Radiation-Kelley Instruments, Inc (KII - a former radium dial repair shop) was located at 1024 South Santa Fe Avenue, Wichita, Kansas. The property is located in the northwest ¼ of Section 28, Township 27 South, Range 1 East, in east central Sedgwick County, Kansas. The latitude and longitude of the property is North 37.673860 latitude and West -97.329930 longitude. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Bureau of Air and Radiation (BAR) licensed radium dial shops. According to BAR records, KII operated a facility repairing aircraft instruments at this location from approximately 1970 to 1990.
Radioluminescent paint—a mixture of a radionuclide, usually radium-226 and a phosphor, usually zinc sulfide—was developed in the early 1900s. The mixture was initially used on watch and clock faces and later adapted for use on instruments, most notably aircraft dials. As part of radium’s decay process it emits an alpha particle that can excite the phosphor which eventually releases a photon. The end results are dials that “glow” and can be read at night without light. Exposure to high levels of radium results in an increased incidence of bone, liver and breast cancer. Radium-226 is a hazardous substance, as defined by section 101(14) of the CERCLA, and is listed at 40 CFR part 302.4 as an radionuclide.
On February 19, 2010, KDHE referred this Site to the EPA for a response action. The EPA is closely coordinating Site activities with KDHE and the Sedgwick County, Kansas Health Department. The Sedgwick County, Kansas Health Department has volunteered to coordinate Site activities with the local governing bodies.
The EPA conducted field activities for a Removal Site Evaluation (RSE) in May and November of 2010. Field screening with radiation detectors and radiation analysis of soil and groundwater samples further defined the lateral, vertical and aerial extent of contamination.
The objective of this removal action is to protect public health or welfare or the environment by responding to the release of hazardous substances and pollutants or contaminants into the environment as presented by soils contaminated with Radium-226 at the Site. Contaminated soils that exceed 5 pico Curies per gram (pCi/g) plus background will be excavated and properly disposed of.
The Action Memorandum, signed April 7, 2011, outlines the scope of work covered by the removal action. The removal action started on May 5, 2011 and was completed on May 8, 2011. KDHE was notified of the Removal Completion on May 9, 2011. The transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of the hazardous substances was done in accordance with all applicable local, state and federal requirements. The certificate of disposal was certified on May 13, 2011.
At this time, no post removal Site control will be necessary.
