The businesses at the site include a delicatessen and grocery store (1125 Irving Avenue), office space and unoccupied residential apartments with an attached building housing a tire shop (1125 Irving Avenue) and mini-ATV shop; a building with an auto body shop (15-14 Cooper Avenue) and office space; two buildings used for warehouse purposes (1133-1139 Irving Avenue and 1129 Irving Avenue); and a commercial building with an auto repair shop (1127 Irving Avenue).

The Site is located at 1127-1129 Irving Avenue, in Ridgewood, New York located on the Brooklyn/Queens border.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

The Site contains active businesses that operate within structures formerly used by Wolff-Alport, a processor of materials that contained radioactive properties. The presence of radioactivity has been documented within and underneath the identified buildings, in the soil at the rear of the structures along a former rail spur, underneath the sidewalk along Irving Avenue in front of the former Wolff Alport building. Persons that work in or access the buildings at the Site or traverse the public sidewalk in front of the Site or trespass the rear portion of the Site will be exposed to ionizing radiation by passing over or coming into contact with these impacted areas. The area around the Site is, in part, residential in nature. A deli/grocery store on the corner of Irving and Cooper Avenues may tend to increase the number of persons that access the sidewalk in front of the Site. The railroad spur behind the building appears to be an area that is accessed by people. Any excavation conducted at the Site, including on Irving Avenue, could result in increased direct gamma radiation exposures to persons working or walking in and around the disturbed area.  
 

Surveys conducted at the Site indicate that elevated levels of radioactivity are present within one foot of the surface at the rear of the Site on the former rail spur. The area consists of bare soil overgrown with weeds. Although the parcel on which the former rail strip is reportedly considered abandoned and current ownership is questionable, the parcel is used to store heavy machinery, crane equipment and, on occasion, vehicles. As a result, the radioactive contamination can be spread offsite under this scenario and potentially be available for inhalation as a particulate since the streets near the Site sustain a significant amount of vehicular movement. Any excavation conducted at the Site, including on Irving Avenue, could result in an increased chance of contaminant migration, both directly on the roadway and through an airborne pathway, which could impact persons near the Site.

Site Planning and Assessment Activities:

August 31, 2012: NYS DEC/ NYS DOH Referral received by Walter Mugdan, USEPA, ERRD Director.

Participants:

United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
United States Department of Energy (US DOE)
New York State Department of Conservation (NYS DEC)
New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH)
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH)
New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP)

September 19, 2012: Biweekly inter-agency phone conference.

September 20, 2012: OSC mailed out property access agreements in coordination with EPA ORC and EPA RAB Enforcement Team:

·         Arctic Glacier (Block 3725/Lot 42-Businesses: Primo #2 and Terra Nova)

·         LPL (Block 3725/Lot 44-Business: Primo #1)

·         Department of Education (Block 3442/Lot 1-Business: IS 384 school)

·         Naftali Steinmetz (Block/Lot-Business: Audrey Johnson Daycare)

·         David Weiss (Block 3725/Lot 46-Business: Jarabacoa Deli)

September 21, 2012: OSC mailed out property access agreements:

·         AFG (Block 3725Lot 31-Business: Railroad Spur)

September 24, 2012: Arctic Glacier (Primo #2/Terra Nova) signs access agreement.

September 25, 2012: ERRD Director issues verbal funding in the amount of $320,000 of which $250,000 is

September 26, 2012: Wolff Alport Technical Workgroup held a phone conference to discuss shielding and possible shielding alternative. 

September 27, 2012: Wolff Alport Property Owner/Business Operator/Worker Meeting

September 27, 2012: KEMRON Task Order Issued

October 03, 2012: Biweekly inter-agency phone conference.

October 09, 2012: Weston TDD processed for response action and Spanish interpreter.

October 10, 2012: Elected Official Information Session held.

October 10, 2012: Public Information Session held.

October 11, 2012: Naftali Steinmetz (Audrey Johnson Daycare) signs access agreement.

October 12, 2012: Action Memo short version draft submitted to RPB/RAB management.

October 16, 2012:  EPA OSCs obtain concrete slab for shielding pilot study.

October 17, 2012: Community Board #4 Meeting held.

October 17, 2012: Biweekly inter-agency phone conference.

October 18, 2012:  EPA OSCs obtain steel plates for shielding pilot study.

October 18, 2012: NYC Department of Education (IS 384 School) signs access agreement.

October 22, 2012: Lenny Piccolo (Primo #1) signs access agreement.

October 22, 2012:  OSCs meet with Arctic Glacier Representatives (George Geanacopoulos, Lenny Piccolo, Iggy) to verify boundaries described in deeds/tax maps of Lots 42 and 44.  It was confirmed that Primo #2 and Terra Nova are on Lot 42.  Primo #1 is on Lot 44 (LPL).  OSCs meet with Boro Cabinet Representatives (Cohen Brothers).  OSCs request EPA Civil Investigator Team (Coakley/Savino) regarding Lot 31 ownership and abandoned vehicle (2 boats/1car) ownership.

October 23, 2012:  EPA OSC meet ERRS on-site. (Mobilization date)

October 24, 2012: EPA OSCs, EPA RIAB, NYC DOHMH, KEMRON, and Weston conducted shielding pilot study at the most elevated radiation levels along Irving Avenue Sidewalk in front of Lot 42 and 44 (Primo Auto Body Bays #1/ #2 and Terra Nova).  Shielding study was also conducted inside of Primo Auto #2 Bay.  The team also surveyed the sidewalk along Irving Avenue and delineated elevated radiation levels.  The area was marked out with pink spray paint (NYC Color Code for survey work).  OSC handed written access agreement to Boro Cabinet.

October 25-26, 2012: EPA OSCs, EPA RIAB, NYC DOHMH, KEMRON, and Weston tamp down foliage on Lot 31, stack debris, and conduct gross radiation survey to identify hot spots.   Crane Company (Auringer) was contacted in person to remove remaining metal plates on Lot 31.

October 31, 2012: Biweekly inter-agency phone conference.

November 04, 2012: EPA OSCs, EPA RIAB, NYC DOHMH, KEMRON, and Weston scheduled to delineate elevated radiation levels and mark out at Primo #1.

November 10, 2012: EPA OSCs, EPA RIAB, NYC DOHMH, KEMRON, and Weston scheduled to delineate elevated radiation levels and mark out at Terra Nova.

November 14, 2012: Community Board #5 Meeting scheduled at Middle Village, Queens.

October 26, 2012: OSC and ERRS to continue clearing the foliage on Lot 31.  Relocate vehicles in more organized fashion on the Lot.  OSC scheduled to meet with Boro Cabinet Owners (Lot 30).  A copy of their 2007 property survey was requested.  OSC will discuss Lot cleanup and fence erection.

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