Preservation Aviation, Inc. (PAI), formerly known as Pen Air Parts (PAP), has operated at the Site since 1957. PAP was one of the largest buyers and sellers of vintage aircraft gauges in the country. Many the gauges are painted with radium paint so they glow in the dark. In 1996, PAP was purchased by PAI. Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Radiation Management (LACODHS) and the California Department of Health Services Radiologic Health Branch (CADHS) investigated the conditions at PAI in response to an illegal disposal of radioactive materials at a solid waste disposal facility (between 1996 and October 1998, exact date unknown). This investigation led CADHS to issue two Orders to PAI to cease operations or occupy the site for possession of radioactive materials without a license and radioactive contamination in 1999 and 2001, respectively. Since the receipt of the State’s Order, the site has not been operated, maintained or secured. Neither PAP or PAI were licensed to possess radioactive material.
USEPA estimates that there are in excess of 1,000,000 gauges and other assorted items (instruments, electronic equipment, debris, etc.) located at the site. The majority of the gauges and items are stored in the structure located at 10800 Burbank Blvd. The gauges and items are stored in open wooden and cardboard crates, on shelves in cardboard drawers, and piled on the floor. Damaged and leaking gauges have caused gross and removable radium contamination throughout the structure. It is estimated that up to 70% of the gauges either contain radium paint or are externally contaminated with radium or its decay progeny. The decay progeny of major concern radon-222 (alpha), lead-210 (beta) and polonium-210 (alpha).
Radium continually spontaneously decays to radon. Radium and radon primarily emit alpha particles and some gamma rays and both are considered carcinogens. Radium-226 exists in a solid state whereas radon-222 is a gas. Subsequently, there is a large quantity of radon gas present in the structure that is constantly generated from the decay of radium. The average gamma radiation exposure dose rate inside the structure ranges from 100 to 500 times the ambient background off-site (15 μR/hr). The radon activity level inside the structure was also measured and is approximately 25 times the USEPA limit for radon in unlicenced facilities.
A large quantity of gauges and items are also stored in the yard directly south of the structure at 10800 Burbank Blvd. A large portion of these gauges and items also contain radium paint. Initial assessments by USEPA indicate that a majority of the gauges contain radium. The gauges are stored in dilapidated, open, wooden crates and are exposed to the elements. Gamma radiation exposure dose rates exceed 250 times ambient background dose rates.
The site consists of two masonry warehouse structures, with wood roofs covered with asphalt tiles, and a fenced open storage yard between the structures The northern building (10800 Burbank Blvd) is approximately 10,000 square feet in surface area. The north structure consists of two loading bays (east and west) with roll up metal doors in the southern section of the building; in addition a regular door is located in the west bay. A maze of offices and storage areas exist throughout the building.
The gauges in the northern building are stored in a series of shelving units with the larger items located in the loading bays. On the shelves are a series of cardboard drawers that contain gauges. The shelving units are packed very close together and in most cases access is difficult and frequently results in contact with the shelving units. Many of these crates and boxes have collapsed or disintegrated thus spilling their contents onto the floor of the building. There are also large piles of debris and gauges inside the western loading bay.
There are windows along the eastern and northern section of the northern building and the front door are boarded closed. Radiation monitoring outside of the windows and doors documented elevated gamma radiation exposure dose rates in excess of 25 times background.
The southern building borders the special effects company and is approximately 5,000 square feet. The southern building is empty and consists of an office area on the east side of the structure and warehouse on the west side. The building was previously used by PAP to store gauges. Use by PAP ceased after a fire occurred and destroyed the building (date unknown). After the structure was rebuilt, to was used by a business that built custom motorcycles. There are areas of fixed radioactive contamination on the floor of the warehouse.
Between the two buildings are two asphalt yards separated by a chain link fence. Both yards have a perimeter 12 foot chain link fence topped with barbed wire. There are two drive through and one walk through gates on the east side of the perimeter that are locked. The northern yard is filled with debris, boxes, and pallets of gauges and other electrical components. There is also a 45 foot box semi-trailer on the southern edge of the north yard containing debris, gauges, and drums with unknown contents. The gamma radiation exposure dose rate on the outside of the trailer exceeds 100 times background. It is believed, based on information provided by the Potentially Responsible Party, that the trailer contains radioactive contaminated debris and fire damaged radium containing gauges from two previous on-site fires.
The southern yard was originally empty. However, currently roll-off-bins containing debris bulked during the USEPA’s emergency stabilization action (May 27 - 30, 2004) and a number of crates containing radioactive gauges are staged in the yard. Assessment of the asphalt surface in the south yard indicates several locations containing fixed radium contamination above background levels. These areas were covered with visqueen prior to using the yard as a staging area.
During the late May 2004 site stabilization, USEPA reduced the dose rate along the east fence line to background and along the west fence line to <200 uR/hr (1/2 the pre-stabilization dose rate). USEPA also assessed the fixed contamination in the southern building (5543 Riverton). Areas of identified contamination were further fixed with epoxy paint. USEPA surveyed the parking lot along the east fence line to determine if contamination had migrated off-site as a result of sheet flow from precipitaiton events. Monitoring indicated activity levels at background.
Phase 2 of the removal started on July, 19, 2004. USEPA was originally segregating items into radioactive waste, hazardous waste and free release items. After discussions with the PRP, no items in the yard warranted undergoing the free release process. All items in the yards are being segregated into non-radioactive debris, low level radioactive waste (<30 pCi/g), medium level radioactive waste (30 - <222 pCi/g) - Surface Contaminated Objects (SCO) and high level radioactive waste (>222 pCi/g) - Radium Containing Materials (RCM). Waste containing other hazardous substances are being segregated for further assessment. The low and medium level waste are being transported off-site in roll-off bins to U.S. Ecology, Grandview, Idaho. The high level waste is being transported to U.S. Ecology, Richland, Washington. The non-radioactive debris are being sent to the U.S. Ecology landfill at Beatty, Nevada. Waste segregation is being conducted by screening all items for gross fixed and removable contamination using Ludlum Model 19 and Model 2241-2 with a Model 44-9 Pancake GM detector. Activity level are determined using a BNC SAM 935 MCA. Phase 2 removal actions are expected to continue until mid-December 2004.
A radiation migration assessment program consisting of perimeter monitoring and air sampling is conducted when ever activities are conducted in the yard. Daily perimeter monitoring for gamma radiation dose rates is conducted utilizing either a Ludlum Model 19 or 192 Micro R Meter by the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Strike Team. Daily air samples are collected using a Staplex High volume air sampler with a methyl cellulose or glass fiber filter. The air samples are analyzed on-site using a Ludlum 3030 Alpha-Beta Wipe Counter and all samples are sent in for radium activity level determination on a monthly basis. Long term monitoring (45 day cycles) for radon and gamma radiation dose are conducted using a series of perimeter monitoring stations. Radon is collected using a RSSI Alpha Track-Etch sampler. Long term gamma dose rates are determined using a long term environmental dosimeter. The parking lot, sidewalk and Riverton Street on the east perimeter are monitored on a weekly basis to assess surface migration of contaminated dust using a Ludlum Model 239-1F Floor Monitor.
Phase 3 started on November 8, 2004 with the assessment of the 10800 Burbank Blvd. buildings. The assessment was conducted as a joint effort between the START contractor and scientists from the USEPA Radiation and Indoor Environments National Laboratory.
Due to the widespread contamination in the 10800 Burbank Blvd. structure, the non-radioactive debris wastestream going to U.S. Ecology in Beatty, Nevada has been eliminated. All items removed from the building will be segregated as either SCO or RCM. Debris was removed from the building on a series of converyor systems, through a low background shielding wall and into a survey area. The items are sent down the conveyor in their original storage trayers or in plastic trays. The items are surveyed and then segregated onto either SCO or RCM conveyors. The SCO is loaded into tip bins that are emptied into 40 cubic yard roll off bins and the RCM is loaded directly into drums. The drums are shipped to Thomas-Grey in Tulare County, CA, where the drums are crushed and loaded into B-25 boxes in accordance with the pre-established waste profiles for the site.
Removal of items from the building began in mid-January 2005. The removal of all items from the east warehouse was completed by February 10, 2005. Removal of items from the west warehouse will begin the week of February 14, 2005. All containerized waste will be off-site by March 29, 2005.
Once all items were removed from the building, the office spaces were assessed for residual radioactive contamination. Survey data indicated contamination in excess of the action levels in Reg. Guide 1.86. The office spaces were demolished and the debris sent off-site as radioactive debris. The inside of both the 10800 Burbank Blvd. and 5543 Riverton Ave. buildings were decontaminated. All surfaces were vaccummed to remove dust and dirt and then all building surfaces were pressure washed. The decon water was collected and will be sent off-site for disposal.
A preliminay structural assessment of 10800 Burbank Blvd., west warehouse documents the presence of residual radioactive contamination above Reg. Guide 1.86. On April 18, 2005, demolition operations of this structure commenced. The building debris was sent to the U.S. Ecology hazardous waste landfill located in Beatty, NV. The building foundation and the asphalt lot were also removed and disposed of at the same facility.
Starting in May 2005, the START planned and executed a MARSSIM survey of the 5543 Riverton Ave. struture and the exposed soil where the 10800 Burbank Blvd. structure and lot were. The soil was surveyed as a MARSSIM Class 2 area. The soil passed the survey and requires no further work. An asphalt cap was placed on the vacant lot to prevent erosion and dust generation on June 17, 2005.
The 5543 Riverton Ave. structure was broken into four different classifications. The floor is a MARSSIM Class 1 area. The walls are MARSSIM Class 2 areas. The ceiling and the offices are MARSSIM Class 3 Area. The final survey was completed on July 13, 2005.
Final demobilization occurred on July 13, 2005 with the transfer of the site back to the land owner.
