Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant 

Public Notice for Statements of Basis for SWMUs 2, 15, 16, 21 32, 33, 34, 35, 52, 59, 61, AOCs 10, 11, 12, 27, and WSA 17E 

The KDHE Bureau of Environmental Remediation (BER) is soliciting public comments regarding remediation at 16 sites at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant (SFAAP) near De Soto, Kansas. Sites of interest include the following:

• Solid Waste Management Units (SWMUs):
  • SWMU 2 – River Water Treatment Plant 
  • SWMU 15 – Hazardous Waste Storage Magazines
  • SWMU 16 – Temporary Waste Storage Magazines 
  • SWMU 21 – Contaminated Materials Burning Grounds 
  • SWMU 32 – Lead Decontamination Recovery Unit 
  • SWMU 33 – Paste Area Half Tanks and Settling Ponds 
  • SWMU 34 – Fiver Corners Settling Ponds 
  • SWMU 35 – Nitroglycerin Area Settling Ponds 
  • SWMU 52 – Paint Bay (Building 542) 
  • SWMU 59 – Laundry Facility 
  • SWMU 61 – Environmental Laboratory (Building 232) 
• Area of Concern (AOCs): 
  • AOC 10 – Storage Magazines 
  • AOC 11 – Forced Air Dryers and Rest, Screen, and Can Pack Houses 
  • AOC 12 – Paste Air Dry Facilities 
  • AOC 27 – Gas Station and Maintenance Shops 
• White Space Area (WSA):
  • WSA 17E – Administrative and Support Service Area East 

Twenty-eight of the sites have already completed the remedies due to past US Army cleanup progress. Clean up at 46 SWMUs, 22 AOCs, 4 Groundwater Operable Units (GWOUs), and 11 White Space Areas (WSAs) remains to be completed. The Statements of Basis (SB) present KDHE’s preferred alternatives for the sites; however, KDHE may modify the alternative or select another response action based on new information or public comments. 

KDHE will review and consider all information submitted during a 30-day public comment period of December 18th, 2025, through January 18th, 2026. Upon successful completion of all remedies, KDHE will prepare a Final Agency Decision for closure and No Further Corrective Action Planned (NFCAP) Determination letter by documenting completed contaminant cleanup or assessment data indicating no cleanup is warranted. 

The SB documents and other information on the cleanup for the Sites are available for public review at the KDHE office in Topeka by contacting Ethan Wagner, at (785) 291-3066. Also, the Administrative Record for the sites is available during the comment period at: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/716/Sunflower-Army-Ammunition-Plant. 

KDHE will accept written comments on the SFAAP SBs for SWMUs 2, 15, 16, 21 32, 33, 34, 35, 52, 59, 61, AOCs 10, 11, 12, 27, and WSA 17E from December 18th, 2025, through January 18th, 2026. A public meeting is not scheduled at this time but may be held virtually or in person if the public requests one in writing with a statement of issues to be discussed. 

Public comments on the SBs may be submitted to KDHE in writing during the 30-day comment period at the address listed below, or by electronic mail (email) at Ethan.Wagner@ks.gov. Comments sent by mail must be postmarked by January 18th, 2026 and emails also must be received by 5:00 p.m. on January 18th, 2026. All comments that are received by KDHE prior to the end of the public comment period will be addressed by KDHE in the Responsiveness Summary Section of the Final Decision Document. 

Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Bureau of Environmental Remediation
Federal Facilities Unit
1000 SW Jackson Street, Suite 410
Topeka, KS 6612