diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_and_deploy.yaml b/.github/workflows/build_and_deploy.yaml
index 01616de..baf3c3e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_and_deploy.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_and_deploy.yaml
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 name: Build Docker Image, Push to GHCR and Deploy to GKE
 
 on:
+  workflow_dispatch: # allows for manual triggering
   push:
     branches:
     - main
-    - feat/deployment
 
 jobs:
   build:
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ jobs:
     - name: "Deploy Helm Chart"
       run: |
         helm upgrade --install project-llllm deployment/helm --create-namespace --namespace project-llllm \
-        --set secrets.openai_api_key=${{ secrets.OPENAI_API_KEY }} \
         --set streamlit.image.tag=${{ github.sha }}
     - name: Create contacts configmap
       run: kubectl apply -f deployment/k8s/configmap.yaml --namespace project-llllm
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c8aa66e..04fa53d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ A suite of tools to perform geospatial operations using Large Language Models.
 LLLLM stands for Lat-Lng-Large-Language-Model, you can call it as "el el el el emm" or "L4M".
 
 ## Setup
-1. Create the llllm-env - `mamba env create -f environment.yaml`
-2. Set your OpenAI API key as an environment variable - `export OPENAI_API_KEY=<your key here>`
+
+Create the llllm-env - `mamba env create -f environment.yaml`
 
 ## Getting Started
 
diff --git a/deployment/helm/templates/secrets.yaml b/deployment/helm/templates/secrets.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index 0afd7da..0000000
--- a/deployment/helm/templates/secrets.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-apiVersion: v1
-kind: Secret
-metadata:
-  name: llllm-secrets
-type: Opaque
-data:
-  openai_api_key: {{ .Values.secrets.openai_api_key | b64enc }}
diff --git a/deployment/helm/templates/streamlit.yaml b/deployment/helm/templates/streamlit.yaml
index 207116e..a0fe315 100644
--- a/deployment/helm/templates/streamlit.yaml
+++ b/deployment/helm/templates/streamlit.yaml
@@ -17,12 +17,6 @@ spec:
         image: {{ .Values.streamlit.image.repository }}:{{ .Values.streamlit.image.tag }}
         command: ["/opt/conda/envs/llllm-env/bin/streamlit"]
         args: ["run", "app.py", "--server.port=8501", "--server.address=0.0.0.0"]
-        env:
-        - name: OPENAI_API_KEY
-          valueFrom:
-            secretKeyRef:
-              name: llllm-secrets
-              key: openai_api_key
         ports:
         - containerPort: 8501
         volumeMounts:
diff --git a/deployment/helm/values.yaml b/deployment/helm/values.yaml
index bfe8267..d45a8a4 100644
--- a/deployment/helm/values.yaml
+++ b/deployment/helm/values.yaml
@@ -3,6 +3,3 @@ streamlit:
     repository: ghcr.io/developmentseed/llllm
     tag: latest
   host: llllm.k8s.labs.ds.io
-
-secrets:
-  openai_api_key: