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 in the towns of Marietta, Columbia, Maytown, and Mt. Joy, all located in Lancaster County.
A total of sixteen shipments of drums, supersacks and potentially contaminated cardboard/PPE waste have been completed since March 2008. A total of 1939 drums and 34 supersacks (representing 132 drums) of radium containing/contaminated items have been shipped off site for disposal. Overpacked, processed drums continue to be disposed of at the Hanford, Washington Facility.
EPA has finished radiation response activities in all the warehouses. Strube has submitted Decommissioning documents to the State of Pennsylvania for the 2 Marietta Warehouses under the EPAs Unilateral Order. PADEP will complete the confirmation surveys for the buildings in mid-January 2009 and will determine if Strube Decommissioning is complete. Decommissioning of the remaining warehouses per State of PA regulations will be completed at a future date.
Mercury containing instruments have been identified in the warehouses. Strube has been unable to dispose of these instruments. EPA ERRS contractors have completed the collection and consolidation of the mercury containing items. One 55-gallon drum of mercury and mercury containing devices has been collected and recycling of this material will take place in January 2009.
During the waste processing of the materials contained in the Strube filled super sacks, mixed hazardous waste containing instruments were discovered. These items containing lead weights, mercury and PCBs were returned to the Strube site. EPA was unable to decontaminate the instruments contaminated by loose and fixed radium paint. One-third of a 30-gallon drum of these items was returned to Strube on December 17, 2008, pending disposal by Strube.
EPA's final Unified Command meeting took place on December 11, 2008. PADEP will assume the responsibility of coordinating with the local authorities as the Decommissioning activities continue.
One drum mercury waste will be shipped off site for recycling during mid-January 2009.
EPA has identified and consolidated 3 drums of cesium source containing military related modules from Mt Joy and Marietta. Strube is in the process of planning for the proper disposal of these items under the review of PADEP.
In addition, small numbers of miscellaneous parts contained in the warehouses have been found to contain Thorium-232 either in the magnesium alloy metal 'Mag-Thor' or in military grade camera lenses. The State of PA will oversee the eventual disposal of these items.
EPA will continue to monitor Strube's actions for the foreseeable future. EPA will assist Strube in the disposal of the drum of mixed radium/haz waste materials if needed.
|
