Ace Services is a former chrome plating facility in Colby, Kansas, that operated from 1969 to 1975. Chromium-contaminated wastewater was discharged directly onto the ground and into an unlined evaporation lagoon, which leaked into soil and groundwater. Lead contamination from lead chromate releases was also found at the site. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in September 1995.
The main contaminants are chromium, hexavalent chromium, and lead. Chromium and hexavalent chromium were detected in groundwater, and lead was found in residuals, air, and debris in the building and soil area. Chromium is used in chrome plating, dyes, leather tanning, and wood preserving. Lead has been used in batteries, ammunition, solder, and pipes, though its use in paints and other products has been greatly reduced due to health concerns.
Cleanup was divided into two operable units. The first addressed building and soil contamination. Workers removed concrete floors, cleaned interior surfaces, and demolished the plating and machine shop buildings. Contaminated soils were removed, and a geosynthetic membrane was installed over a 32,000-square-foot area where the old waste lagoon stood. The second operable unit addressed groundwater. A treatment system using ion exchange was built on-site and runs continuously. Private wells were connected to the city water supply, and a city ordinance prohibits new wells in the contaminated area. Construction was completed in September 2003, and the state took over operation and maintenance in April 2014.
The 2023 Five-Year Review found the remedy protective of human health and the environment in the short term. The groundwater extraction and treatment system has contained and reduced the contaminated plume. However, elevated chromium concentrations and rising trends in several monitoring wells require additional attention. If rising chromium is detected in specific downstream wells in the future, EPA may need to reassess the extraction system or monitoring network to ensure long-term protection. The site achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status in September 2019, and one business currently operates there. The site has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List.
Community members can get involved by joining the site mailing list to receive updates and learn about future public participation opportunities. Two programs offer additional support. The Technical Assistance Services for Communities program provides free help from EPA-contracted scientists and engineers to explain site conditions and EPA actions. Technical Assistance Grants offer up to $50,000 to qualified community groups to hire a technical advisor. Site records are available for public review at Pioneer Memorial Library at 375 W. 4th Street in Colby, Kansas.
