Fort Riley is an active U.S. Army base covering more than 101,000 acres in north-central Kansas. It was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in August 1990 after military operations released hazardous substances into soil, groundwater, and surface water. The site is divided into nine operable units (OUs), each targeting a specific problem area.
Contaminants vary by location. Groundwater holds the widest range, including chlorinated solvents like trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and vinyl chloride, along with benzene and heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and beryllium. Soil and surface water at the open burn and detonation area contain benzo(a)pyrene and naphthalene. The former pesticide storage facility has chlordane, dieldrin, heptachlor, and DDT compounds in soil. Lead contaminates soil at the small arms range, and unexploded ordnance remains in the Republican River and Breakneck Creek near Camp Forsyth. The Army has also been investigating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) since 2020, after initial sampling found PFAS above screening levels in groundwater.
The U.S. Army is the responsible party and leads cleanup under EPA and Kansas oversight. Progress has been made across several units. Remedial actions are complete at the Pesticide Storage Facility, Funston Landfill, Marshall Air Field, and Building 354. The dry cleaning facility and small arms range have also finished their main remedial action phases. Soil removal at the open burn and detonation area finished in 2023, with groundwater work completed in 2025. Active removal of military munitions continues at Camp Forsyth Landfill Area 2. Five units remain in long-term groundwater monitoring. The Fifth Five-Year Review, completed September 28, 2022, found current remedies protective of human health and the environment, though some units need more work for long-term protectiveness. Physical construction of cleanup has not been completed across the entire site, and groundwater migration status cannot be determined due to insufficient data.
The Sixth Five-Year Review is scheduled to begin by September 2026 and wrap up by September 27, 2027. No public meetings are currently planned. Community members can join the site mailing list to hear about future participation opportunities. Two free assistance programs are available: the Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) program provides independent support through EPA contractors, and Technical Assistance Grants (TAGs) offer up to $50,000 to qualified community groups to hire their own technical advisor.
