Strube, Inc. is an aircraft instrument sales and refurbishment contractor with a main office in Marietta, Pennsylvania. The founder of Strube, Inc. (now deceased) had purchased large quantities of military surplus aircraft parts beginning soon after the end of World War II. As the company’s inventory grew, Strube purchased additional warehouse space in several nearby communities. Currently, Strube owns warehouses on seven properties located in the towns of Marietta, Columbia, Maytown, and Mt. Joy, all located in Lancaster County.
EPA continues to provide security and a fire watch until the threat is mitigated. EPA received permission from Federal Court to begin site removal activites in all warehouses on Thursday February 21, 2008.
ERRS radiation subcontractor mobilized to the site during the afternoon of March 12, 2008. Drums located one of the Columbia warehouses, packaged by the Strube contractor, were decontaminated and prepared for shipping. One-hundred fifty-two drums were packaged in 2 sealand containers and shipped off site on 3/15 and 3/17. PADEP BRP personnel were present during the loading operations.
The EPA issued a Unilateral Order to Strube for Decommissioning of 2 Marietta Warehouses. The effective date of the Order was March 17, 2008.
EPA conducted an informal meeting of local emergency responders during the evening of 3/17. In attendance were individuals from the local borough and the county hazmat team, as well as police and hospital personnel. A second evening meeting will be held during the evening of 3/19. The goals of the meetings include establishment and strengthening of lines of communication between EPA and members of the local and county response agencies and the eventual drafting of a site specific emergency response plan.
ERRS radiation subcontractor completed an entry of the Mt Joy facility on 3/18 in order to examine several areas which had been found to contain elevated radiation levels by RERT Alabama and Las Vegas personnel. Radium containing items in one area had been removed to an unknown location by Strube personnel. EPA is attempting to locate these items for immediate removal from the facility. Other military related radium containing items stored in the facility were successfully located and will be removed from the warehouse within a week.
Assessment activities have begun on one of the warehouses located in Columbia and will continue through the week.
EPA continues to hold weekly Unified Command meetings at the site command post. The next meeting will be held on the 3/21.
Packaging and removal of radium containing items will occur in the Columbia warehouse following the assessment.
A meeting between EPA, PADEP and Strube will take place on March 19, 2008 at the PADEP Southcentral Office.
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