By Douglas Helmke, P.G., Water Rights/Source Water Specialist The photo shows the ramp and the coffin bunker of the Atlas E Missile Site S-4 near Osage City, Kan. As seen in July 2016, the site is flooded with water. Samples of water and soil at this site show contaminants at levels below unacceptable risk levels. n June 20, 2016, the United second term of President Eisenhower. States Army Corps of Engineers By October of 1960, missiles were in O(USACE) announced that they place in all nine silos. But because were taking comments from the public missile and rocket technology was regarding a proposed plan to issue a expanding so quickly, the nine silos Final Remedy to the S-4 Atlas E were obsolete by March 1965, a period Missile Silo site in Osage County, of time of less than six years. The Kansas. This site is approximately five 548th Strategic Missile Squadron was miles from both Osage City and responsible for manning these missile Burlingame. It was under the command launch sites that were located near of the 548th Strategic Missile Holton, Wamego, Delia, Ozawkie, Squadron based at the former Forbes Dover, Bushong, Osage City, Waverly Air Force Base in Topeka, Kan. A and Worden. While there were launch public meeting was held on July 14, control rooms placed underground at 2016, at the Osage City Public Library to explain the situation and the proposed actions, and to The Atlas E Missile was a take questions and comments. short-lived U.S. weapon The Atlas D missile shown in the The deadline to submit written photograph is very similar in design to comments was July 21, 2016. capable of delivering a the next-generation Atlas E missiles which were deployed in the nine missile History of Atlas E nuclear warhead a distance silos manned by the 548th Strategic The Atlas E Missile was a Missile Squadron, based at Forbes Air of 11,500 miles. The short-lived U.S. weapon capable Force Base at Topeka, Kan. The Atlas E of delivering a nuclear warhead construction of nine missile was improved from the Atlas D with a a distance of 11,500 miles. The more enhanced engine design and a launch sites surrounding small guidance computer. Atlas D construction of nine missile the Topeka area missiles were also used in manned, launch sites surrounding the earth-orbiting Mercury missions. Topeka area commenced in June commenced in June 1959. 1959. This was during the 58 November 2016 THE KANSAS LIFELINE The Minuteman these sites, the missiles themselves investigation included the collection Missile National were stored in shallow bunkers, of soil, surface water samples and commonly called coffins, in a groundwater samples from Historic Site horizontal position. To launch one of monitoring wells drilled for that It is the 100th these missiles, it was necessary for an purpose. The results of the testing of Anniversary of the earthen covered roof to open. The these samples was given in a Final National Park Service this missile would be lifted to a vertical Engineering Report which was year. Kansas has ten features position and then fueled with liquid released in 1990. No unusual that are part of the National oxygen and kerosene. Future Atlas chemicals were detected in the soil Park System and half of them are missiles, and those that followed them, or groundwater samples, however, historical trails. If you haven’t visited were designed to be stored and fired chlorinated solvents were detected them all yet, you probably can before the from a vertical position. in surface water samples, likely year is over. If anyone has an interest in In addition to the concrete and steel collected from the low-lying ramp Cold War and military history, a new structures that remain to remind us of area outside the missile “coffin” silo National Park facility to visit in a this era of American history, some doors. neighboring state is the Minuteman environmental contaminants were also Between July 1994 and April Missile National Historic Site near Phillip, left behind. There was kerosene being 1996, the Corps of Engineers South Dakota. At two different locations, stored onsite, and diesel fuel was removed:N visitors can tour the Launch Control stored in buried tanks to run 732,692 gallons of water from Center where personnel who were responsible for nine missiles lived above generators. To confirm mission- N the sump and flame pit readiness, the engines on the missiles 15 tons of sludge from the ground and the Delta-09 Missile Silo with its underground living and work facilities. were occasionally test-fired. After- N sump The silo contains a former Minuteman II firing maintenance included removal of 2 underground fuel storage missile. More than 100,000 people impact-sensitive compounds. Fearing tanks N visited this historic site in 2015 and that the build-up of these compounds 888 tons of hydrocarbon pr e for another record year in could cause an explosion onsite or in- contaminated soil ojections ar N 2016. A formal grand-opening of the flight, the engines were cleaned after 246,800 gallons water from the visitor center was held on September 24, every firing with chlorinated solvents, sump and a recovery well 2016. More information is available at some of which dripped (or flowed?) to which was treated by an air- http://www.nps.gov/mimi/index.htm the lowest levels of the facilities. At stripper least one launch facility had water wells to supply drinking water. The USACE report of June 16, 2016, for the S-4 location does not indicate the source of drinking water for the missile silo. The report does indicate that a septic system is present. It is not clear if the septic system was installed for the missile crew or the latter inhabitants of the site. Aerial photographs indicate that wastewater lagoons are also present. History of Osage S-4 After decommissioning, the Osage City S-4 Missile Silo site was sold to a private landowner in 1967. The report does not indicate when it happened, but a mobile home was placed on the site sometime between decommissioning and before 1999. The mobile home burned in 2006. In 1986, environmental investigation and remediation actions were initiated by the Corps of Engineers. The November 2016 59 THE KANSAS LIFELINE Atlas D missiles were deployed at these nine locations around Forbes Air Force Base south of Topeka. The installations began in 1959. An additional twelve missile defenses (Atlas F) were deployed around Shilling Air Force Base at Salina and later there were 18 Titan II ICBM silos installed from twenty to fifty miles outside of McConnell Air Force Base at Wichita. This is the shoulder patch worn by Air Force personnel manning the Atlas E Missile Silos near Forbes Air Force Base, Topeka, Kan. The residents of the mobile home were suspected of using water from the monitoring wells or from the ramp area for, in the residents words, only laundry and bathing purposes. Because there was no contaminant-free, sanitary domestic water supply available at this site, a rural water connection was completed in 1999. This required installation of a pipeline 2.2 miles in length. Rural Water Specialty Co. Signs and Markers for the Utility & Pipeline Industry CALL 918-446-1916 9710 W. 65th St. So. Sapulpa, OK 74066-8852 Fax: 918-446-2770 316-550-6177 Cell 316-734-8567 GWA [email protected] Ground Water Associates, Inc. EXPERTISE IN WATER & WELLS 109 W. 1st Avenue BRAD C. VINCENT, P.G. P.O. Box 792 GROUND WATER GEOLOGIST GODDARD, KANSAS 67052 60 November 2016 THE KANSAS LIFELINE Environmental issues At the very least, Defense Sites (FUDS) that may at other sites have impacted existing or future The other eight Atlas E Missile Silo these sites have caused sources of groundwater for Kansas. sites have been investigated to various the resources of state At the very least, these sites have degrees by the United States Army caused the resources of state and Corps of Engineers and the Kansas and federal agencies to federal agencies to be deployed to Department of Health and be deployed to investigate the impact of these sites. Environment. Each of these sites has Because many (most) water system some volatile organic compounds investigate the impact of professionals were young or not (VOC) present. Over half of them have these sites. even born when these sites were detectable levels of heavy metals. It active, it is imperative that attention should be stated that none of them be paid to the public notices that are appear to have any impact on public determination, monitoring wells at the published in local newspapers or water supply system water quality. This site were scheduled to be properly mailed directly to nearby water includes the S-4 site in Osage County. plugged in September 2016. systems. Let KRWA know if you learn To summarize . of any “identified sites” that may Findings and Recommendation receive attention of any state or federal from USACE The next action that will occur agency, if there might be any impact to In 2014, a Remedial Investigation regarding this site is a Decision a water system. Report was completed that said when Document. It will repeat the findings of VOC’s were detected in samples, the the Final Proposed Plan and weigh Douglas S. Helmke has levels were significantly less than the those findings against any written been the Water Rights Tech at KRWA since June Maximum Contaminant Levels correspondence submitted and any verbal comments stated at the public 2000, and also a Wellhead (MCL’s) for drinking water.