CERCLA Emergency Response - Removal Site Evaluation

1.1.2 Site Description

Please see PolRep #1 for the site description.

1.1.2.1 Location
Renaissance Apartments

6342 North Park Meadow Way

See PolRep #1 for site activities through 10/11/14.
See PolRep #2 for activities covering 10/12/14 through 10/13/14.  
See PolRep #3 for activities covering 10/14/14 through 10/16/14. 

10/17/14

EPA, IDEQ, ERRS, & START conducted the following activities:

Hazard Categorization of the unknown chemicals and radioactive materials
The START contractor completed the hazard categorization of non-radioactive chemicals.  Materials were segregated by their hazard class (flammability, corrosivity, etc.) and placed in a secure location until off-site transport and appropriate disposal can be arranged.  Radioactive material hazard categorization will begin on 10/18/14, with suspected radioactive materials being stored in a secure location away from the apartment.

Survey of the tenant’s second vehicle
RERT and START conducted a radiological survey of a second tenant-owned vehicle that arrived on site on 10/16/14.  Previous screening of the vehicle by a hazardous materials team had indicated a possible strong radiological source in the car; however, no strong source was found during the survey.  A small shard of weakly radioactive ceramic was discovered.  In addition to the weak source, the vehicle trunk liner and spare tire cover were found to be contaminated by radioactive material.  All of these items were removed from the vehicle and placed in a secure location with other radioactive wastes for until disposal can be arranged.  Radioactive contamination was also identified on the car exterior near the trunk.  That area was decontaminated to a point where radioactivity did not pose a hazard.

Screening household wastes from the apartment porch
During the initial screening, several of the trash bags were identified as potentially radioactive and required further analysis.  The START and ERRs contractors continued screening household trash from the apartment that had elevated levels of radioactivity.  These activities include a detailed direct scan reading of the trash in addition to wipe sampling analysis to confirm the presence or absence of elevated contamination.

Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT) support
An EPA radiation specialist is present at the site to provide scientific support with additional radiation equipment. 

Public and media outreach
Both the EPA Public Information Officer (PIO) and site Community Involvement Coordinator (CIC) continue to provide support via telephone or email to further engage with residents, the media, or other interested parties. An EPA Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) counselor has been available on site since 10/15/14 coordinating relocation assistance as well as conducting community involvement activities.

Tenant relocation and personal property
EPA continued to provide support to the tenants by providing access to temporary housing.   When possible, EPA is retrieving, screening, and returning critical personal property from the apartment.

10/18/14

EPA, IDEQ, ERRS, & START conducted the following activities:

Screening household wastes from the apartment porch
The START and ERRs contractors finished scanning and sampling household trash from the apartment that had elevated levels of radioactivity.  In total, 12 fifty-five gallon drum liner bags of household trash were screened and disposed of appropriately.  No trash from the porch exhibited elevated levels of radioactivity during final analysis. In total, 12 fifty five gallon drum liner bags of household trash were screened and disposed of as household solid waste.

Hazard categorization of radiological materials
START completed hazard categorization of the known radioactive chemicals and conducted isotopic identification of radioactive sources where possible. This information will be used to determine the appropriate disposal methods.

Survey and wipe sampling of apartment porch
RERT and START conducted a survey of the porch to assess if contamination was present on the concrete or other surfaces.  Several stained areas were identified and documented as potentially radioactive based on direct scan instrument readings. These areas were wipe sampled and analysis was completed on 10/19/14.  The porch exterior was placed under containment to prevent contamination migration.  

Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT) Support
An EPA RERT radiation specialist is present at the site to provide scientific support with additional radiation equipment.

Public and media outreach
Both the EPA PIO and site CIC continue to provide support via telephone and email to further engage with residents, the media, or other interested parties.

Tenant relocation and personal property
EPA continued to provide support to the tenants by providing access to temporary housing. When possible, EPA is retrieving, screening, and returning critical personal property from the apartment.

10/19/14

EPA, IDEQ, ERRS, & START conducted the following activities:

Porch wipe sample analysis
Wipe samples collected on 10/18/14 were analyzed and the results confirmed that several spots on the porch where staining was observed were contaminated and in need of decontamination and/or removal. 

Apartment Clearance Preparation
In preparation for the apartment clearance process, RERT and START entered the apartment to identify and/or remove additional sources and/or contaminated items that had been identified since the initial radioactive source removal.  Used personal protective equipment and other investigation derived wastes from previous activities in the apartment were removed and staged for disposal.

Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT) support
An EPA RERT specialist is present at the site to provide scientific support with additional radiation equipment.  

Public and media outreach

Tenant relocation and personal property
EPA continued to provide support to the tenants by providing them access to temporary housing.  When possible, EPA is retrieving, screening, and returning critical personal property from the apartment.

10/20/14

EPA, IDEQ, ERRS, & START conducted the following activities:

Region 10 Response Support Corp Radiation Task Force Leader (RFTL) integration
Two EPA Region 10 Response Support Corp Radiation Task Force Leaders integrated in the response team to support site operations.

Apartment Clearance
EPA RERT and RFTLs along with the START and ERRS contractors entered the apartment to (1) remove contamination from the concrete surfaces on the porch; (2) establish an uncontaminated area to store screened, uncontaminated personal property while decontamination and/or removal takes place in other rooms; (3) identify, document, and remove contaminated personal items and newly encountered radioactive sources; and (4) identify/document contaminated structural elements of the apartment (carpet, walls, countertops, etc.) as encountered.

ERRS set up a containment area and used the same scrabbling technique to remove contamination as done on the concrete areas outside of the apartment.  Each area was screened for radiation via direct scan and wipe samples analysis confirming that the removal via scrabbling successfully removed elevated contamination levels.

Concurrently, RERT, RFTLs, and START began the process of screening and clearing a room in the apartment to store uncontaminated items while decontamination and/or removal of contaminated items and structural components of the apartment are addressed.  In addition to direct scan readings, wipe samples were collected to determine if mobile or removable contamination was present.  By the end of operations, RFTL had cleared most of a bedroom.  During these operations, the RFTL team discovered another uranium source and removed it from the apartment.  Several radioactive personal items and wastes were also identified, documented, and segregated from clean items for decontamination and/or disposal.  Several locations on the carpets in the apartment were identified and documented as contaminated. These areas were clearly delineated for future removal.  Additional screening and wipe sampling will occur on 10/21/14 to further characterize the extent of contamination, segregate contaminated items from uncontaminated items, and identify contaminated structural components of the apartment.

Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT) support
An EPA radiation specialist is present at the site to provide scientific support with additional radiation equipment.   

Public and Media Outreach
Both the EPA PIO and site CIC continue to provide support via telephone and email to further engage with residents, the media, or other interested parties.

Tenant relocation and personal property
EPA continued to provide support to the tenants by providing them access to temporary housing.  When possible, EPA is retrieving, screening, and returning critical personal property from the apartment.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

(1) Removal and proper disposal of radioactive and chemical wastes from the apartment.  (2) Screening of apartment contents. (3) Clearance of the apartment for re-occupancy.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues

October 17
EPA: 2

IDEQ: 1

START contractor: 5

EPA: 4

IDEQ: 1

START contractor: 5