The United States Fish and Widlife Service (USFW) requested the USEPA to conduct an assesment of a portion of Matagorda Island, TX to determine if levels of radiation previously found by the Texas Conservation Commission (TCEQ) along certain portions of the island were harmful to public health. The island is located off of the Gulf of Mexico and is a former United States Air Force base, which included a bombing site in the 1950's. The TCEQ informed the USEPA that roughly 5,000 fisherman and tourists frequent the Matagorda Island area annually. In addition, several endangered species are also located on the island.
During the annual TCEQ Matagorda Island Drum Run, TCEQ personnel detected levels of radiation 10 to 40X background using a MicroR meter on certain portions of the island. The USEPA along with USFW and the TCEQ will conduct an assessment of the island during the months of April and May 2008, to determine the source of the radiation and to determine if there is a threat to public health or to the environment.
EPA representatives arrived on-scene at approximately 1030 on April 4, 2008. A meeting was held with TCEQ and USFW to determine a course of action regarding the assessment on the island. An initial visit to the island was conducted to determine background radiation levels and a plan of action for assessment activities was determined.
EPA will assess the island for radioactive sources and determine if further sampling, assessment and removal are necessary. Assessment activties will include creating a scope of work, conducting surveys using radiological equipment, documenting all measurements collected and creating a footprint map of areas of concern.
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