EPA initiated and completed a time-critical removal action at the WI Orphan Radiation Collection Site in Madison, WI, November 14-16, 2017. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Radiation Protection Section (WDHS RPS) routinely receives reports of orphaned radioactive sources in the public domain (e.g., donated to charitable organizations, abandoned). Upon receipt of such reports, WDHS RPS notifies the EPA Region 5 Emergency Response Branch (ERB). The sources are evaluated by WDHS RPS and EPA ERB to determine if they are truly orphan with no responsible party (RP), the isotope/type of radiation, if the source is leaking, and how best to remove the source safely from the public domain pending return to the RP or disposal. Many of the sources are relocated to WDHS RPS’ secure facility at the University of Wisconsin (UW) Madison campus for further characterization and packaging for transport. EPA partnered with the Department of Energy Radiological Assistance Program at Argonne and the U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command in Rock Island for the reuse and disposal of the hundreds of orphaned sources consolidated at UW.
