Abilene Manufactured Gas Plant Project

About MGPs

In the mid-1800s to early-1900s, before natural gas was available as an energy source, more than 1,500 manufactured gas plants (MGPs) were present in cities and towns across the country. MGPs used coal and oil to produce gas for lighting, heating and cooking. In Kansas, many cities constructed MGPs to provide modern conveniences and attract residents to the area during a time of rapid growth. With the arrival of natural gas in the early 1900s, most of the MGP sites in Kansas were no longer needed and by 1930 were closed. Abilene Site Map

The process of manufacturing gas also produced the by-product coal tar, which is a mixture of hydrocarbon and other compounds left after combustion. The by-products of former MGP sites were largely buried and undisturbed, reducing the potential for contact.

There are no known health effects from low-level exposure to coal tar or its constituents.

Former Manufactured Gas Plant – Abilene, Kansas

Kansas Gas Service is committed to providing safe, clean and reliable natural gas service to our customers and the communities we serve. As a responsible corporate citizen, we work to help maintain a healthful environment for our customers and residents who live in and around our service territories.

Kansas Gas Service has assessed potential environmental concerns at a former MGP located at the corner of Southwest 2nd Street and South Mulberry Street in Abilene and worked with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to determine how those concerns will be addressed.

The company has hired Burns & McDonnell, an engineering, consulting and construction company, to clean up groundwater at the vacant property. Construction is expected to begin at the end of September 2021 and last approximately six to seven months.


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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a manufactured gas plant (MGP) and why was there one in our community?
    In the mid-1800s to early-1900s, before natural gas was available as an energy source, more than 1,500 manufactured gas plants (MGPs) were present in cities and towns across the country. MGPs used coal and oil to produce gas for lighting, heating and cooking. In Kansas, many cities constructed MGPs to provide modern conveniences and attract residents to the area during a time of rapid growth. With the arrival of natural gas in the early 1900s, most of the MGP sites in Kansas were no longer needed and by 1930 were closed. Additional information on the history of MGPs in Kansas is available at https://www.kdheks.gov/remedial/articles/FMGP_History.pdf
  • Why is Kansas Gas Service working on the Abilene MGP site?
    Kansas Gas Service, Inc. (Kansas Gas Service) was formed in 1997 when ONEOK, Inc. purchased natural gas assets from Western Resources. The Abilene MGP was acquired by Kansas Gas Service during this purchase. Since the purchase, Kansas Gas Service, now owned by parent company ONE Gas, Inc., has performed multiple site investigations. These studies have been performed in coordination with the Kansas Department on Health and Environment (KDHE).
  • What is the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s role in the activities being performed at the Abilene MGP?
    The activities performed at the Abilene MGP site are being conducted under the oversight of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). The KDHE reviews, evaluates, and approves actions and reports associated with the MGP site.
  • What are MGP-related residues?
    When investigating the MGP site, Kansas Gas Service has looked for MGP-related residues that were generated as part of the historic gas manufacturing process and remain at the MGP site in soil and groundwater. The most common residues found at historic MGP sites are coal tar and feedstocks, such as oil or coal. Coal tar is a black substance that looks like and is chemically similar to roofing tar. Lampblack looks like and is chemically similar to soot from a candle. These materials can, in some instances, have an odor similar to moth balls, roofing tar, or fresh asphalt. In addition, they are chemically similar to materials commonly found in the environment from natural and human activities, especially those that involve burning, such as fossil fuels, cigarette smoke, fireplaces, forest fires, grilling meats, etc. The chemicals found in MGP residues are also found in nail polish, disinfectants, moth repellants and many other commercial products.
  • What are the risks to human health, and am I at risk?
    Because the MGP residues found in soil and groundwater are below ground surface, there is limited potential for people living nearby to come in contact with residues. While there were residues found at this site, the levels would not be considered a health risk. The city’s drinking water is not affected. Kansas Gas Service has worked with KDHE to test that no exposures to MGP residues are present. During the construction activities, the work will be performed by professionals trained to handle this type of project. The construction activities may cause an odor similar to moth balls, roofing tar, or fresh asphalt. Air monitoring will be performed around the site’s perimeter to assess air quality and controls will be applied, as needed, to address fugitive emissions and odors.
  • What will Kansas Gas Service do about the MGP site?
    Kansas Gas Service is committed to providing safe, clean and reliable natural gas service to the customers and communities we serve. As a responsible corporate citizen, we work to help maintain a healthful environment for residents who live in and around our service territories. We have assessed potential environmental concerns at the property, and Kansas Gas Service has worked with KDHE to determine how those concerns will be addressed. We will be removing and solidifying MGP residues at the Kansas Gas Service property to protect groundwater.
  • What activities are currently underway at the Abilene MGP?
    Preparation and construction activities are currently underway at the Abilene MGP site to carry out the KDHE-approved plan to remediate the MGP-related residues from the soil and groundwater. You can expect to see construction activities such as tree clearing, building and concrete pad demolition, soil excavation and removal, truck loading/unloading, soil mixing with excavator buckets and large mixing augers, soil backfill, and final site grading/restoration.
  • How are noise and odors going to be kept to a minimum during site improvements?
    Construction activities will take place during core daytime working hours to limit noise disturbances at night and on the weekends. Sound barriers will be placed along the perimeter construction fence of the site, and construction equipment will be operated with appropriate mufflers as available. During excavation activities when MGP residuals are exposed, an odor-suppressing agent (typically a foam) will be used on the ground to help reduce those potential tar-like odors.  Air monitoring stations will also be located around the site to assess air quality and controls will be applied, as needed, to address air emissions and odors.
  • How do you plan on testing the air, and how do you determine whether there is a problem?
    Throughout the construction period, air quality will be monitored 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. There will be continuous monitoring that provides information on a real-time basis, and daily samples will be collected and sent to a laboratory for analysis.  The results will be compared to human health-based values that are developed specifically to be protective of the neighboring community. These levels are developed following EPA procedures to be protective of the known health effects of chemicals that have been found at the site. There is an Air Monitoring Plan in place with procedures for when controls need to be applied, including stopping work if necessary, to control air emissions.
  • What will the MGP site look like after remediation is complete?
    It is anticipated that the Abilene MGP site will look much the same as it does today. It will be a vacant gravel lot secured by a perimeter chain-link fence with trees.
  • How can we get more information about the project?
    If you have questions about Kansas Gas Service’s activities at the Abilene MGP site, please contact our project hotline at 785-380-2811 or email at info@Abilene-KGS.com.