Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Wichita council member Johnson: lease approvals clear path for 2026 start of 10-year cleanup at 29th and Grove
Summary
Council member Johnson said the Wichita City Council unanimously approved lease agreements with Union Pacific Railroad that clear the way to install groundwater extraction wells in 2026; once operational the wells will begin a roughly 10-year remediation of trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination and the city is coordinating screenings for affected residents.
Council member Johnson told a public forum that the Wichita City Council has taken steps to move forward with remediation of the 29th and Grove trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination plume, reporting the council "unanimously approved multiple lease agreements for right of way and public stormwater system usage with Union Pacific Railroad."
Johnson said the approvals allow Union Pacific to install extraction wells intended to remove TCE from groundwater. He estimated the wells could be installed in 2026 and that, "until these extraction wells are in the ground and fully operational, you're looking at 10 years until that cleanup will happen."
Why it matters: TCE is an industrial solvent linked to liver and kidney harm and was first discovered in the plume's groundwater in 1994. Johnson said local, county and state…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
