Site Narrative:
Titan II Missile Site (MS) 3 was one of 18 ICBM facilities under the control of the 381st Strategic Missile Wing based at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas. The property was purchased by the U.S. Government in 1960, and construction of the facility began in 1961. The site was operational in 1963. In 1986 the site was dismantled and deactivated in accordance with the SALT Treaty.
MS3 is located approximately 20 miles northeast of MAFB and one mile north of Pickrell Corner on Highway 54 in Butler County, Kansas, in the southeast corner of Section 14, T27S, R5E.
Several relatively minor releases were reported at the site. Small quantities of diesel fuel were discovered in the silo sump in June 1982 and August 1983. In July 1983, small quantities of paint were discovered in the silo sump, and in August 1985, a hydrazine release occurred near the hardstand, and was neutralized with 40 pounds of high test hypochlorite.
The site is currently owned (June 2010) by Luke Justice. The primary land use of the site, as well as surrounding properties, is cattle grazing. The former fuel hardstand is currently used as a cattle feeding area. The property to the north of the site has been subdivided for home development, and cattle pastures are located to the south and west, with Highway 77 to the east. A concrete pad located near the western perimeter of the site, next to the former evaporation pond area, is currently being used to store cars and miscellaneous equipment. Residences are present within a half-mile radius of the site.
Investigations at the site include a Site Investigation (SI) in 2004 and a Remedial Investigation (RI) in 2007; the RI Report was approved in April 2011. During the 2004 and 2007 investigations the surface soil, subsurface soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater were analyzed for VOCs, SVOCs, metals, TPH-DRO, TPH-GRO, and PCBs. Analytes that exceed KDHE RSKs, Kansas Surface Water Quality Standards (KSWQS), or MacDonald Sediment Quality Guidelines included chromium in subsurface soil, manganese in groundwater, lead in surface water, and zinc in sediment. Manganese was detected at concentrations ranging from 93 to 108 micrograms per liter (µg/L) in three onsite shallow wells and 98.1 to 101 µg/L in two onsite deep wells. A sample from a deep background well yielded a concentration of 65.3 µg/L; the maximum contaminant level (and the RSK) for manganese in groundwater is 50 µg/L. Manganese concentrations found in groundwater are likely due to naturally occurring conditions at the site. Lead exceeded the Kansas Surface Water Quality Standards (KSWQS) in one surface water sample. No further action was recommended for MS3 in the 2007 RI Report.
A Feasibility Study Report was approved by KDHE in June 2012. No additional action was recommended for MS3.
Based on currently available information, a Record of Decision for No Further Action (NFA) at MS3 was approved by KDHE in September 2018. |