PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT
FORT RILEY
(a/k/a FORT RILEY MILITARY RESERVATION)
FORT RILEY, GEARY COUNTY, KANSAS
Conclusions regarding potential past, current, and future exposures to various environmental media on and in the vicinity of Fort Riley are based on a thorough evaluation of remedial site investigation data, groundwater and surface water monitoring data, municipal drinking water supply data, and observations made during site visits. On the basis of its evaluation, ATSDR reached the following conclusions:
- No public health hazards associated with contaminated groundwater have occurred
in the past, nor are they expected to occur. Elevated levels of VOCs associated
with Fort Riley’s MAAF-FFTA have been detected in a downgradient private drinking
water well supplying a nearby auto speedway, but no harmful exposures have
occurred in the past. Exposures are not expected to occur either now or in
the future because the affected well water is no longer used as drinking water
and Fort Riley continues to regularly monitor groundwater contamination associated
with the MAAF-FFTA.
- No public health hazards are associated with contaminants in on-post soil.
In the past, surface soil in an isolated area of the Colyer Manor Housing
Area and the Pesticide Storage Facility contained high levels of lead and
pesticides, respectively. No harmful exposures occurred because access to
these areas either was limited or restricted. No exposures are occurring or
are expected to occur in the future because Fort Riley excavated the contaminated
soil in 1994. No public health hazards are associated with contaminants in
off-post soil at the Southeast Funston Landfill and Incinerator Area. Any
exposure that occurred in the past was minimal, and Fort Riley will conduct
a removal action before the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks develops
the area.
- ATSDR concludes that Fort Riley poses no apparent public health hazard. (A description of this public health hazard conclusion category is included in the glossary.)
The Public Health Action Plan (PHAP) for Fort Riley contains a description of actions taken and those to be taken by ATSDR, the Army, EPA, and the KDHE at and in the vicinity of the installation after the completion of this public health assessment. The purpose of the PHAP is to ensure that this public health assessment not only identifies public health hazards, but also provides a plan of action designed to mitigate and prevent adverse human health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous substances in the environment. The public health actions that are completed, being implemented, or planned are as follows:
Completed Actions:
- Fort Riley has investigated more than 40 sites under Superfund requirements.
Of these, Fort Riley has completed response actions at some sites, thereby
reducing potential threats to human health.
- ATSDR conducted site visits to Fort Riley in 1991, 1994, and 1998. At
the 1998 visit, ATSDR presented an overview of the public health assessment
process at a RAB meeting.
- Fort Riley has completed a removal action at the Southwest Funston Landfill
to stabilize the Kansas River bank and reduce the potential for infiltration.
They have also instituted controls and implemented long-term monitoring.
- Fort Riley has successfully completed a soil vapor extraction pilot study
to remove contaminants, primarily PCE, in soil at the DCF. Natural attenuation,
institutional controls, and long-term monitoring are expected to help resolve
contaminants in the adjacent alluvial aquifer. Fort Riley has also removed
most of the contaminated soil at MAAF-FFTA via a soil vapor extraction and
bioventing study.
- Fort Riley has successfully removed contaminated soil from both the Pesticide
Storage Facility and the Colyer Manor Housing Area (and other areas where
lead was a concern), and disposed the contaminated soil off site. Fort Riley
also determined that only low levels of lead, if any, were present in the
soil at the Ware and Custer Hill Schools. Based on a review of soil data and
opportunities for exposures, ATSDR determined that harmful exposures to contaminated
soil were unlikely to occur in the past, as they are unlikely to occur either
now or in the future.
- Fort Riley characterized contamination in groundwater downgradient from the MAAF-FFTA and in private wells at a nearby auto speedway. The owner of the speedway has reportedly stopped using the R-1 well as a source of water for the concession stand, and posters advise visitors and workers to refrain from drinking the speedway’s tap water. ATSDR reviewed both water quality data and exposure information and determined that no harmful exposures to contaminated groundwater were likely to have occurred in the past, nor are they likely to occur either now or in the future.
Ongoing/Planned Actions:
- Investigations are in various stages at several PAOCs as Fort Riley continues
to define the extent of contamination and recommend appropriate remedial actions.
- In addition to the specific areas mentioned, Fort Riley is investigating
other areas that may have contributed to underlying groundwater contamination
and is treating or removing contaminated soil or waste from these areas. Fort
Riley has installed wells in many areas of the site to monitor groundwater
quality over the long term. This system will ensure that contaminant migration
will be carefully tracked and that corrective measures will be taken, if necessary.
- Fort Riley will conduct a soil removal action at the Southeast Funston Landfill and Incinerator site.
- Fort Riley and neighboring communities will continue to monitor their water
supply, ensuring that area residents have a clean drinking water supply.
- Fort Riley will install a new well to replace the auto speedway’s R-1 and
R-2 wells, and possibly the M-1 well, pending property owner’s permission.
- A RAB for Fort Riley holds periodic meetings that are open to the community.
Community members can apply to be members of the RAB. The point of contact
at Fort Riley for the RAB is Carol Fittro, who can be reached at (785) 239-8662.
- ATSDR will review new information on exposure pathways that may be generated from remedial investigation activities.
Amanda Stoddard, M.P.H.
Environmental Health Scientist
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Emilio Gonzalez
Environmental Engineer
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Gary Campbell, Ph.D.
Environmental Health Scientist
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
1997. Toxicological Profile for Trichloroethylene. U.S. Department of Human
Services, Public Health Service. September 1997.
- Burns & McDonnell. 1998a. Data Summary Report, February 1998, FFTA-MAAF at Fort Riley, Kansas. November 11, 1998.
- Burns & McDonnell. 1998b. Data Summary Report, May/June 1998, FFTA-MAAF at Fort Riley, Kansas. November 11, 1998.
- Burns & McDonnell. 1999. Data Summary Report, August 1998, FFTA-MAAF at Fort Riley, Kansas. January 25, 1999.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 1991. Preventing lead poisoning in young children. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.
- Fort Riley. 1995. Record of Decision. Southwest Funston Landfill Operable Unit 001. Fort Riley, Kansas. November 1995.
- Fort Riley. 1997. Record of Decision. Pesticide Storage Area Operable Unit 002. Fort Riley, Kansas. September 1997.
- Fort Riley. 1998a. Fort Riley Installation Restoration Program Installation Action Plan. March 1998.
- Fort Riley. 1998b. Decision Memorandum, Multiple Sites, Fort Riley, Kansas. September 1998.
- Fort Riley. 1998c. Economic Impact Summary, October 1, 1996, to September 30, 1997.
- Fort Riley. 1998d. Personal communication between ATSDR and Fort Riley. December 1998.
- Fort Riley. 1999a. Personal communication between ATSDR and Fort Riley. June 24, 1999.
- Fort Riley. 1999b. Personal communication between ATSDR
and Fort Riley. September 15, 1999.
- Fort Riley. 1999c. Personal communication between ATSDR and Fort Riley. May 1999.
- Fort Riley. 1999d. May 1999 Groundwater monitoring results for MAAF-FFTA areas and private wells. May 1999.
- Fort Riley. 1999e. Removal Action at the Southeast Funston Landfill and Incinerator Area: Action Memorandum and Responsiveness Summary. June 1999.
- Geary County Health Department. 1999. Personal communication between ATSDR and Geary County Health Department. February 1999.
- Grandview Plaza. 1999. Personal communications between
ATSDR and Grandview Junction Town Offices. October 18, 1999.
- Law Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. 1995. Draft final remedial investigation addendum and feasibility study report for the remedial investigation/feasibility study. Pesticide Storage Facility, Fort Riley, Kansas. May 22, 1995.
- Louis Berger & Associates, Inc. 1993a. Draft installation
wide site assessment for Fort Riley, Kansas. Revised February 16, 1993.
- Louis Berger & Associates, Inc. 1993b. Data summary and evaluation report for investigation of high priority sites potentially contaminated with lead. June 25, 1993.
- Louis Berger & Associates, Inc. 1997a. Draft final exposure control action engineering evaluation/cost analysis for the Former Fire Training Area Marshall Army Airfield, Fort Riley, Kansas. December 1997.
- Louis Berger & Associates, Inc. 1997b. Draft Action Memorandum: Exposure control action engineering evaluation/cost analysis for the Former Fire Training Area, Marshall Army Airfield, Fort Riley, Kansas. December 29, 1997.
- Riley County Health Department. February. 1999. Personal communication between ATSDR and Riley County Health Department. February 1999.
