U.S. EPA Heartland Region

09/21/2026

Today is the last day to comment on a proposal to delete Operable Unit 2 (OU2) of the Fort Riley Superfund site from the National Priorities List (NPL).

OU2, also called the Pesticide Storage Facilities Area, covers about 2/3 of an acre at the site. A partial deletion is part of the Superfund process used to remove a section, or operable unit, of the site from the NPL when no additional remediation is expected. EPA and the Army will continue to address contamination concerns at remaining OUs.

For more information, including how to comment, see the full public notice: https://www.epa.gov/ks/fort-riley-superfund-site-junction-city-geary-county-Kansas.

09/18/2026

Recently, EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. This formal agreement continues the longstanding partnership between Region 7 and Haskell that has been in place since 1999.

The MOU outlines several areas for collaboration and partnership between EPA Region 7 and Haskell, including preparing students for future environmental careers; offering mutual technical assistance; sharing opportunities for training sessions, lectures, and seminars; providing student mentorship; and collaborating on research projects that benefit both organizations.

Thank you to Haskell Indian Nations University for your continued partnership!

09/18/2026

EPA, at the request of its state partners, mobilized to the scene of the truck accident and hazardous materials spill on I-29 on Thursday, Sept. 17.

EPA and its contractors conducted air monitoring to establish safe working areas to allow for response personnel to transfer the remaining hazardous material, clean impacted areas, and reopen the highway.

EPA remained on the scene to support our state partners with technical assistance and air monitoring support as recovery operations took place and demobilized after the spilled material was offloaded from the trailer.

09/17/2026

EPA recently awarded Iowa State University nearly $1 million in grant funding toward its cutting-edge demonstration farm that integrates water quality practices and woodland management.

The Watershed Innovation Farm showcases nature-based solutions for nutrient management and advances EPA’s priority of clean air, water, and land for all Americans.

Watch as EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy congratulates Iowa State University on this grant award. We are proud of our existing partnership, and we look forward to the future!

09/17/2026

Precision agriculture is on the move! EPA Region 7 staff recently attended the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. The Farm Progress Show has been held for more than 70 years and showcases agricultural innovation.

EPA supports agricultural innovations that reduce chemical waste and risk, providing improvements in environmental outcomes — and farmers’ bottom lines.

09/16/2026

EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy had the chance to talk with agriculture media at the recent Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.

Thanks to Brownfield Ag News and WHO NewsRadio’s The Big Show for having us on to discuss EPA updates at the intersection of agriculture and the environment!

09/10/2026

September is .

Emergencies can happen at any moment, so it’s important to have an emergency kit stocked with essential items ready at all times.

Check out the graphic below for suggestions on what to include and visit www.ready.gov/kit for more tips on creating an emergency preparedness kit for your family.

09/10/2026

09/09/2026

In celebration of our nation's 250th anniversary in July, we took the opportunity to look back and ask: what lessons can we learn today by reviewing environmental hazards across U.S. presidential history?

This question was explored by Region 7’s Chief of Staff, Julie Linck, at a recent event. The presentation was a part of a larger 250th celebration event, featuring hot dogs, pie, and patriotic trivia!

09/08/2026

EPA continues to make cleanup progress at the 57th and N. Broadway Superfund site in north Wichita. In recent days, the foundation for the groundwater extraction treatment system has been built. EPA plans to extract and treat contaminated groundwater and deliver it back to an area's water treatment plant for further treatment for beneficial reuse.

Excavation at the site is also progressing with the goal of removing large underground storage tanks (USTs). Removing the USTs from the site will help ensure that the remedy at the site is not impacted from potential contaminants associated with the USTs.