U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Fortune Metals Inc. - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region II
Subject: POLREP #1
Fortune Metals Inc.

Brooklyn, NY
Latitude: 40.7326731 Longitude: -73.9496641

To: Oleg Povetko, USEPA
Paul Giardina, USEPA
Stephen Gavitt, NYSDOH
From: Paul Kahn, OSC
Date: 7/15/2011
Reporting Period:

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number:      Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: EPA    Incident Category: Removal Assessment
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 7/15/2011    Start Date:  
Demob Date: 7/15/2011    Completion Date:  
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category

A phone call was received in the Region II REOC on 7/15/2012 regarding a scrap metal company in Brooklyn NY where pieces of depleted uranium (DU) were discovered by workers.  ERRD sent a response team to the Site to asses the situation.

A team with one OSC and one Regional Rad Rep deployed with a Ludlum 19 and SAM-940.  The team arrived at the Site and were escorted to the yard where there was a wooden pallet on which was a pile of lead metal sheathing.  Distance readings at 4 feet and 1 foot from the pile registered on Ludlum 19 at 250 and 350 micro rem/hr.  On contact with the pile the reading was 500 micro rem/hr, and on contact without the lead sheathing it was 2 milli rem/hr.  The SAM-940 was used and identified the isotope as almost pure U-238, but the readings from under the lead sheathing indicated high energy particle radiator, probably from U-235, a small percentage of which is found in military grade DU.

The team took rad readings with a Ludlum 19: 

Entering the area  251 micro rem/hour
1 foot away /lead wrapped parts  200 micro rem/hr
On contact, w/lead wrapping, 500 micro rem/hr.
On contact without lead wrapping 2 milli rem/hr

The parts appeared to be from a military aircraft, probably US Army.  There were numerous marking on each piece, including what looked like parts numbers, an "inspected-by" stencil, and most interestingly each piece was stamped with either "Made by NL Industries, Inc." or "Made by National Lead".  Each one was stamped  on the outside surface with "Depleted Uranium   High Salvage Value   Install this side down   National Lead Company "

The parts were wrapped in lead sheathing and overpacked in a steel drum.  The exterior readings were in the 500 micro rem/hr range, well below the OSHA upper limit.  The drum was sealed, marked, and segregated.

1.1.2 Site Description

The Site is an active scrap metal business, dealing with mostly copper, iron, stainless steel, aluminum and copper wire reclamation.

1.1.2.1 Location

The Site is located in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, a predominantly ethnic Polish community.  The premises are in a commercial/light industrial zone, but there are residences within 100 yards of the Site.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

The threat is very low level radiation, primarily alpha particles and to a much less degree gamma radiation, 90% of which is stopped by the lead wrapping and steel overpack drum.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

The parts were measured, photodocumented, and markings were recorded.  The parts were wrapped in lead sheathing, overpacked in a steel "H" drum, and staged for disposition.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

The EPA response team ensured that the DU parts were secured and radiation levels well below any OSHA or EPA action levels.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

Information from the parts, as well as photographs, were e-mailed to the NRC in King of Prussia PA for possible identification.  The OSC will contact NL Industries to determine if the company has a product stewardship program and will retrieve the DU parts.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal
 depleted uranium parts  solid  100 lbs    TBD  TBD
           
           



  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

See Ops Section

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

None beyond the emergency response action on 7/15/2011

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

See Ops Section

2.2.2 Issues
  2.3 Logistics Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    No information available at this time.
3. Participating Entities
  No information available at this time.
4. Personnel On Site
 
Region II OSC Paul Kahn
Regiojn II Regional Rad Rep Oleg Povetko

5. Definition of Terms
  No information available at this time.
6. Additional sources of information
  No information available at this time.
7. Situational Reference Materials
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium