De Soto residents can question U.S. Army, state and federal environmental officials about the decades-long cleanup of the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant at a public meeting Thursday, Oct. 22.

The Restoration Advisory Board meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the Senior Center at De Soto City Hall, 32905 W. 84th St. Representatives from the U.S. Army, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will take questions on site concerns and the path forward for cleanup, according to the city's announcement.

The former ammunition plant spans roughly 9,065 acres in northwest Johnson County, about three miles southwest of De Soto. The U.S. Army says the facility was established in 1941 as the world's largest powder and propellant plant. It produced munitions for World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War before the Army declared it excess in the late 1990s.

During more than 50 years of operation, hazardous substances were released into the environment, according to the Army. The property was sold to Sunflower Redevelopment, LLC in 2005 after Congress authorized the transfer.

The Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for cleaning up all environmentally hazardous materials at the site, according to the city of De Soto. The federal government is paying for the remediation.

The city’s cleanup FAQ lists expected completion dates of 2028 for soil remediation and 2030 for groundwater remediation, followed by continued groundwater monitoring. The Army has reported no evidence that contamination has crossed property lines, and De Soto's drinking water comes from the river, according to the city.

KDHE accepted public comments on Statements of Basis for seven sites at the plant from July 7 through Aug. 7, according to the state agency's website. That comment period has closed. Multiple sites have already completed their remedies, KDHE said.

In a 2021 report, Fox 4 Kansas City reported that KDHE had cleared two sections of the property. Randy Carlson, then a section chief for KDHE's remedial section, told Fox 4 at the time that additional work remained. "There's another 27 sites that they still need to do an investigation to determine if they need to be cleaned up," Carlson said in the 2021 interview.

Residents who want more information can contact Scott Smith at (202) 815-6779 or [email protected].

Upcoming:

  • Thursday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m. — Restoration Advisory Board meeting, De Soto City Hall Senior Center, 32905 W. 84th St., De Soto