to approve CUP 25003 as amended passed unanimously. The planning commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for final action on July 23.

The applicant and staff will be responsible for coordinating KDHE monitoring, adhering to the approved stormwater pollution-prevention plan, and ensuring sampling and reporting obligations are met before the site returns to agricultural production.