Contact Information
Shannan Beisser (beisser.shannan@epa.gov)
816-520-1949
LENEXA, KAN. (AUG. 2, 2022) - The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 has approved a modification to a permit issued
to Sunflower Redevelopment LLC and the U.S. Army at the former Sunflower Army
Ammunition Plant in De Soto, Kansas. This permit modification, made with the
support of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), paves the
way for the property’s redevelopment.
The former plant has been operating under a Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action permit since 1991. Based
upon Sunflower Redevelopment LLC’s demonstration of cleanup activities, EPA
approved the requested modification, thereby removing certain areas of the
property from permit requirements.
Corrective action cleanup activities will continue in areas
still subject to the permit. Groundwater across the entire property, including
the area removed from the permit, will be addressed as part of future work. In
July, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced that the former Sunflower Army
Ammunition Plant will be the future site of Panasonic Energy Co.’s battery
manufacturing plant.
“Years of hard work and collaboration between EPA Region 7,
KDHE, and the permittees have gone into cleaning up the former Sunflower Army
Ammunition Plant,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “This
permit modification recognizes the successes gained and opens the door for the
property’s reuse as the site of the largest economic development project in
Kansas’ history.”
“Redevelopment of the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant is a
testament to the success that comes when government and the private sector work
together in a cooperative manner,” said KDHE Deputy Secretary for Environment
Leo Henning. “Working with EPA, the U.S. Army Environmental program, and
private business, KDHE is excited to be a part of the redevelopment work at the
Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant.”
EPA Region 7 will mail a notice
of this permit modification to Kansas residents and businesses near the former
Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant.
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