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Galena News

EPA PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is seeking public input to update the EPA cleanup level for lead contamination in soils at residential properties across the Cherokee County National Priorities List (NPL) Superfund Site. EPA is proposing to lower the residential cleanup level at affected residential properties to align sitewide cleanup levels with a more stringent threshold of 400 parts per million (ppm) for lead in soil. This is down from the prior 800 ppm action level (and 500 ppm cleanup level) used during past EPA residential yard cleanups in Cherokee County. For more information, please see the attached EPA Public Notice and Fact Sheet (with links to the online versions, below).

  • Public comments on the Proposed Explanation of Significant Differences will be accepted for 30 days from Jan. 28 through Feb. 28, 2023. On Jan. 28, the ESD and supporting documents will be published online for public review at the weblink included below. Site information is available to the public at web repositories; please visit EPA’s Site Profile page (click on Site Documents & Data, then on Administrative Records): www.epa.gov/superfund/cherokeecounty (Click Here to view the ESD and the Administrative Record File.)
  • Send written comments to: Elizabeth Kramer, Community Involvement Coordinator, Office of Public Affairs (ORA/OPA), EPA Region 7, 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219; or by email at r7-tsmd@epa.gov. EPA also established a voicemail box for accepting oral comments at 913-551-8755. Direct questions about the Proposed ESD and requests for site information to: Elizabeth Kramer, phone: 913-551-7186; or Todd Campbell, Remedial Project Manager, phone: 913-551-7115; they can also be reached toll-free at 1-800-223-0425 or by email at r7-tsmd@epa.gov.

LINKS: For More Information, see EPA’s Fact Sheet and Public Notice online, at:

  1. Public Notice: https://www.epa.gov/ks/cherokee-county-national-priorities-list-npl-superfund-site-cherokee-county-kansas
  2. Fact Sheet: https://www.epa.gov/ks/cherokee-county-national-priorities-list-npl-superfund-site-cherokee-county-kansas-fact-sheet-1
2023-01-EPA-Fact-Sheet-Cherokee-County-Proposed-ESD-Final-1-PageDownload
2023-01-28-EPA-ESD-Cherokee-County-SUPR-Public-Comment-Period-Public-Notice-FINAL-1-page-PDFDownload

Boil Water Advisory Rescinded for the City of Galena

https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=502

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Galena public water supply system located in Cherokee County. The advisory was issued because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system.  Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.   

Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory. 

Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Galena indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.   

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at 620-783-5265 or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:  kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption.  

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Water Boil Advisory

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Galena public water supply system located in Cherokee County.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2599/Boil-Water-Advisory-Consumer-Information-PDF

  • Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
  • Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
  • If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
  • Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
  • Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

The advisory took effect on December 17 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved.

KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.