Key Points:
- Union Pacific Railroad launches “Action for 29th and Grove” to update residents on ongoing cleanup.
- Contaminated area shows double the rate of liver cancer, prompting health testing funding.
- Union Pacific has hired a media company to engage the community and provide updates on cleanup progress.
Union Pacific Railroad is expanding its commitment to the 29th and Grove community with a new publicity effort called “Action for 29th and Grove.”
The idea is to keep residents up-to-date on the ongoing cleanup and the remediation work that has been underway since 2002.
As part of this effort, UP has contracted with local media company CML Collection, run by Wichita native Christina Long.
Most importantly, the goal is to make sure both longtime and incoming residents are aware contamination, especially in groundwater, is still there and cleanup activities are ongoing.
Spill History
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment first became aware of the contamination in 1994 during construction of the 21st Street improvements including the building of the TOPS Child Care Center and the Boys and Girls Club at 21st and Opportunity Drive.
A remediation plan was put in place in 2002 and many area residents heard nothing more about the contamination until late in 2023 when KDHE began to roll out a plan for final clean-up.
Community members, who had not been aware that the 2002 start of remediation didn’t resolve the issue, were taken by surprise.
Newcomers who were never told their home sat on contaminated soil and groundwater were blind-sided.
Health Consequences Revealed
A health survey revealing the contaminated area had double the rate of liver cancer as the rest of the city and county added another layer of outrage.
State funds are now available to test residents for health issues. The legislature approved $2.5 million and a $1 million match from other local entities brings the total to $3.5 million in available funds. Testing centers will be able to access those funds starting July 1.
Since fall 2023, testing has been done by GraceMed and HealthCore Clinics using grant funds obtained by the clinics.
Union Pacific officials have said it could be another decade before all the remediation is complete and groundwater is safe.In the meantime, UP officials want to make sure the public stays aware of what is being done and aware the groundwater is not safe for bathing, playing in sprinklers or filling wading or swimming pools.
Keeping Cleanup in Public Discussion
Several resources are available to tell residents the latest updates on cleanup activities and what the next steps are.
- The Action for 29th and Grove website features information, announcements and clean-up actions. Additional resources will be added as activities occur to make sure the community can stay aware of what is happening.
- Social media channels have been set up on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and You Tube. On Facebook look for Action29thGrove, on X look for @Action29thGrove, on YouTube, look for @Action29thGrove.
- UP’s Community Connection are a direct line of communications. Residents can call 1-866-896-7511 during office hours to ask questions, voice concerns and get updates on remediation efforts .Action support specialists are dedicated to responding to community questions within 48 hours of a call that goes to voicemail or to an email sent to 29grove@up.com.
“These connection points will help communication flow more steadily to keep residents informed on the 29th and Grove cleanup progress and action,” Long said. “With improved communication, we’ll work together to build productive, collaborative and purposeful partnerships for the well-being of our shared community.”
