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On December 6, 1988, a flatbed semi broke down with an engine fire in a residential area near 70th Terrace on Leavenworth Road in Kansas City, KS. The driver was transporting hazardous and nonhazardous chemicals including 27 drums containing the oxidizer ammonium perchlorate. No truck placards were displayed, no shipping manifest could be found, and the driver and passenger appeared intoxicated. The truck driver was transporting containers from the Chemical Commodities, Inc., Olathe site to its Shawnee warehouse.

KC Fire Department responded and discovered the deteriorated drums labeled ammonium perchlorate and other unlabeled containers including fiberboard drums. Subsequently, the KCFD hazmat team responded. KCFD hazmat requested EPA assistance, and an EPA On Scene Coordinator responded. Kansas Power and Light notified responders a 16-inch natural gas main traversed under the road directly beneath the parked truck. Due to the potentially shock-sensitive explosive nature of ammonium perchlorate in contact with certain reducing materials EPA’s Tactical Assistance Team and Emergency Response Cleanup Services responded, and during the incident responders evacuated a two-block area and two nearby schools.

Due to the immediate perceived explosive threat and threat to human life and the environment EPA on December 7, 1988, drafted and approved a memo for an emergency removal action and commenced the removal the same day. A contractor removed and transported the ammonium perchlorate-containing drums for disposal at a RCRA-permitted explosive ordinance and demolition range. The contractor sampled the remaining drums and containers and transported them to CCI, Olathe at that time undergoing a removal action. National Transportation Safety Board personnel seized and subsequently removed the truck.

After the completed removal action and because hazardous substances no longer exist at the incident site, EPA classifies the site as a site with no hazardous substances per EPA CERCLA guidance (EPA document #540/G-91/013, September 1991) supporting an EPA no further action needed decision. EPA concludes a threat to human health and the environment no longer exists because no release occurred at the incident site, and responders removed and properly disposed of all hazardous materials and containers. This site requires no further action and KDHE classifies it resolved.