Site Narrative:
Background:
The Americold Logistics Site (Site) is located at 6500 Inland Drive in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas. The Site includes a former underground warehouse facility developed within a room-and-pillar limestone mine and is approximately 0.0114 acres. The mine is situated within a steep escarpment composed of alternating limestone and shale bedrock formations. It is located on the south side of the Kansas River. Quarrying began around 1900, with approximately 835 acres mined. In the 1950s, about 110 acres were developed into underground warehouse space for dry, cold, and freezer storage of grocery items. Several structures are located above the mine, including municipal roads, an electrical substation, residential homes, and numerous utility easements. Adjacent land use is mixed residential, commercial, and industrial. Single-family residences border the Site to the northeast, east, and southeast. Inland Drive borders the Site to the west, along with a former truck stop (Don’s Fuel Stop), a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail yard, a tractor-trailer storage lot, and agricultural land beyond the road and rail corridor.
In 1991, a fire occurred in warehouse rooms 22 and 24. The fire continued for an extended period and affected room 28 as well. After the refrigeration systems in room 28 were shut down, structural failure of the ceiling occurred. This caused "dome outs," where blocks of rock detached from the roof and formed dome-shaped voids. Ground surface subsidence was also reported in this area. The warehouse was closed and abandoned in 2001. On September 27, 2006, Americold Logistics, LLC entered into Voluntary Agreement No. 06VCP0035 with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to address potential environmental concerns associated with the cessation of mine dewatering operations at the former Central States Resources Site. Prior to shutdown, eight dewatering pumps located approximately 250 feet apart had been installed throughout the subsurface mine to manage groundwater and surface water infiltration. These pumps conveyed collected water to a central sump and then to a surface drainage channel oriented perpendicular to Inland Drive, where it was discharged. The subsurface quarrying operations ceased in 2005, raising concerns about water accumulation and the potential mobilization of contaminants within the former mine workings.
In response to land surface subsidence along Holliday Drive following the cessation of underground quarry operations at the former Central States Resources Site, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas initiated a stabilization project involving the injection of fly ash into selected portions of the subsurface mine. The purpose of the injections was to mitigate future subsidence risk associated with unfilled mine voids and subsequently fly ash was injected into 9 grid cells. The fly ash stabilization activities were conducted with approval from and oversight by KDHE Bureau of Waste Management.
A meeting between KDHE and Americold representatives on April 10, 2007, resulted in a determination that no further investigation would be conducted within the mine due to its unstable condition. As such, the mine area was not considered eligible for a No Further Action (NFA) determination. Thereafter, investigations were requested to evaluate potential environmental concerns at surface features, including the loading docks, rail spur, former aboveground storage tank (AST) and underground storage tank (UST) locations, and the former Board of Public Utilities (BPU) substation.
Geologic Conditions:
The site is located just south of the Kansas River, with a former warehouse and mine excavated into the Bethany Falls Limestone, a 20-foot-thick formation common in the region. This limestone includes a central, 7-foot section of evenly bedded rock that typically forms the mine roof. It is overlain by 7 feet of shale and then the Winterset Limes tone, which adds structural support. While the shale layers usually prevent vertical groundwater infiltration, erosion or fracturing can allow water to reach the limestone. Groundwater is shallow in nearby Kansas River alluvium and also present in bedrock units like the Hushpuckney and Stark Shales. Notably, groundwater seeping from the Stark Shale into roof bolt holes caused corrosion and ceiling detachment in some mine areas, prompting installation of systems to divert seepage and protect the mine structure.
Voluntary Cleanup Investigations (VCIs):
*Phase I (2007): Soil, sediment, and water samples identified metals (cadmium, lead, mercury) and TPH-DRO exceedances near the rail spur and BPU substation. Groundwater seeps from the mine exceeded RSKs for cadmium, lead, and selenium.
*Phase II (2009): Additional sampling showed fewer impacts. Arsenic slightly exceeded criteria in some areas. Seep drainage still showed metals above RSKs but was not deemed a health risk.
*Phase III (2010): Arsenic in BPU area found to be consistent with natural background. TPH-DRO below concern.
*Mine Water Sampling (2013): VOCs and dioxins/furans were not detected at concerning levels. KDHE noted some dioxin congeners in split samples, but below risk thresholds.
*Voluntary Cleanup Plan (2015):
Approved with no public comment, the plan involved excavation and disposal of impacted soils at two areas:
*Area 1 (Rail Spur): 20’ x 20’ footprint, 2’ deep.
*Area 2 (BPU Substation): ~4,200 sq ft, 2’ deep.
Cleanup Results:
*Area 1: 37 cubic yards of metal-impacted soil removed in 2016. Follow-up excavation eliminated lead exceedance at the east sidewall. All confirmation samples were below RSKs.
*Area 2: 67+ cubic yards excavated in 2016. TPH-MRH exceedances remained, leading to two additional excavation phases in 2016 and 2017. Despite extensive removal, TPH-MRH exceedances persisted at 4–5 feet below ground (up to 2,190 mg/kg). TPH-HRH and TPH-LRH remained below thresholds.
Risk Evaluation & Environmental Use Controls (EUCs):
A site-specific risk evaluation determined that residual contamination at depth did not pose a health risk due to limited exposure potential should EUCs be placed to limit exposure at depths. KDHE accepted this assessment, and EUCs (22-EUC-0031) were placed to restrict soil disturbance and future land use in affected areas.
Conclusion:
The Americold Site successfully completed all KDHE-approved cleanup actions. Contamination was either removed or rendered non-risk under current/future land uses. EUCs ensure long-term protection. As such, a No Further Action determination has been issued under KDHE's Voluntary Cleanup and Property Redevelopment Program. |