Salina Public entities, made up of the City of Salina, Salina Airport Authority, USD 305 and Kansas State University, held a press conference today announcing their boards will be considering a Consent Decree with the United States of America settling claims associated with environmental contamination at the former Schilling Air Force Base.
According to the settlement, the Federal Government will pay an estimated $8.4 million and the city of Salina would pay approximately $936,300.
The Consent Degree is a voluntary agreement between the Salina Public Entities and the United States of America. The terms and conditions of the decree were negotiated as the result of U.S. District Court ordered mediation. The settlement provides for the first steps towards a comprehensive environmental cleanup for the former Schilling AFB in accordance with the provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, also known as CERCLA.
During mediation the Salina Public Entities and the United States agreed to the scope of the work and cost for the first of many tasks necessary to complete a CERCLA complaint cleanup of the AFB property. The initial tasks to be completed are a Remedial Investigation, a Feasabilitiy Study, and an issuance of a Corrective Action Decision by the Kansas Department of Health Environment.
The estimated cost to complete the RI/FS/CAD scope of work is $9,363,000. By the terms of the Consent Decree the United States of America will pay 90% of the costs ($8,426,700), and the Salina Public Entities are obligated to pay 10 percent of the costs ($936,300).
Regulatory oversight will be provided by the KDHE as detailed in the Consent Agreement and Final ORder that is attached to the Consent Decree as Exhibit A.
The Interlocal Agreement details how the Salina Public Entities intend to implement the requirements of the Consent Decree and CAFO. The scope of work defined by the Consent Decree and CAFO will be collectively administered by the chief executive officer of each of the Public Entities. The Salina Public Entities will contact and hire an environmental consulting and engineering firm (and other specialized firms) to accomplish the RI/FS/CAD scope of work.
It is anticipated that the Dragun Corporation will be the consulting and engineering first that will be hired by the Salina Public Entities. Dragun Corporation was selected in 2005 as the Public Entities technical consultant for the Former Schilling AFB site from among a number of highly qualified candidate firms through a competitive, qualification, and interview based selection process.
The terms of the Consent Decree and CAFO require the Salina Public Entities to name a consultant with expertise in environmental site investigation and remediation within 30 days of Consent Decree and CAFO approval.
The governing boards of the City of Salina, the Salina Airport Authority, USD 305, and Kansas State University are scheduled to consider the Consent Decree with the United States of America at a board meeting scheduled for the week of December 17. In addition to the proposed Consent Decree, the governing boards will consider adoption of an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement among the Salina Public Entities.
The City of Salina board of City Commissioners will consider the proposed Consent Decree and Interlocal Agreement at a meeting scheduled for Monday, December 17. In addition to the Consent Decree and Interlocal Agreement, the City of Salina will consider an environmental consulting and services agreement with the Dragun Corporation, Farmington Hills, Michigan.
The USD 305 board of education will consider the proposed Consent Decree and Interlocal Agreement at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 18.
The Salina Airport Authority board of directors will consider the proposed Consent Decree and Interlocal Agreement at a board of directors meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 19.
The Kansas Board of Regents will consider the proposed Consent Decree and Interlocal Agreement at its meeting scheduled for December 19 and 20 in Topeka, Kansas.
After approval by the Salina Public Entities, the Consent Decree and CAFO will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice for final signature by the United State of America. Following DOJ approval, the Consent Decree and CAFO will be submitted to United States District Judge, Carlos Murguia for the Court’s approval and entry of final judgement.
The project will have its own website for the benefit of interested citizens and area residents.
The CERCLA process and KDHE oversight includes regular public meetings and opportunities for public comment.
The cleanup process is likely to take 5 years for completion and could begin as early as Spring 2013.