We are currently experiencing technical difficulties with requests for some documents. If an attempt to download an individual document from the “Documents/Photos Available” link does not return the expected results, please contact the Project Manager associated with the Identified Site or the Remedial Section at 785-296-1660. We are working to resolve this problem as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) completed a Phase I Brownfields Targeted Assessment (BTA) at the Sunrise Garden Center located at 1501 Learnard Avenue in Lawrence, KS. The property has been previously used as a greenhouse and nursery, and the Lawrence Community Food Alliance plans to acquire the property for use as an urban gardening center. Based on the Phase I BTA report, "Recognized Environmental Conditions" (RECs) were identified in connection with the property as potential releases of hazardous substances and/ or petroleum products due to the historical use of the property as a greenhouse since 1921 and the potential use of banned pesticides and/ or herbicides, and visible soil staining under two aboveground storage tanks (ASTs). A Phase II BTA was recommended to assess if the RECs had adversely affected soil and groundwater at the BTA site.
The Phase II field activities were completed on June 13, 2015, and consisted of four collocated soil and groundwater borings and two groundwater borings. A total of five soil samples were collected, and only three groundwater samples were collected due to low yield. Boring depth ranged from 23 to 25 feet (ft) below ground surface (bgs). Soil and groundwater samples were analyzed for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) Gasoline Range Organics (GRO), TPH Diesel Range Organics (DRO), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), nitrates and pesticides.
TPH DRO and acetone were detected in the soil at location MW-3 (2 to 3 ft bgs) at concentrations of 13.7 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) and 0.0425 mg/kg respectively, but these concentrations are well below their respective KDHE Risk-Based Standards for Kansas (RSK) levels. No other contaminant of concern (COCs) were detected in any of the soil samples above laboratory reporting limits.
TPH DRO was detected in two groundwater samples including MW-1 and MW-5 at concentrations of 0.97 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and 1.9 mg/L respectively, which exceed the KDHE RSK non-residential level of 0.72 mg/L. Nitrate was detected in MW-1 and MW-4 at concentrations of 17.2 mg/L and 19.9 mg/L respectively, which exceed the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 mg/L. Additionally, nitrate was detected in the groundwater sample MW-5 at 0.61 mg/L, which is below the MCL. No other COCs were detected in the groundwater samples above laboratory reporting limits.
The location of the diesel AST corresponds to the location of boring MW-3 and sample SB-3, which detected TPH DRO in the soil below the KDHE RSK at 2 to 3 ft. Although this detection is below the KDHE RSK level, TPH DRO detections were identified above the KDHE RSK in the groundwater downgradient from the M-3 location, and the diesel AST could be a potential source area. As such, it is recommended that the tanks be registered and that the property be referred to the KDHE Storage Tanks Program for determination of eligibility. The source of the nitrate contamination is unknown and further investigation is warranted through the Site Assessment Program.

In addition to the sampling activities described above, KDHE performed additional sampling on May 13, 2015 as an addendum to the Phase II BTA. Ten surface soil samples were collected across the property using a hand auger and analyzed for metals: arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, selenium, and silver; and one water sample was collected from the concrete basin in the main greenhouse and analyzed for pesticides. No metals were detected in the soil and no pesticides were detected in the water sample above their respective KDHE RSK levels.