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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
PRP Oversight |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Mobilization Date: |
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Start Date: |
8/12/2011 |
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Demob Date: |
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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 to identify constitutent isotopes and subsequent analysis of the recorded spectra indicated the presence of U-235, U-238 and Proactinium (Pa) 234, a gamma ray emitter.
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.
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2.1.1 Narrative
EPA provided Fortune Metals with a list of Rad Waste Brokers, and the company has entered into an arrangement with one of those brokers, Radiac Research Inc., for the packaging, labeling, shipping and disposal of the depleted uranium to a licensed facility in Oak Ridge, TN. EPA will be kept updated on these field activities and will monitor the RP's removal progress until the waste is shipped off-site.
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 |
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TBD |
TBD |
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