United States Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5502G) EPA520-F-93-006 Spring 1993 & EPA Su perf u nd At Work Hazardous Waste Cleanup Efforts Nationwide Site Description: Light industrial site in an urban section of Queens, New York Site Size: One-third of an acre Primary Contaminant: Radium-226 Potential Range of Health Risks: Exposure can cause radiation sickness, topical burns and respiratory disorders Nearby Population Affected: 300,000 people within three miles Year Listed on NPL: 1989 EPA Region: II State: New York Congressional District: 7 Radium Chemical Site Cleanup Plan Contaminated soil excavated Sewer system risk assessment under way Success In Brief EPA Actions Abate Community Exposure to Radium Facility The Radium Chemical hazardous waste site in Queens, New York was contaminated with radium, posing a grave potential threat to the community The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) used the Superfund program to design a long-term cleanup for the site using input from citizens and the business community. Superfund staff: • Mobilized a quick cleanup action to remove 10,000 small containers of radium; • Developed a streamlined approach to long-term cleanup; • Secured the site to reduce the possibility of radiation exposure to the local residents; • Cooperated with the community to design a well-organized emergency response plan; and • Educated local citizens about site hazards, incorporating com- munity concerns into the cleanup process. The Radium Chemical site is a clear example of EPA's effective management and problem-solving strategies at Superfund sites. The Site Today The majority of the cleanup actions at Radium Chemical are complete. The abandoned building was dismantled and removed in October 1991, when soil excavation began. Soil disposal was completed in March 1992; a risk assessment is underway on the sewer system to determine how much of it must be removed. This study will be com- pleted in spring 1993. The site will be seeded for grass and considered safe for a variety of productive ^sgs^fe^&WPfotecror, Agency Repion 5, L=vrs;v PL-I;?,') 77°V-.'o:t Jf.ci'^'.-'oiJi-^-J'-.i, -2:h Floor Chicago, IL 605G4-J ~oO Abandoned warehouse dismantled and removed ------- Superfund At Work • Radium Chemical, Queens, NY Spring 1993 A Site Snapshot An abandoned building and abandoned sites identified for grounds known as the Radium comprehensive cleanup under Chemical site cover about one- third of an acre in a light indus- trial area of Queens, New York. Some small businesses and residences lie within half a mile, and the •^MBWHm Brooklyn/ Queens Ex- pressway passes within seven feet of The surrounding area shows no signs of contamination the Superfund program, which had been enacted in 1980. Improperly handled radium poses a serious occupational threat to workers. If touched, it ~^n—— causes radia- tion burns and can even result in the loss of limbs. In addition, the site. Approximately 300,000 inhaling radon gas can cause chronic bronchial diseases. Only the site building and a nearby structure were affected. The surrounding area showed no signs of contamination. Nevertheless, EPA fenced the people live within three miles. The building stored radium, a radioactive substance used in cancer treatment. The radium was stored in lead casks that housed about 10,000 small metal containers commonly used site, mounted a 24-hour security to store radioactive materials. guard, and installed a monitoring The most significant danger system to prevent a potential to the community was a poten- release into the community. The tial leak of radiation. This led site's auxiliary sewer system EPA to place Radium Chemical was polluted with radium, but on the National Priorities List its discharge was contained, (NPL) on November 21,1989. and did not affect water flowing The NPL is EPA's list of the through the piping. most serious uncontrolled or Poor Waste Handling Practices Draw Legal Actions The Radium Chemical site stored radium beginning in the 1950s and ceased operations in 1988. About 10,000 small metal containers, storing a total of 120 curies of radium, were found in the building. In 1983, New York State ordered Radium Chemical Com- pany to stop operating due to shipping and handling violations. Further inspections revealed that the on-site radiation levels sur- passed allowable standards, indicating that the radium had been improperly stored, and that there were defects in the radium containers. Furthermore, these investigations revealed that the company had lost several ship- ments of radium. In 1987, the state ordered Radium Chemical Company to remove its inventory of radium containers and to decontaminate State orders operations to cease '''*-'-*-^^' Page 2 ------- Superfund At Work • Radium Chemical, Queens, NY • Spring 1993 the warehouse. The company vacated the site without comply- ing, and in 1988 the site was declared officially abandoned. Radium Chemical Company was About 10,000 containers housing a total of 120 curies of radium, were found in the building prosecuted for criminal viola- tions of the state labor law by the State Attorney General and in February 1989 was convicted on four violations and fined the maximum amount permitted by statute. Although investigations reveal that the Radium Chemical Company has no assets, EPA is preparing to place a lien on the owner's property for future recovery of cleanup costs. EPA Quickly Reduces Immediate Threats to the Community To reduce the risk of radium exposure to the community, EPA began organizing cleanup at the site even before it was listed on theNPL. Such emergency actions are warranted when- ever hazardous wastes pose an immediate and substan- tial endan- germent to human health and the environment. Beginning in late 1988, Superfund staff: • Supervised the removal of 10,000 small metal containers of radium from the building to an approved waste disposal site, thereby significantly reducing the imminent threat to the community; Constructed a fence around the site to restrict public access; Mounted round-the-clock security and installed a remote monitoring system designed to warn EPA immediately of significant radiation releases; • Installed a foam fire-suppressant system and special vents on the site to reduce the spread of contamina- tion in the event of fire or explosion during the cleanup; and Developed contingency plans with hospitals and the local fire and police departments to minimize confusion in the event of an emergency. Radium Chemical Queens, New York Wirehotise dtentarttted, » Soil excavationtsegini Page 3 ------- Superfund At Work Radium Chemical, Queens, NY Spring 1993 Cleanup Underway at Radium Chemical If a fire or explosion had occurred at the Radium Chemical facility prior to EPA's cleanup actions, the radiation released could have affected all of New York City. A Brief Look at Radium: The Element, The Dangers When French scientist Madame Curie first gazed at the brilliant white lumines- cence that would bear the name radium, she could not imagine its use to treat cancer patients or to explore physics, or even its use in glowing paints. She also could not imagine the difficulties present in keeping the element's radia- tion of alpha particles, nucle- ons, electrons, and gamma rays in check to limit risks to popu- lations and the environment. The most common form of the element is radium-226, which was stored at the Ra- dium Chemical site. While a useful tool in both technical and medical fields, radium also contains an element of danger. If improperly stored and handled, or if the sub- stance is not carefully con- tained and monitored, the health risks to nearby resi- dents can be extreme. The Element In the range of radiation sicknesses, those derived from radium exposure are among the most devastating. Physical contact with radium immedi- ately begins to cause cells to mutate. In one case, a small amount of radium-tainted gold was mixed with unaf- fected materials to make rings; some unsuspecting wearers lost fingers from the radium contact. Physical contact is rela- tively easy to control; a threat to a far greater population comes from inhalation of radium's by-product, radon gas. Even short exposures to radon can lead to chronic bronchial diseases and long- term exposure can be fatal. Page 4 ------- Superfund At Work Radium Chemical, Queens, NY Spring 1993 Long-Term Threats Eliminated Through Expeditious Decision-Making Once the radium containers were removed, EPA sought to streamline cleanup of the remain- ing site contamination. In the fell of 1989, Superfund staff conducted a rapid yet compre- hensive investigation of potential remedies that would reduce long-term pollution problems at the site. EPA undertook conscientious community relations efforts that assured citizen and business input to decision-making (see story on page 6). The selected approach for long-term cleanup of Radium Chemical involved the following steps: 1) Decontaminating the building and then dismantling it; 2) Excavating contaminated soil; 3) Removing the contaminated sewer system, which affected the site and one other adjacent building; 4) Transferring contaminated materials to an approved waste disposal site; and 5) Seeding the lot for grass and and design steps in only eight Everything involved in EPA's response to this site has been done on a fast-track basis" -- EPA official removing the security fence. After these steps are complete, the site area will be safe for a variety of productive uses. Most Superfund cleanups adhere to the approach of designing the remedy for the site after it has been formalized in a Record of Decision. This design phase can be lengthy, -^-^—————• but at Radium Chemical, good planning and community support for the option allowed EPA to merge the selection and design steps. EPA had completed the design effort by the time the remedy was officially approved in 1990. This effective and expedient effort yielded two jobs for the price of one. Furthermore, by completing the study, selection, months, EPA saved nearly a year in the cleanup process. On the subject of this unique approach, EPA Regional Administrator Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff remarked, "Ev- erything in- volved in EPA's response to this site has been done on a fast- track basis.... Even the report on the remaining contamination in the building was completed in near-record time." EPA saved even more time and money by starting the actual cleanup the day after the remedy was selected. Traditionally, EPA accepts bids by cleanup contrac- tors and selects a firm once the design is complete. This competi- tive process usually takes about nine months. Superfund continued its fast- track approach to Radium Chemical by utilizing an existing contract managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps, which has a wealth of experience in cleaning up the nation's hazardous waste sites, quickly dispatched its cleanup team to the site. Demolition of the Radium Chemical facility Removal of the abandoned building was one element of the long-term cleanup. Page 5 ------- Superfund At Work • Radium Chemical, Queens, NY EPA Responds to Community Concerns Throughout Cleanup Outreach Involves and Educates the Community EPA was quick to address the community's concerns regarding the potential dangers at Radium Chemical, and took a number of measures to reach the public. Superfund staff set up an on- site community relations trailer. A 24-hour hotline, with recordings in Spanish, Greek, and English, provided up-to-the-minute infor- mation to the entire community. EPA also distributed pamphlets in these languages to educate citi- zens and to assure them protec- tive actions were being taken. Local businessmen also worked in conjunction with EPA to temporarily close surrounding streets during the cleanup process. Cleanup Precautions Ease Health Fears EPA was able to secure the Radium Chemical site efficiently and effectively so that at no time was the Brooklyn-Queens Ex- pressway endangered by the site, despite its proximity to the con- tamination. No health problems have been reported by site work- ers or local residents. For additional copies of this or other Superfund At Work updates, contact the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, telephone (703) 487-4650. If you wish to be added to or deleted from our mailing list or to comment on this bulletin's content, length or format, please call (703) 603-8984 or send a letter to Superfund At Work(55Q2G), 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460 Spring 1993 Success at Radium Chemical EPA's work at the Radium Chemical site protected New Yorkers from a serious radio- active pollutant. Superfund personnel promptly removed the immediate threat, secured the site, and designed a long- term cleanup approved by the community. EPA studied the site, chose the remedy, and designed the approach in tandem with the business and local commu- nity. EPA's streamlined cleanup approach also saved time and money. The site study, cleanup strategy, and cleanup design were com- bined, and work began the day after the design was selected. These cost-effective innovations saved about 18 months. 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