sfaap
The former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant (AAP) is located in northwest Johnson County, Kansas, approximately three miles southwest of De Soto, Kansas and 28 miles southwest of Kansas City, Missouri. At the time of closure, it was comprised of 9,065 acres.
Originally known as the Sunflower Ordnance Works, Sunflower AAP was established in 1941 on 10,747 acres as the world's largest powder and propellant plant. Production of propellant began in 1943 and played a significant role in U.S. history by providing munitions for three major military conflicts: World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam Conflict. Installation operations also included the manufacture and regeneration of nitric and sulfuric acids and munitions proving.
In the 1960s and 1970s, 1,682 acres of the original installation were transferred to various governmental entities via public benefit conveyances. In 1997, the Army declared the installation excess. In 2003, the Governor of Kansas approved a preliminary Finding of Suitability for Early Transfer allowing the Army to develop conveyance and other transfer related agreements for the conveyance of certain portions of Sunflower AAP prior to completion of all remedial action.
In October 2004, Public Law 108-375, Section 2841, was enacted to authorize the Army, in consultation with the General Services Administration, to convey Sunflower AAP to an entity selected by the Johnson County Board of Commissioners. In July 2005, the Army submitted the transfer documentation to the Governor of Kansas for approval and signature. Pursuant to the enacted legislation and the Governor’s approval, Johnson County approved Sunflower Redevelopment, LLC (SRL) as the redeveloper and in August 2005, all 9,065 acres were conveyed to SRL.
During the course of its 50 plus years of operation, various hazardous substances were released both inadvertently and intentionally to the environment. These releases, which are not uncommon at major industrial facilities, were from production line areas and various support areas. The USEPA proposed listing the installation on the NPL in 1995. The USEPA removed the installation from proposed listing on the NPL in 2005. The Army is now completing the environmental remediation began by SRL and anticipates completion by 2028.