Salina, KS -
The Salina Public Entities, made up of the City of Salina, Salina Airport Authority, USD 305 and Kansas State University, approved a Consent Decree with the United States of America settling claims associated with environmental contamination at the Former Schilling Air Force Base (AFB).
The Consent Decree is a voluntary agreement between the Salina Public Entities and the United States of America. The Consent Decree resolves civil claims by the Salina Public Entities against the United States in U.S. District Court. The settlement provides for the funding of the Remedial Design (RD) and Remedial Action (RA) phases of the comprehensive environmental cleanup of the Former Schilling AFB in accordance with the provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, also known as CERCLA.
During settlement negotiations the Salina Public Entities agreed to perform the Remedial Design (RD) and Remedial Action (RA) work necessary to complete the environmental cleanup at the Former Schilling AFB. The United States agreed to pay a cash settlement of
$65,900,000 to settle claims made by the Salina Public Entities against the United States related to the site. The work to be performed by the Salina Public Entities will result in a CERCLA compliant cleanup of the Former Schilling AFB property. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) will provide regulatory oversight for the Remedial Design (RD) and Remedial Action (RA) work.
An Environmental Project Management Agreement details how the Salina Public Entities will manage Remedial Design (RD) and Remedial Action (RA) work to meet KDHE and CERCLA requirements. The RD and RA work will be collectively administered by the chief executive officer of each of the Salina Public Entities. The Salina Public Entities will contract and hire an environmental consulting and engineering firm (and other specialized firms) to accomplish the RD and RA scope of work
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It is anticipated that the Dragun Corporation will be the environmental consulting and engineering firm that will be hired by the Salina Public Entities
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Dragun Corporation was selected in 2005 as the Salina Public Entities’ environmental consulting and engineering firm for the Former Schilling AFB site from among several highly qualified candidate firms through a competitive qualification- and interview-based selection process.
After approval by the Salina Public Entities, the Consent Decree will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for final approval and signature. Following DOJ approval
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the Consent Decree will be submitted to the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, for the Court’s final approval and Entry of Final Judgment. Following the Entry of Final Judgement, the United States will wire transfer $65,900,000 into the “Former SAFB Environmental Project Fund” at the City of Salina. Receipt of the federal funds will signal the start of Remedial Design (RD) and Remedial Action (RA) work.
The Project will continue to have its own KDHE 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.
