Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Beta Chem Laboratory
Lenexa, KS - EPA Region VII
POLREP #7

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Beta Chem Laboratory - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII

Subject:

POLREP #7
Beta Chem Laboratory
B783
Lenexa, KS
Latitude: 38.9473349 Longitude: -94.7535919

To:

From:

Doug Ferguson, OSC

Date:

6/20/2014

Reporting Period:

June 16-20, 2014

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	B783	Contract Number:	EP-S7-13-05
D.O. Number:	0029	Action Memo Date:	4/17/2014
Response Authority:	CERCLA	Response Type:	Time-Critical
Response Lead:	EPA	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	5/5/2014	Start Date:	5/5/2014
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:	KSN000705028	RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:	State Referred the Site
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

Time-Critical Removal Action of hazardous substances, including assessment for radiation contamination.

1.1.2 Site Description

Beta Chem Laboratory is a defunct radio-pharmaceutical synthesis lab.

1.1.2.1 Location

The Site is located at 14410 West 100th Street, Lenexa, Johnson County, Kansas. The Site is located in an industrial park. The Site is within a portion of a building in the Noon Industrial Park.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

See POLREP number 1.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

See POLREP number 1.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative

A total of 1,109 chemical containers have been inventoried at the Site most of which have intact labels believed to accurately reflect their content. Of these 1,109 containers, 276 had hand written, indecipherable or missing labels. The contents of these containers were field screened and assigned hazard groups based on their properties. Virtually all of the surfaces in the lab, including the chemical containers, have elevated counts of radiation as measured with the Ludlum 2241 Meter equipped with a 44-9 "pancake" probe. Additionally, several radiation source materials have been identified and segregated at the Site. Liquid scintillation testing of the contents of containers confirmed a number of the chemicals have radioactive contamination mixed in with them.

Air monitoring results have not detected significant concentrations of volatile organic compounds as measured with a photoionization detector. Additionally, the oxygen concentrations were found to remain constant at 20.9% and the percent of the lower explosive limit was zero. There were not any significant detections of air borne radiation contamination in samples collected onto air filters counted by the Ludlum Model 3030 Drawer Alpha-Beta Counter.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

Actions conducted during the period of June 16-20, 2014:

Approximately 47 smaller quantity containers were segregated into hazard groups to further stabilize materials at the site.
Containers with unknown contents were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectroscopy (GCMS)
Another seven flammable liquid container contents were bulked into one 55-gallon steel drum.
Additional interior surface radiation characterization of building materials and equipment occurred.
One additional acetylene and two hydrogen compressed gas cylinder's contents were vented to reduce the risk of fire and explosion at the site.
Two nitrogen and one air compressed gas cylinder's contents were vented to reduce the risk of explosion at the site.
Waste profiling samples were collected from the bulk flammable liquid's drums to be analyzed for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), TCLP Metals, Flash Point, BTU, PCBs, pH and Halogens.

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

PRPs have been identified for the Site including the operator of the facility and the owners of the building.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

The anticipated waste streams for the site are listed below. Ongoing research by site personnel and disposal companies will determine the final waste streams.

*Waste Stream*	*Medium*	*Quantity*	*Manifest #*	*Treatment*	*Disposal*
flammable	liquid
flammable	solid
corrosive, acid	liquid
corrosive, base	liquid
corrosive, base	solid
oxidizer	solid
oxidizer	liquid
organic peroxide	liquid
water reactive	solid
water reactive	liquid
air reactive	solid
mixed waste	s, l, g
toxic	s, l, g
radioactive	s, l

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Continue to segregate chemicals by disposal waste streams. Perform compatiblity study on composite samples from each waste stream. Screen waste streams to characterize radiation content of chemicals inside and outside of the container. Submit samples from bulked waste streams for radiation and chemical characterization. Vent compressed gas cylinders to reduce the threat of fire and/or explosion as the hydrostatic test dates have expired.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

Bulk chemicals waste streams based on disposal criteria, determine acceptable levels of radiation contamination for mixed versus hazardous waste, dispose of hazardous materials off-site. Complete radiological assessment of the Site.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Determine best disposal method based on bids from disposal contractors.

2.2.2 Issues

2.3 Logistics Section