EPA Removal Program
Work Done to Date
Protective Steps against Possible Flood Damage
Because of previous flooding in the area,
precautionary steps were taken to help ensure that
the Site will not be affected by severe weather
conditions. Precautionary action included:
•	Removing tree branches that were near buildings,
•	Reinforcing the Site's riverfront slope,
•	Staging containerized materials, and
•	Consolidating the remaining stored equipment.
Off-Site Removal of Radioactive Materials
EPA has been working with the Army Corps of
Engineers (USAGE) to separate and categorize the
mixed waste, and identify proper storage and/or
disposal facilities. To date:
•	Approximately 167 drums have been removed
and treated off-Site at a licensed facility in
Texas, awaiting proper disposal.
•	Approximately 27 containers of the treated silo
waste material are currently over-packed
(double-drums) for transportation and staged for
removal.
These staged materials currently do not meet waste
acceptance criteria for U.S. commercial disposal
facilities. EPA and USACE continue to evaluate
possible treatment, transportation and disposal
options.
Photo above: Example of drums that have been
removed off-Site for proper disposal.
EPA Remedial Program
The Remedial Program is working to finalize two
comprehensive studies of the Site, called a Remedial
Investigation and a Feasibility Study (RI/FS).
These studies are often conducted together so while
data is being gathered to help determine the extent of
contamination and establish the necessary cleanup
criteria (RI), scientists are also working to identify
potential cleanup options and the technical and cost
analysis of those options (FS). The RI/FS is being
done in three separate pieces, called "operable
units."
•	OU-1 = buildings and structures,
•	OU-2 = contaminated groundwater, and
•	OU-3 = contaminated soils/sediments/surface
water.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Safety Light Corporation
Superfund Site
Columbia County, Pennsylvania
Cleanup Progress and Community Update
June 2008
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is using both its Superfund Removal and Remedial
Programs in the cleanup effort at the Safety Light Corp. (SLC) Superfund Site, located in South Centre
Township, Pennsylvania. EPA's Removal Program focuses on addressing immediate Site-related risks, and
the Remedial Program focuses on long-term cleanup remedies. This fact sheet provides an update on both

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Safety Light Corporation Superfund Site—Cleanup Progress and Community Update
June 2008	Page 2
In addition, seven of the on-Site buildings
will be demolished because of their poor structural
condition and potential safety hazard. After
scheduling delays due to contracting issues, EPA
entered into an Interagency Agreement with the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE) to perform
this work. The demolition work and safety plans
are being prepared and work is estimated to begin in
September 2008,
EPA will plan to hold a community meeting
this summer to present work plan specifics and
answer any questions or comments residents may
have about the demolition work to be done. The
date, time and location will be announced in ad-
vance in the Press Enterprise newspaper.
OU-1 On-Site Buildings
The RI for the Site's permanent structures is
completed and the FS is currently underway;
estimated to be finalized by the end of 2008.
The next step will be to develop a Proposed Plan
highlighting cleanup options, that will be
presented to the community for review and input.
Photo below: Example of type of equipment that
may be used for demolition work.
Photo above: One of the seven on-Site
buildings to be demolished.
OU-2: Groundwater
EPA continues to sample shallow groundwater
monitoring wells (about 35 - 45 ft. deep), and
has installed three new deep groundwater
monitoring wells on-Site (one about 100 ft. and
two about 200 ft. deep). Contamination has
been found in the groundwater directly below
the Site.
EPA also monitored nearby residential wells.
Some samples showed Site-related contami-
nants at low levels that did not exceed Federal
Safe Drinking Water Act standards. Residents
received copies of their well sampling data.
OU-3: On-Site Soils/Sediments/Surface Water
EPA is collecting samples of:
•	Surface Soil
•	Subsurface Soils
•	Sediments (from the lagoon area on-Site
and Susquehanna River)
The RI/FS for OU-2 and OU-3 is estimated to

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Safety Light Corporation Superfund Site—Cleanup Progress and Community Update
June 2008	Page 3
Photos above: EPA contractors conducting on-Site
soil sampling.
Who Else is Involved?
EPA is coordinating with the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC); Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP);
the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR), a federal public health service
agency; and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USAGE).
For more information on these radioactive
materials, visit EPA's website at:
www.epa.gov/enviro/html/emci/chemref/
complete index.html
Site Background
The SLC Site is located in South Centre
Township, PA, situated between the Susquehanna
River and Old Berwick Road.
Although on-Site manufacturing operations closed
in December 2007, Safety Light is continuing to
perform safety and security measures at the Site,
such as fencing, sprinkler system and electronic
security system maintenance.
Past activities at the Site include the
manufacturing of:
•	Self-illuminated watches and instrument dials,
•	Smoke detectors,
•	Neutron sources,
•	Exit signs, and
•	Other products containing radioactive
materials (such as radium-226, strontium-90,

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