Volume 44 - Issue 7 - February 13, 2025

State of Kansas

Department of Health and Environment

Notice of Application

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has reviewed an application to establish a medical waste processing facility sent by the Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH) for treating medical waste by ozonation. The proposed facility would be located onsite at the existing LMH facility at 325 Maine St., Lawrence, Kansas. The LMH facility where this project is proposed is a hospital which services much of the Lawrence community. The device is currently in operation treating medical waste generated on site, and this permit would allow them to treat medical waste generated at other LMH locations. It is not anticipated that operation of the ozonation device would substantially contribute to sights, smells, or sounds perceived by neighboring houses or businesses. The ozonation device is a closed system which sanitizes waste through introduction of ozone. Ozone is generated in the device by electrifying concentrated oxygen and is converted back into oxygen prior to release. Waste moves through the device automatically, minimizing human interaction and the potential for unpleasant odors to escape. Once treated, the potential for infection has been eliminated and it is taken away for disposal.

The Douglas County Commissioners have certified that the application described herein is consistent with the county’s solid waste management plan. The City of Lawrence has certified that the application is consistent with local land use and restrictions and zoning. KDHE has reviewed the application and found it to be in conformance with state solid waste statutes and regulations.

KDHE is providing public notice of its intent to issue a permit to the Lawrence Memorial Hospital for the proposed medical waste processing facility described herein. A copy of the administrative record, which includes the draft permit and all information regarding this permit action is available for public review until March 17, 2025, during normal business hours at the following location:

Lawrence Public Library
707 Vermont St.
Lawrence, KS 66044

Additionally, the application form with primary permit information is available for public viewing via at https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/676/Solid-Waste-Public-Notices. Anyone wishing to comment on the draft permit information should submit written statements no later than March 17, 2025 to Cody Nichols, Environmental Specialist, Solid Waste Processing Unit at Cody.Nichols2@ks.gov. After consideration of all comments received, the director of the Division of Environment will make a final decision to issue the permit. Notice of the decision will be given to anyone who submitted written comments during the comment period and to those who requested notice of the final permit decision.

Janet Stanek
Secretary
Department of Health and Environment

Doc. No. 052869