Big River Sand Co. is a 123-acre property in Wichita, Kansas, where roughly half the land was mined for sand and gravel. A sand quarry and junkyard currently operate there. The site was added to the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in June 1986, which flags sites needing investigation and cleanup under the federal Superfund program.
Cleanup focused on two areas called operable units. The first covered site evaluation, and the second addressed remedial activities. A Removal Action from 1982 to 1984 dealt with hazardous paint sludges and solvents on the property. EPA then conducted a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study, wrapping up with a Record of Decision in June 1988 that selected no further action as the final remedy. Thirteen contaminants were identified at the site. Twelve of them, including aluminum, barium, chromium, copper, lead, and zinc, were found in soil. Selenium was found in groundwater.
By October 1992, the site was deleted from the NPL, meaning cleanup goals had been met. A Five-Year Review completed in March 2004 confirmed that cleanup remained protective of human health and the environment. Groundwater selenium levels had dropped below the maximum contaminant level, the federal drinking water standard. EPA concluded that contamination no longer existed above levels that would restrict how the land could be used, and discontinued further Five-Year Reviews after 2004. By June 2006, the site achieved "sitewide ready for anticipated reuse" status, meaning all cleanup goals had been met for current and expected future land uses.
Today, no environmental risks are associated with the site. Human exposure is under control, and groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. EPA will continue monitoring to confirm contaminated groundwater stays within the original area. No further cleanup activities are anticipated.
Community members or others with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager. An administrative record from June 1988 containing 132 documents covers the site's history and cleanup actions in detail.
