United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 5
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Illinois, Indiana
Michigan, Minnesota
Ohio, Wisconsin
vvEPA
U.S. EPA - Mobile Scanner Van
for Use the Lindsay Light 11/
RV3 North Columbus Drive Site
Chicago, Illinois
June 2000
The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide
community residents and other interested
individuals with information about the Lindsay
Light sites. In particular, this fact sheet will
provide a brief overview of the Mobile
Scanner Van.
The U.S. EPA Office of Radiation and Indoor
Air - Las Vegas Facility operates a Mobile
Scanner Van to find sources of radioactive
contamination. U.S. EPA will use this Mobile
Scanner Van during June 20-22, 2000, in the
vicinity of the Lindsay Light sites (the site).
The Scanner Van will cover the following
areas: Michigan Avenue to Navy Pier and
from the Ogden Slip to Ontario Street.
U.S. EPA will use the Scanner Van to detect
potential thorium contamination and to help
identify potentially contaminated properties in
the Streeterville area near the Lindsay Light
II/RV3 North Columbus Drive site. The
Scanner Van, a modified commercial delivery
van, contains two extremely sensitive
detectors used to locate gamma radiation
(the type of radiation produced by thorium).
Since the van scans only out of its right side,
it must be driven down every street in both
directions. This includes one way streets.
The vehicle will be driven at approximately 5
miles per hour, stopping occasionally. U.S.
EPA will be working in cooperation with the
City of Chicago's Departments of
Environment and Transportation to minimize
any traffic delays.
Two people will be in the van. One person
will operate the instruments/detectors, and
the other person will drive the van. The van
contains two detectors that operate
simultaneously. One detects radiation from a
narrow beam and the other measures
radiation in a wider environment, providing
baseline data. Information is sent to a
console where the operator interprets the
data.
Both outputs are displayed on the operator's
console. They are also recorded using a strip
chart recorder, which shows numerical
representation of data, in order to identify
potentially contaminated areas and to provide
a permanent record of the survey. The
readouts alert the operator to possible
contamination which later can be further
investigated with other field instruments.
U.S. EPA has used the Scanner Van for
approximately 16 years at similar sites in
West Chicago, IL , Ottawa, IL, Grand
Junction, Co and Lansdowne, PA. The
Scanner Van has consistently provided U.S.
EPA with accurate information.
U.S. EPA chose this field survey instrument
because it is similar to the surface gamma
scanner (walkover) instruments that are in
use at the site. Because the gamma ray
detector in the van is much larger than the
hand-held units, it can see contamination
away from the van when the van is on the
street, and can survey a neighborhood much
faster than by surveying on foot. In one day,
close to 30 miles may be covered with the
Scanner Van. U.S. field crews later will visit
any areas identified as potentially
contaminated.
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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have questions about the information in
this fact sheet or would like additional
information about the Lindsay Light Sites,
please contact the individuals listed below:
Derrick Kimbrough
Community Involvement Coordinator
Office of Public Affairs (P-19J)
(312)886-9749
kimbrough.derrick@epa.gov
Verneta Simon
On-Scene Coordinator
Superfund Division (SE-5J)
(312)886-3601
simon.verneta@epa.gov
Fred Micke
On-Scene Coordinator
Superfund Division (SE-5J)
(312)886-5123
micke.fredrick@epa.gov
WEB SITES
This and additional updates can be found at
the following web sites:
www.epa.gov.regionS/sites/
Scroll down through the list to find the
Lindsay Light II/RV3 North Columbus Drive
site.
U.S. EPA Region 5
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604-3590
(800)621-8431
24-hour response number (312) 353-2318
Lindsay Light site-related information is
available at the following location:
Harold Washington Public Library
400 South State
Chicago, Illinois
Monday: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Tues. and Thurs.: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Fri., and Sat.: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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