Radiological and Infrared Survey of
West Lake Landfill
Bridgeton, Missouri

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Emergency Management
Consequence Management Advisory Team
Erlanger, Kentucky 41018

May 2013

Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental
Collection Technology (ASPECT)

DJjLj. b|||||bb| 3 V

Superfund

VUD(


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Wo-; 1 'ike I andisI! Nurwv

Team Members

EPA Reuion 7

Dan uru\,.!L Nupcf unuS HcUivm;: i S'rouv! M.inasici

EPA ASPECT

\Ls?k I lionias iitf > VvT>tt\i, I e.an Lcait

t 'jiVlait-ai II, P!il) i IIP. ( ill Pf 1 kvlt'i fl.v Raa 1 oad

i Ma'Uiv ( U!i"\, \!^. ['! - I MUl W tinl ! >pci

Paul Kuviviiauskav Ml \ S r.\ iromivnul Scicnii>t

Ivalniiin C o. Inc., Contract Support:

Jeff Siapk'Uni. \is i'linopai I itunicvr
Rt.hcr; Ktouul Piil> sem-n	I iijjmoer

MiiL". PI - lraciir.«:u'i! I

Airborne AMMX I Inc., Contract Support;

Villi I -'itclk'U PiYsilk'iH

Hcvit, 1 cticr, i'ilo'.

ken WluiencaJ, F'M'

Kidiain Rous>a.ai, Nn>io:r, < >}\ rata;-

Mike Scurbounmh. S\>icm 
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YWsi I t.ke Landfill Sut\ c>

Table or Contents

Executive Summary													Jv

Acronyms and Abbreviations	vi

1.0 Introduction	

2.0 Descriptions of the Sites and Survey Areas	2

3.0 Natural Sources of Background Radiation	4

4.0 Survey Equipment and Data Collection Procedures	7

4 1 Radiation DwSccut.v													 i

4 2 trirased Setvor			?

4 3 Flight ParaiiicfeiN 								8

5.0 Data Analyses	9

5.1	Radiological										0

5.2, I'irrareij	.....................................................................	,		 14

6.0 Results	14

o. i Radiological Results ...................................................................................................... i -S

6.2	Ir Aural Results							 "V»

Appendix I : Uranium Decay Chain	26

Appendix II											27

Discussion about radiological uncertainties associated with airborne systems. .27

Background radialiot;	2~

Secular 'equilibrium Assumption							 2"

\tmo".phcnc icmpcnnurc and Procure								 . 2S

Soii liioisluic and Precipitation ... 				.

Topograph) an! vegetation cover			2*

Spali.ii Considerations	 2^

( Vniparitiy, around samples anil airbonie measurements ... 	2°

Cico-Spatial Aeeuiacv							'0

References	31

Hi


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\\ est 1 ake I andnli Sut\ c>	Ma\ 2»!!3

Executive Summary

I he i nited Stales I mm-ament i! Protecdoa \pijk(1 )'-\). i Mlice of! nterecik) Mauaues'aeaf
<» >i'\1!. Chemical B'olopicai RadiofeLkad ar,d \ikle.tr *,5 Bl\\> i oitseune'kv Management
\iHiMir\ teasr, U \ 1 \ i ) m:ma..es the Vrsvme SpectrnphoUnnc'; edaueai ^-uppvH
;],i'ia:i\uc,t to ek iiavka i.-e the on iioraraatit tamii airborne kdiia.:<>p. T I'rograrn vondikt radiological and
init.troJ survess o\ci die West I akc I aiultiH sn Brut-acton Mission ! he suivu.s were
conducted ins Ma«ch n. 2<,' I \ IxPa eeh I''  «i"r ics I ;-ii \ Ti 1 in iiH'U 1 he site
in know si U> contain 'cached banum -abate residue ro;;> uraauan 01 e proacs-ani' .tUt\ ;t:cs

Che purpose oibhe tada aopicai sa\ c\ w a-- to Jeaan auss ofclc. ated pantnta radastion in
opar sHc t nil * ^ compared to u^nrua backpioaisd ic\e!> 1 he purpose i• f 11'«c kai'rarcu sui\ e\
i,\,b to identif} au\ heat signatures associated w uh the ofa.emp subsui face Mnuiileang e\eni «n
ure vf the non-radaolopka! cells ai (>petab!e I 'ml 2. anvl to help delineate the extent ol this
e\ent. FP-\ chose to use the AMM't" I airplane fiar (his mu\c\ due '< pan e-l'ihe
< >peMbie I '?ut i Remeih:.: hu e->tii;a"u>n anJ L^A chose U» reiie^l; the ua.hation stirxe} atid
ree,a"!a"m its reseh-. I l;e \SPi ( I radioP'p'eal sui\e\ Loisfaiava the pic\ sou^ data-.inaa ava
NiniavC ganiaia emi^-don* aho\ e Ha.ekiiroiatd le\ els ;n a pord> ao at Vva ? oi ( iperahie I!ra! 1. ina
this ,uea ah>»\ t H'^kaomiuS k\eN is n nhin «hv leaeev! aiea o! ih.e s-te ami a- ;naeeev>ihle k> I he
puhhw, so it doe1-, aot pose a public keahn n^k ! he results are e<>nsi^teat nHh ;MV\ ious s:u>lies
iiKl!eatin;4 that the radiological waste- reaiaii, to the pre\ioii^S\ sdeuMlled ,acas of • >peiable 1 hut
I, Areas 1 and 2.

RADIOLOGICAL

\kH,a Sih) Laanma t ad i ad on inea*-uren:eutN were colieeteo aa.d ¦ >»da, i M aai'aated eveess ura«kuir.

uranium decas no>da>0 "1 !;c '\SPf (" k rsea^uivs pimma radaalaan Irons Bi^niuka-Z1 - wh.ieh
the naiih de\a.\ prudue*. .a s!k I natium- 2 dee,.\ eha:p, ixkasoe I ruaiam-ka^ is not a strong
paasma end iter, iu tins ssaoc s. t^siraikri-2 i 4 .no^-t hke!\ nut!eale\ the niesea.ee oh i'aditmt-22o
Uhe fifth deca'v product old 'rar.uunOrattier than t 'raniani-2 t\taee the oritaaait urasiitim ore
was eh.eni;eali> sepaiated Iron1; the lest its decas product, The sepauition pioeess invadiiates
a, ke\ a>satr.ptioii m the al^trahaits used M estimate equnalent tnaimint eotieentratiotvs Irom tae
gair-nia radiation data, the;eforc. tiirou-ahoit! this svp'ai "equ:\a!ent radtintf' will be reporteii
inste.nl oheeiihalent tcanuunt

\h oS'the ^amnu! lad aaion mea-are-aaeaiv dtat weie Hipaaiivaath hiah.er than baekgiou;;d. were
\ieV\red „t I'1 eoiit-.aea-a-au a> w tthia. Oaawibie • n't Are.s 2

iv


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West ! .ike S ami ill! Sun c\

Max 2HI3

INFKAKLI)

Smee the AMM'V I airplane can uSmi v\» leet infrared i«nagerx„ i I* \ civwv* t<» use these
eapahd t:c> so an cftort to a>M>( MDNK in v^se^ng the e\tcnt of the sahsiafaei, MnoUennLi
e\ Ci\i itt the hirnici Active Nanitai s ! apdlill cell, The infrared surveys covered about n aeies
oi the West 1 ake i ainifiSI and surrounding .i»vas. i \u» infrared iin.tuerx passes mer the lan»It;l!
genet at ed four mufti-spectra! data sets, I lie data u ere coin cried u» Celsius thermal units and
continued for ease of inlerptclali\*ti. These thetmal contour images did not rexeai an) ohx sous
subterranean heat -ngna'aave In (he area el'the subsurface smoldering event in the FoniiCt
\eti\e Sauilaiy I andfd1, cell in < >peuiNe I an 2, all temperature differences obserxed uere due
to surface feature* h«»w ar>\
tern pet: tu re differences that eotdd he attributed to the subsurface smoldering event. Iliis is due
in pa;t to the depth of the sjhvy; face smoldering ex em i ranging from approximate!} 4d to i on
ieet Ki >\\ the surface. based on data, reported to MD\R).

v


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Won! I ako i jikiilli Sup,c\ 		

Acronyms and Abbreviations

May 2013

\; A	\ut	adm.ni£>

R:	h;sniu:b

t'BRi\	I'heinscj! Bioloiika' Kauioloutcal Kuelcai

l.TRA! \	( ompschetiMx c fm :n>n:i;c!!ial RcMnnise. < oir.pu'.vit.-.na aa ui I uhhA1 Act

VI	( lai^cqucr.vV Xhnaaca.eiu \d\ nui;\ i casn
COUIV.N ;KT Nt\X>il\)

IX )i'	Dcp H lilies'!!- u* I ncii_\

EN\ I	FiiMJOitnvnt lor \ isuitiiint iinai>e>

ITA	km muunenta! hv^ivtMr, Atic-vy

cRj	fqu;\ akn;; RaAum ba,>ea i'ii NBt iipa;1. >*; aue'.w

e l"h	K|in\aLnt I h> a ;um kt^eu on Ti icj.ion of ntwiol

el'	IA|ii:\ akai! I r.inratii Asscd "«n ''Hi ivy ion oj mtcfeA

H )\	' It '«i *' • * I CA

FS	teaAhfliiy MtuK
1;

I'l iSR \P	bonne;i> i Isli-wl M'.c- Remedial Aet.on IkoL'iam

ul'S	Ulobui Positioning S\-.MS)

I i <	ke»i ¦

iAL \	Inumaisona! \ion;ic	\yei\ \

!M '	uktUi!' aa\ Ration un:J

Ol	operable uiii>

pC'i g	pieoeuno svr giat-n

PR1'	potert.aiA iv^on-able parts

QA	quality as-;uraaee

Oi	uua!n\ equina

Ra	ladiua!

RI	rci nctiusl. investigation

lin	radon

ROD	recoid oi dcciMOi!

% i


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\\ ev> ) ike L anvil; I! Sur\ c\

K< >1	t CUIO'1 Ui' illlC! CSi

SI -M'S	Si !	Nrtcv

I h	iliuriuin

'II	thulium)

U	uranium

|tR	SHiCb'R.tCHl.CJH fi.Tli.Hl!

US \t T	M.ik> ,\riH\ C\»r|K uf l:p_u;inccr\

vii


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West Lake I ufuiilll Sur\e>

1.0 Introduction

I hv- f PA iniu.iteU t»v Airlvmic spwiw'. Pl».>t«; in .nfrareJ
>paa:vi>,aei" nviaited n ithin aa \cre i \itnn\mtkr ("^d iw I'vcrtMr.e airplane. la 2i it's,

\SPH I Mgtiihcamls uivaia.kd !hv radiological deiecU'i	u»	its mrbonic

laannta-Mixeniup aad mapping eapahdities. In 2
H\sia!!eti- < dnsvndx. \Ni'! (d I (•» die ouh propann in die ! aoed Maie^ w dh a .*"4 " ^;>5
opefuiiotia! plat!.mil thai conduct ;emeie seiv-sn^ for ha,- arcuai-s ehcnKvds
Uunmir. neutron cmiUcts. ;t»ul .aiial imaging It ha^ deploy ed u« n.oic than I .V> meajents
hi\e!\iau cinetlitiies respuii^es. homeland seetiiifv e\opK ,ae,d cm dor,mental

Ma} Jola

I p io a Uh;i "ticniher eic\*. tua pil.Ms ami tv.o (echnscunv opetv.se the airplane A
scieudlk support siedTphu ides additional assessment and pioduet development
eon:met^ar;ue with die -ale-sixei fie i.eedts

ie Januan 20! v 1 d \ Reaj mi " rei.ucVicd thai ibe \KPlV j	condac;

radiolueivai, intuicd. and phaioaiaphic syr\e\^ o\er the \\ e-o I ake I andtill located in

Bridi.eKin Missouri The survey wort eoiuiiMed en \|;ucii s, .a'la.

! he purpose ei the s ad;oi>>mca' ^uae\ sv a~. h. ktentii} uSc.iS o! eic\ ,'.ed radiation
contamination a^ eoiv.pa.red n> naniu! background eoncer.tiaatonse'' A MM l' I uses
nudhple a!si*'fiihms to ps oduce a \ anet\ ut" pnukicK h>r decision makers i hie aisjoiUhm
!cqearcs nieast;(U!;cn's to oe ndiccicd ovc an unatiec'.cd to c.-aahhdi a local
•xichp'oiaki i has art' i w as !et'.tie>i tsea: L'o;a Island, ivi'he.t.¦[ n\~ sui\ es area,-. i" b.c^e
nea^uremems \« ere used u> dekmsine I he si i ^Uv'^i] -iiini lleanee ihr a.as e\ee--> eRa add
'die resuhs aie represented m »t predtiet called a "sij-uui pU-l *' < die stuma :epresenls .>m
>la!;dard deviation n\«r expeeted havkuuHaui Ic\ els \\ ddv sah^-ui ta^e veneerlraiKUK el
a.iiriraa-eniiuuae i^ete>pei ean he detee'ed l\\ the iii-.*run!er>)s>:!>>p., se! j'-siiieUiing <>!d!s.e
u:\»ur.d ididts t'ecnxe deleetie:; io Ucpib oi .i!k»u; 'l0 ccAlivcici^ 12 inches
ih.istol I'-*«H"I

1 he pia'pvtNe el die nirated ^ur\e\ eas te ^Civea ihv. are,1 M aid ni tuenh!) uig an> Nuilaee
iheriTivd spanaJiiies icstd'eng Iruin dse enp«inu subs;,: :aee mist'kieniiii e\ eiU i:i e*ie >•! the
v)perable \ hut 2 eel is ui heal (ihreaenon assoeiakx! ^i(h the laa-di'di

\ " a.ma,s' h.iv'-a'iau.ar aia i '.la- ^'!o u\i 1>\ iI:e '\spi t I vaht-. ! ai.ji i ^ \pat - I - ha <-a\ aa. i - ->t
a! a-c sua '• 'Kra !,>• knaa it ^ataaaaa -a'-, v v a-

daac 1 o»34


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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

2.0 Description of the West Lake Landfill Survey Area

Figure 1: West Lake Landfill Survey Area covers about 1,400 acres (2.25 square miles).

The West Lake Landfill Site covers 200 acres in Bridgeton, St. Louis County, Missouri,
about 16 miles northwest of downtown St. Louis (Figure 1). The site consists of the
Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill (Former Active Sanitary Landfill) and several inactive areas
with sanitary and demolition fills that have been closed. The Bridgeton Landfill is located
at 13570 St. Charles Rock Road.

Other facilities which are not subject to this response action are located on the 200-acre
parcel including concrete and asphalt batch plants, a solid waste transfer station, and an
automobile repair shop.

The site was used agriculturally until a limestone quarrying and crushing operation began
in 1939. The quarrying operation continued until 1988 and resulted in the formation of
two quarry pits. Beginning in the early 1950s, portions of the quarried areas and adjacent
areas were used for landfilling municipal solid waste (MSW), industrial solid wastes and
construction/demolition debris. These operations were not subject to state permits
because they occurred prior to the formation of the Missouri Department of Natural
Resources (MDNR) in 1974. Two landfill areas were radiologically contaminated in 1973
when they received soil mixed with leached barium sulfate residues.

The leached barium sulfate residues, containing traces of uranium, thorium, and their
long-lived decay products, were some of the uranium ore processing residues initially
stored by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) on a 21,7-acre tract of land in a then
undeveloped area of north St. Louis County, now known as the St. Louis Airport Site

Page 2 of31


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YVcM I vikc hauduil Sune\

May 2U!5

in! VPS), which >s pail of ilit M. I ouis i ormerh i hdi/eu sak\ Ki.iroui.il Wtioit
Program u I ,%*K MM untnagcd b\ ihv 11 n \r«m Corps o! H.ei icv.r« it'S V I )

Sit and luo~, the temaiainu ies;due>- trotu SI \i'S weo. puiehased In a pneate
coinpeatx tor mineral rcvwcrx and ph>.«.d m -toraae a; a r.e.a!u hicihtx or hattr V euue
iiiulcr an \H' license MoM ..J die icmJucs wore tupped 'o Cation idn\, (	Ms

tept oceans; except fo: the leached barium sulfate ivsidt'Cv whtch were (he lea,-! \ aluahic
ir, 'erms ofdideetA c>suter,! i e . an>s', i-l the urair.am at\t r idiure. was miha cd m
pre\ luiw precipitation skpv Reptm tedh„ >\.-U'! ton-> o; leached barium tl 1 i k>r municipal resume in
routine landfill one) aliens Use data collected during Uie Remedial IsneMiiJ.aUoii (Rb aie
consistent with this account.

(lie quai!\ pits V'cse usee, tor permitted solid wuHe hmdtiil operation* beginniuu in I °~*h
In \u^u.«i ;l:e Bridecset] Saeuka\ ! andfdh former \u«w s rntan landfill}
M vped hven are w a>lc pursuant to a restrictive covenant a el) !he lambe.'t - S:. I oai>
Airport to reduce ihe poteitliJ for hsul- iiHerlerine, with airport opera'mils.

H\A placed the Mtc on the Mtpertnnd National Pnonties ! isttNPI ) im	hi ! K'u3.

IT \ enteied into an Xdministtatsve < Kier on ; 'enseal j \< MM u hh she p»Hesnta)f\
ie^pNtnsi:a'e purees iPKIVi to? pe' iernauiev efiiie >* Jpei alee din u^l't i RI heashdht}

Study (I'Si. Piusiian! le the rcuaiameiilN of'Ui;it order, the PR1\ sulMaiUevI Uu* I-P \\
re\ ie"\' and appituai an RI w iaeii detailed the futdams oi e\ie;i-e> e --anri^ei^ a~id aaal\ ^'s
•an the a;ea *a>'< K 1 i aiuf die Mip-oundiiva area hollies iU„ the Ri d"e I'Rt^ M:himtUil !es
! i'A\ re\ie\\ ai\d appro\ al aa hS w iueii e\ aluated die *> .Tieas remedial aheraatixee lor
t >1' ! co!i-:>tent n ;ih uie H-qiravra.eaS^ e! the \(K".fheC oiapteh.e!insc. CompeuMiUon aad I iah;hi\ \ct d't K« E \) aui ih.e\atn«nair\as p ui o: ih>e hauhiH opcru!H»;.s eo'ulueteii pnoi to vlafe
rc^utaima. Appr«.\nnalcl\ la .kivn ate tsnpaeted h\ raUaaiaehdeN at depths rainiiiiii
do'Ar u> fee! S he tadaorasehdie-- ate ;n »>i! mateua! thai aHernaxed: w it!i the o\ e.'ah
.ar.dtiii matrA ev>n^:^!ii^li ohnnm'e'pa! refuse,

•Ol' ! Area d ! hi> area a.^ ,d(^> pari ot the auKeieat.-d hiitdufh enerataa*^ eer.deaeted
prior to ll>~4 \ppio\imate:\ .>«> acre.- are impacted b\ rad.>e;u»e!ide^ as ilepths gcneuiK
raii'eiiiL! down to } ? tee;, u ;th Mime hvJi/ed oceanenee-. that are deeper "! he
rad.oraiehdes are in mu, :naiistrueta)i; and dem»>hnon dehriA.

• Ht.fle! /one ("ros
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We-t I aki. [ and fill Sanev	Ma\ did ^

cioston ','1 sod riosc the ha hi HI be m restated >11 Suinspou „;1 tadioloeieaih conyatnii.a'ed
sod- front \rea 2 onto :hc adjacent propel

•	i losed neniuhlion I andfdi 'ill;^ area is located on the soulheast side of Radiological
\rea 3 This land ill! received demohbon debris. ll receh ed none of the radiologieaSlv

eon.animated so:!. h opct aivd under a pens;;! w i'Ji the State and w as closed in i vU|i>

•	In tclr.e Sanatarx ! andfdi d his landfill >< located M*ulh of Radiological Area 2 and
was part of ihe unregulated l.aidlli! operations conducted prior it. Ip The landfill
eon ains sanitar, wastes and a variety ofodier ^ollit wastes and demolition debris li
received none of the radiolutnealix contaminated sod.

•	Former \chve Sanitary I andfdi I his municipal ~4, This iundfili received in»nc«M l!io radtologteaih
..ont animated soil, fin.-, latuifdl ceased operation in and is the ceil that is currently

e\pericecal" a subsurface smoldei 1 n,ii event.

d he site has been di\sded mio two <. H tl-'iyure tH' I consists of Radioiouical \rea 1
and Radiological Area 2 f Areas i and 2l and the Buffer /one ('ro.ssro.ul Property Old 2
c»>usiMs of the other landfill areas iha» are not impacted by radionuclide?.. i.e.. die ldosed
Demolition I andfdi. Ihe Inaetiv e Sanitary I and (111. and ihe former Activ e Sanitary
1 .tndfdd p. S I P \, Keei'jd «>t DeeK'.on for W es', 1 ake 1 andtiii Site, Bndjieton Missouri.
Operable I'nit May dtHKi

3.0 Natural Sources of Background Radiation

Nutuudiy occur; me radio.tei 1 \ i?\ originates from cosmic radiation, eosiyiogemc
'•ad'oa.etivi!\. and primordial ladioactive elements thai were cieated at 'die be^innine. of
the earth about 4.5 hilhon y v.aiiices ^aeii as I he ^ mi (mainly alpha particles ami protons)
and ualaet^ radiation (mainly elections and p!otan>! and eon!rshiue> to the total 1 acJiation
exposure on earth ! lie iment\ oiAaisnre radiation inereases with .linuuSe. vioiihr.nu
about e\er\ o.O«iii and mid inereasuie latitude north, and sondt of the equator. The
<.osrne radaation ie \ei at um ie\ei ab.uif " 2 icR h and neatl\ twiee this knei in
loea ions sueh as Deiner. i 'ofonuie. anas!>. ei al, h-Sdi.

('osmoyenie radioaein ux re^uis- from eosnise radia.tion interaelinit w dh lite eanhds upper

atmosphere. Since this is an ongoinu process, a steady state has been established
\\ lie 'eh\' eosniouciue radionneiidcs (e.;a.. d I and d'i are decay nig ai the same rate -as
diey are produced. These siHirees ot r.idioaeti\ ii\ were not a focus of this sur\e\ and
wen !lot included m the pioeessntt: uliionihins

Priirordiai ravhoaetr. e elettients found :n syendlcanl coneeatruhor.s. m the erust abundant

I'aiie 4 of 31


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\\ est Lake " ;ind!i!l Snr\e>

May 2n! ;

elements m 'he band's v i ust \ .\44«. h\ c,ia>M 1 'no l c\o\ UU»<«> jvu^umi autni*> t>

radtoaetn e potassium-41' r K1 \ei:h a ! i is 11 ~ 11 f c I the time H lakes to doeas {>• osic h j! f the
oriehiai an"(>>un!»>>! !.' bdiMa \cai-. ! o\ c« \ Hio ' K. .-Mms Me\ m.amua-ra\,

dan: am is ^Huiaa u;s in iiv natuiai cm irottmen: an J ^ !«M!a! a> :\n! at \ aaa>>>.^
ouiicuttratH.iis \\ edum av craac of ah>ui I.,1 m t a, Vran ai u; innar; v onsets < ! diice
;\a!ci;,\N \> ill1, about tR,.3"(. bcaiu uraniuiaoZo^ { "I I K .ihinii o,~«\, hv"?siti itranium-2 >5
! \1), ,>in! a amonta heme in' eoan'-2 H ( 'I \ I do; aam-2 ^Kaul I\adoan<-22K as
deca\ pi«uliki,s oi ( ramunv2 i\ \\uu>d he expected m ha\c (he same actn n>
conccniraJun** as backynnnul 5 d"a:nuai-2;kS except Ida; in. mt.v inMatves. changes m sod
chem,s:r\ ;na\ cause -nic species !a iopralc w ;f*a list ao >u,,dn,-tei and uArcp; the local
cqu'hbrum so ilia! 'die eonccrt'eaituaiN of Ra-22o and 11i-j'a>!r.a\ as I iei sdiahdx In »ni the
I'~2 {N cuiKvntrui'"ft The nuuh ticcns piiHluc! of 1 !rat:iuir ¦ 2 ;S «s Hisrrutb-2 M whiJi :•%
usevl U-es'Jir.ale uie uraraniM pie^eai MUi.e it is solan vch casi <,-• dctcci Hamuli. 2 I -t 'u»s
a \en s!u»!' hall-life telahs e 0 > Ra-22o. Th-2 ) \-r 1 ^*, t'vsetore a c^ai he used >o
inlet the >i;vse;kv of Ra-22o, d't:-2di and \ 1-2'^ fai aoh.a'iK applications, When ii ;s
used (o esfinKito :hese isouyev the p:eeui^oi designate'" "V t >\ hie!; oicans eupa\aieui» is
u>ed to nienUh l!;a> a deeav prmiaef \\>;s used to e>.Siau>,Se die Ka-22n, I h-25*f I -2 vs
leve"'s atui is ropoiled as eRa. cTil. ,a;d e! aet,oidins',h Nee \pper,ui\ 1 io: li:e I dannuu
deea\ eliani

1'hi«:iurii-232 is the pa;eo; r.idsoivaeiide o; or.e oi"l!u ioai p.iinordia! dceu\ chains. Il is
aha.t foia times raorc Jnuaiaait ai n.;*ai;e thao man;are ir.d ai--a d.eea>- dtrou^h a series
.>; dcva\ products «o a sK\h\' hmv, ie,u; I iu'iv-iiii- "'"I i- noi *tart .<'¦ t: s I -senbud. !i!"s"i i d.e'\irds deea> 'arodaiel.
lhal!iuin-2UH r 'ill, ;s used to eslisn lie she piesence ol tlu-Siimi h\ its 2 a! McY gamiua-

r3y e1Tllstj1fvR_

Ml il.e.so prmvaidia! radioncel-des a»"e present i;< \aned iankwtiUa!iO"s m busidtnti
niateriaK which r,uike-tip pa it oidnit >s iluralS\ oes uiviu i.idooktKc hsiekground ( I able
h (Xt *Ri*. IuS"i 5 vdicr r.idiauor. soluees Uia1 v*>:U:ihalo *(• ot!« c\'c;aai rud:a'u-u
iiitlude nueiear laUoiil and sh av-snadi radaalfun sueit a^- n edical and smJusU;al uses ol
radiation or sadioacttxe •»>leases

!'aae 5 of 31


-------
\\ c-*l Luke I until] il Sun c\

			___	

Mas :o

1 ai 1c 1: \\era.cc e<<;vcnti';uson> of i

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iU materials

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WallKurd

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3

1,2

i'.iac <» >>i"31


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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

4.0 Survey Equipment and Data Collection Procedures

4.1 Radiation Detectors

The radiological detection technology consisted of two RSX-4
Units (Radiation Solutions. Inc.. 386 Watline Avenue,
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) (Figure 2). Each unit was
equipped with four 2"x4"xl6" thallium-activated sodium
iodide (NaI[Tl]) scintillation crystals.



Figure 2: RSX4 unit
showing four detector
locations.

The Radiation Solutions RSX-4 unit was used during this
survey for airborne detection and measurement of low-level

gamma radiation from both naturally occurring and man-made
sources. It can also be used for ground-based measurements.

These units use advanced digital signal processing and
software techniques to produce spectral data equivalent to
laboratory quality. The unit is a fully integrated system that includes an individual high
resolution (1,024 channel) advanced digital spectrometer for each detector. A high level
of self diagnostics and performance verification routines such as auto gain stabilization
are implemented with an automatic error notification capability, assuring that the
resulting maps and products are of high quality and accuracy.

4.2 Infrared Sensor

Figure 3 - View of infrared
sensors: high speed infrared
spectrometer, lower left corner;
infrared line scanner is out of
view behind the line scanner

There are two infrared sensors installed in the airplane to
detect the difference in infrared spectral absorption or
emission on the surface. The first sensor is a model RS-
800, multi-spectral IR-Line Scanner (Raytheon TI
Systems, McKinney, TX) (Figure 3). It is a multi-
spectral high spatial resolution infrared imager that
provides two-dimensional images. Data analysis methods
allow the operator to process the images containing
various spectral wavelengths into images that indicate the
presence of subtle temperature differences.

The second sensor is a modified model MR254/AB
(ABB, Quebec, Quebec City, Canada). It is a high
throughput Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FT-
IR) that collects higher spectral resolution of the infrared
signature from any heat source. The instrument is
capable of collecting spectral signatures with a resolution
selectable between 0.5 to 32 wave-numbers and was used
to assess infrared heat signatures over the West Lake
Landfill.

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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

4.3 Flight Parameters

The ASPECT airplane used the following flight procedures for data collection on March
8,2013:

Altitude above ground level (AGL): 500 feet for radiological survey

2,800 feet for infrared and photographic
survey

Target Speed:	110 knots (125 mph)

Line Spacing:	400 feet for radiological survey

1,500 feet for infrared and photographic
survey

Data collection frequency:	1 Hz for radiological survey

60 Hz for infrared survey

Hend

Line/ri start

V Lirej3-s:a,"
- ; v ^

• • L,-e e-i.^
Lme^rSjjtaTt' v
«• arnicas ««

Google earth

Figure 4: Flight lines radiological survey over West Lake Landfill site.

For environmental radiation surveys using a fixed-wing airplane, the flying height above
ground level has been more or less standardized at 400 feet (IAEA 1991, 2003).
ASPECT target height for this survey was 500 feet to permit safer flying conditions.
Aerial and ground-based surveys collected over phosphate mines in central Florida
provided evidence that the increased altitude flight parameters have no significant effect
on the airplane sensitivity or resolution for environmental surveys (Cardarelli et al.,
2011a, 2011b).

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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

5.0 Data Analyses

A unique feature of the ASPECT chemical and radiological technologies includes the
ability to process spectral data automatically in the airplane with a full reach back link to
the quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. While data are generated in the

airplane using automated algorithms, a support data
package is extracted by the reach back team and
independently reviewed for scientific validity and
confirmation. The following sections detail the analyses
completed for this survey.

5.1 Radiological

Aerial gamma spectroscopy analyses have several
distinctive considerations that must be addressed in order
to obtain accurate and meaningful products. Due to the
unique interactions of gamma rays with matter, special
techniques are used to process the data. For a
uranium/radium survey, care must be taken to account for
the background levels of uranium/radium. This process
was described in Section 3. The ASPECT measures
gamma radiation from Bismuth-214 which is the ninth
decay product in the Uranium-238 decay chain because
Uranium-238 is not a strong gamma emitter. In this
survey, Bismuth-214 most likely indicates the presence of
Radium-226 (the fifth decay product of Uranium-238)
rather than Uranium-238 since the original uranium ore
was chemically separated from the rest of its decay
products. The separation process invalidates a key
assumption in the algorithms used to estimate equivalent
uranium concentrations; therefore, throughout this report
"equivalent radium" will be reported instead of equivalent
uranium.

Several environmental factors, such as moisture, may
significantly affect the detector response. Specifically,
precipitation disturbs the equilibrium of the uranium decay
chain and soil moisture actually shields some of the
gamma rays and prevents them from reaching the
detectors. There are several similar considerations that are
discussed in Appendix II.

In the days leading up to the survey, the St. Louis area had
received significant snowfall. During the survey, the
snowfall had melted, but the ground was likely fairly
saturated. This additional moisture in the ground would

Upload data to
ASPECT servers for
postprocessing

Page 9 of31


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\\ c'-l I ilko l.aniinil Sune_\

sen c as a puma! .shield and reduce the i meruit \ of radial inn reaching the detectors. \ ! *• >
percent increase in soil moisture would decrease the total count tale by about IH percent.
1 he higher Mian a\cragc cnergx trom Ri-mnith-O M would he shghth le.ss affected,
because soil moisture affects the detection of tow er-caergx gamma ra>s more than
hmhei-cnerux uamnta raw.

Radiological speet'al data are collected e\ ei > second along with UPS coordinates and
othvc data reference information These data arc subject U> qualitx cheeks w hhm the
Radiation Solutions internal pmee<:>iȣ algorithms te g. gain stahili/utson) to ensure a
good signal 1!'a;w etroos are encountered with a spceitic ctxsta! dunug die collection
priK c-«s. an error me^a^e iv generated and the data associated \\ ith that crxsia! are
rem wed from further analxscs.

Prior l.i (he ssauw. hue RSX-4 aiuts go through a series of internal checks. \\ hen
powered up. the erx stals go through at) automated gain stabilization process. ! he process
u-»cs naturalK occurring radioclcmcats of potassium, uranium. and thorium to ensure

proper spectral data collection if no problem* are detected. a green indicator light
rioti ties the uset that all sx stems are good. \ yellow light indicates a gain stabilization
issue with a particular er.stah This can be fixed by waiting tor another automatic gain
stabilization pieces**, to occur or the i.ser can disable the particular erx slai \ la the
HadAssist Software application, A ted light indicates another problem am! would del ax
the mrxex until tt can be resoh ed.

T lie "Sackgrouud tla'af in this context uiehaSes jadiation contributions from radon,
cosmic. and airplane sources. These are turn anted contributions to the laJiation
mca^iaements and must he subtracted iiom the urn measurements to psonertx estimate
radiation contributions from tenest rial sources onlx Ideallx. these data are collected o\ct
uatei at the suney altitude but when a huge bodx of \xater does not exist. ic-eareh lias
show n t!iat rai acceptable alternatixe is to coTect data at \0>to it \(V, $ Bristoxx. WSat \t
this ilutbde. atmospheric aUcmiauon reduces the tei rcstrsa! radiation to a negligible lex el
but is still low enough that cosmic uidiahon is not significant.

\ "hast h:tv" in this context is flown at sun.ev altitude neai th.e sur\ ex aa'ea. ! he hue ts
not i. \ pec ted to contain am knoxwa clex ated eoncentiatsons ol naturally occurring
radioactive materia! < N« >RX1} or inao-ma.de radionuclides, bur this suncv, an aiea neat
C 'on Islam!, northeast of tile site, w as used for this puroose. ! lenee. «his test line son es as
the t auirnl background area tattc the radom cosmic and airplane souues are subtracted t
willsh> the surxex data is compj'v.l to detemune if any slati^ticaI anomalies occur within
the survey area.

1 he calibration coefficients weie determined based on methodologx published by the
International \tomac hnerg_\ Agencx (IM-'A. 21"itlai

One of the possible software programs ax adahle to the ASPb'C I" team for processing
radiological data is the h'nx iromncn! for Visualizing Images (h'NA'l) code. l;or this
>ursey, l-NVI Version 5.(h ASPb'C' 1 Version I. I 2. Build l.*022>O"W 
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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

Information Solutions, Boulder, CO) was used to produce excess eRa sigma point plots
showing locations where 2l4Bi was out of balance with the surrounding environment.
The process is depicted below.

ENVI ASPECT Method

1

Live time correction

i

Subtract cosmic and airplane background
contribution (3,000 ft AGL)

1

"Test line" (determines "normal")
Height correction (ji=0.0018 m-1
)

Calculate 2UBi ROI K-value (median)

I

Subtract radon contribution (Test lines)

I

Determine net count rate for 2l4Bi and
standard deviation (sigma value; a)

I

Determine Sigma Values
(<-6o, -6 to -4; -4 to -2; -2 to 2; 2 to 4, 4
to 6, >6ct)

i

Create excess eRadium sigma plots

The excess eRa sigma plots are used to help determine whether the detected radiation
associated with the Bi-214 is consistent with areas known not to contain any elevated
radiation signatures, e.g. a background area. Because the uranium/radium concentration
will vary slightly from point to point, a statistical analysis is used to help make this
determination. The first step of this process is to determine the background variation.
This is done by measuring an area that is close to the site but not contaminated by the site
or containing any similar contaminants from other sources. All of the site measurements
are then compared to make sure they are within the range of the background data. Points
that are noticeably different from the background points are likely to be of man-made
origin. Excess eRa sigma points were determined using an algorithm based on the
assumption that natural background radioisotope contributions are stable over large
geographical areas. This will result in a spectral shape that remains essentially constant
over large count rate variations.

ASPECT used the ENVI code analysis wherein a background "test" line is flown with
similar characteristics in an area physically close to the survey location but not affected

Page 11 of 31


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\ki\ 2d I >

h\ the contamination t his b^rkyr-mini is uscJ >o eompare tin- re.uiir.us b\ s!a',;siie,d
methods. \ of this'.irx ey (he area w as nea; ( ora Island ais! aoi'thea"-! oi the site.

1 o dcicrnrric excess radium eoiint reae, ihe tvujoii-nl-niieres? >ROh a;maul uBs f !<>5l!
ke\ Hi I mv! keYs is compared to the R( )i iepsevented b\ iie.irK she entire spectrum,
e.dird the dota! ( omi ROS (do ke\ to ,v(C? ke\ ) i he count iaic ratio 'vmeen tivse
vin Jow .-i ic.i:., Li an rear, R( >1 l»>tal < own Rale Rl >1 i ssreia'iudv cristas1! and is
referred to as the "K" value, \ K-\ alne was deleraitMed from * I: e "lest line" vluia
volLvtcd befote and a'ie« eaed sut\e\ !lx median k-raiai (e.e . most common K.-
\ ali el ,\a> used in she algorithm to t'.clermme excess eka.

k-\ alue 	Count tale in target rctiton-ol'-interesi	

Count rale in "Iota! Count"" ieuiou-of-mteiest

'excess aviixil} ean he estimated using die following formula.

1 \eess eRa acn\ itv Measured eRa ae;i\ it> Kstimaicd eRa actb in

Where;

Measured eRa acli\ n\ she mea-natd count uie w Hhm the eRa Roi dunny I he Mir\ e>

Estimated eRa activ ar.tlom 1 \ oceurrme e\ cuts. ;he secoiui-b\->ecuinl vv\ees> eRa" results
are statistically distributed about the mean in a normal (iaussiau distribution (Muure 5).

Page 12 of 31


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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

Normal Gaussian Linear Distribution
P(x)

Standard deviation (a, sigma)
represents the spread of the
data about the mean. In this
survey, the mean value (net
"eRa") was zero.

1	a = 68.27% of the data

2	a = 95.45% of the data
3o= 99.73% of the data

4	o = 99.99366% of the data

5	a = 99.99994% of the data

6	a = 99.999999% of the data

Figure 5: Normal Gaussian distribution and associated confidence intervals.

Every measurement was scored according to its "sigma" value and color coded according
to the ranges in Figure 6. The color code and range were arbitrarily selected to limit the
risk of false positives to 1 in about 15.800,000 samples (greater than or less than 6
sigma).

Sigma Values (Excess Bismuth-214)

Less than -6.0

-2.0 to +2.0 Greater than +6.0

^ -6.0 to -4.0

+2.0 to +4.0

^ -4.0 to -2.0

(j§^) +4.0 to +6.0

Figure 6: Standard Deviation Legend for Excess eRadium

Page 13 of 31


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May ?.0I3

5,2 Infrared

The \SPRT RS-^OO rouit!~speeli;«! Into scanner is used to generate hods spectral aiul
spadai resolution lona v, a\c eneia>> data displaced as a standard iinaaci\ product.

Tlu-iiii.:! mud >ii! i* jMvdueeJ b\ com crtiraa tiie measured r.uhanec enes^x ofcach data
point in >oh ine for the surface tcmpetatuK ( I l of the emitting object n^iuu the Stephan-

Bei /mann eouanon:

R = ctT4

R = radiance (watts per (square meter * steraciian * Wavenumber)) of the
emitting surface

r> - cnnssiv it> (ranidne hom it to I J» and material dependent) ol the surface
I - temperature (deiirees ke!\ in I of the erai-.liitu surface

To t a 11 \ udiiae She relationship between the emitted radiance and I he temperature of the
end lmu surfaex, an accurate measurement id"radiance must he conducted and an
emt--a\ hy mih! he know n .a' assumed I he ASP! X ' 1 Rs-vJO permits tu(!\
rad'.enietncalh calibrated radtanee he measured In Using Suo Hanking hiackknK
calibration units which calibrate each scanned line otdhc image at a rate of 60 times pet"

Sincv. the unii is inuki-speenat a channel updmt/ed Km- stilS'u; he\alliu»riUe
Kcntcied on "M*7 W:n enumber) is u^cd as the long \va\ e thermal channel since the
infrared deiectoi fyptcali\ lias iltc highest response in litis spectral region, l or a thermal
sur\e\ of grass covered areas, an emt\si\tl\ ol*0.S5 is used. By t earning! ng 'die Slephan-
Boh/menm equation, the temperature i.an he e\»racled:

T = j tin)1''

1 Inictafiondtip pcrndis die temperature fot each image pixel iU.5 X < >.5 meter) to lx
plotted and contoured, Based on (he ptecisum and accuracs of the blackbodv uinfs and
die ov etall sensiti\il\ oidhe infrated channel in-ad. the RS-S<>0 can discern t Itemed
differences o? about o 2 degree CcKUk from adjaeem pi\eK

8.0 Results

i'lr.s >urve\ \\a.< conducted t«n Vaich -S, 2«H3. and eo\eied o\cr 2.25 square miles ofiand
and cottsisled of about Nd!' radiological data points. two infrared utahi-speetrai images,
and ! " high-resolution photos.

6, 1 Radiological Results

Radiological ptoducts included eRa signta plots, w Inch teptvsenl the number of standard

de\; tU-ais ftom a norniJ background il'miacs S, u and |>'$i

All ot the clevated radiation measurements ^ere detected during die West I ake I andlill
survey at or over 2<> conttiinous acres a>sr exited wini i JperuMe I 'im 1, A re i 2 (Figutv s i
This Miegests that die saifa^e sod eosaaitis waste residues from uranium ore processtni;.

Page 14 of 31


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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

All other areas throughout the West Lake Landfill Survey did not register a significant
deviation from background.

Figure 7: West Lake Landfill sub-area designations. Highest eRa measurements were obtained over
Operable Unit 1 Area 2.

6.1.1 eRa Sigma Plots

Since uranium (and radium) is a naturally occurring radionuclide and is ubiquitous in
nature, a statistical analysis was conducted to determine the significance of any deviation
from naturally occurring background levels. The analysis is referred to as a sigma plot
and is discussed in Section 5. Areas on a sigma plot with values greater than 4 sigma
(standard deviations) are very likely to contain uranium or its decay products in
concentrations greater than background, while values greater than 6 sigma almost
certainly indicate above background levels for uranium or its decay products.

Table 2 summarizes the sigma plot results for excess eRa for the area surveyed over West
Lake Landfill. Of the 804 data points collected, two were within 4 to 6 sigma and an
additional eight were greater than 6 sigma. Over 92 percent of the area surveyed was
below the 2 sigma threshold. Less than 7 percent of the surveyed area fell between 2 and
4 sigma, while the areas between 4 and 6 sigma and those above 6 sigma combined were
1.25 percent of the total. Data above the 6 sigma threshold were centered over Operable
Unit 1 Area 2 (Figure 10).

Page 15 of 31


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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

Table 2: Statistical data for eRa results

Fit.
Block

Area

# Data

< 2 Sigma

> 2 Sigma

>4 Sigma

>6 Sigma

1

West Lake Landfill

804

741

53

2

8



92.2%

6.6%

0.25%

1%

Page 16 of 31


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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

Figure 8: Excess eRadium Sigma Plot
West Lake Landfill Survey
March 8, 2013

V

I

r

¦mmi f

ji

tih' %

/ «

\

•\ \ \

< >

«, V. * v '

l \ ;

v i



j

Imagery Jce S 6'"2C12

«/ v*
." *

%

\ .

/ *
/< //,; -
A

*

JCjgff r>

. *¦
* ^ .



V %

- V /

• ; >' 'W» K*''
v L_	J

.1*1 ."JC 1130 iy
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West Lake Landfill Survey	May 2013

Figure 9: Area 1 Excess eRadiuni Sigma Plot
West Lake Landfill Survey
March 8, 2013

Sigma Values (Excess Bismuth-214)

Less than -6 0

^fc-2-0to +2 0 Greater than +6 0

^ -6.0 to-4 0

^^+2.0 to +4.0

^ -4 0 to -2.0

(^) +4.0 to +6.0

Flight Parameters

500 ft altitude
400 ft line spacing
110 knots

1 second acciuisition time

A close up of Operable Unit 1 Area 1. No points exceeding 6 sigma were detected in this
area.

This image should not be used independently to assess potential health risks.
Additional information is necessarv to make annronriate health-related decisions.

Page 18 of 31


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West Lake Landfill Survey	May 2013

Figure 10: Area 2 Excess eRadium Sigma Plot
West Lake Landfill Survey
March 8, 2013

ik'neti \,

vM	e	• N'

O.J ¦ ^aaio 05 ca Area 2

OU-2 Closed Demoliton LandM

OU^Radioios ca! Area. 1

Sigma Values (Excess Bismuth-214)

Less than -6.0

-2.0 to +2.0 Greater than +6 0

^ -6.0 to -4.0

^^+2.0 to +4.0

^ -4 0 to -2.0

(^) +4.0 to +6.0

Flight Parameters

500 ft altitude
400 ft line spacing
110 knots

1 second acquisition time

Operable Unit 1, Area 2. Since the waste in the West Lake Landfill is known to contain
uranium ore processing residues, it is likely that the elevated measurements are from
radium or other uranium decay products rather than uranium itself.

This image should not be used independently to assess potential health risks.
Additional information is necessarv to make anDroDriate health-related decisions.

Page 19 of 31


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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

6.2 Infrared Results

Infrared imagery provides high resolution thermal data that can provide useful
information to assess environmental conditions. At the West Lake landfill, Operable Unit
2 is known to have a subsurface smoldering event in the Former Active Sanitary Landfill
cell. Two infrared images from the Westiake Landfill area (Figures 11 and 12) were
evaluated for thermal signatures for the purpose of identifying any indication of
subsurface heat generation and for the potential to delineate the extent of the subsurface
smoldering event.

The infrared energy data in each image was converted to thermal units and contours
added to assist interpretation. The contour levels began at 10 degrees Celsius and
increment by 2 degrees each contour up to a maximum of 30 degrees. This represents the
thermal range expected for the surface features in the landfill areas. The resulting images
(Figures 13 and 14) were reviewed and no anomalous heat signatures that could be
attributed to the subsurface smoldering event were identified. The warmest areas shown
on the thermal figures (orange, red and white colors) correlate to obvious surface
features, such as black plastic cover material or structures, and the more subtle thermal
differences can be attributed to differential heating due to sun angle and soil type.

Page 20 of 31


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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

Figure 11: Infrared Image of the Eastern Portion
of the West Lake Landfill Survey
March 8, 2013

Page 21 of 31


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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

Figure 12: Infrared Image of the Western Portion
of the West Lake Landfill Survey
March 8, 2013



*

V- V



//-

a

% n

<

Page 22 of 31


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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

Figure 13: Thermal Contouring Image of the Eastern Portion
of the West Lake Landfill Survey
March 8, 2013

V t iZ •

' Jf

\SPECi Thermal Contour Mup
Hosliakc Landfill
Hridjffton. Mo.

March ». 20i:i



^t.i ,

BHi

Heat Signature From Flare

IQ.OO 4f|rrn i
•l'-MKI	t

I l.t'U	<

lfl.lNI 4rffTr» I
l« «iy 4cjrr<-r* <
.*0.00	f

25.00 ihtmi <
U«itrpr» f
*ai.00 (!«*r««i t
•'ill	¦ <

".KJ.00 
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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

Figure 14: Thermal Contouring Image of the Western Portion
of the West Lake Landfill Survey
March 8, 2013

These images were collected in the late morning when the sun was striking the site and
heating up the surface materials, including large areas of black plastic cover material the
facility has been placing on the surface of the Former Active Sanitary Landfill cell. On
this figure, the exposed cover material, a high emissivity material, in the Former Active
Sanitary Landfill area clearly stands out as white with tightly spaced reddish contours
surrounding it. This is the anticipated signature from that type surface cover material.
Other higher thermal signatures of the Former Active Sanitary Landfill unit are consistent
with the known surface features at the site. The remaining signatures across the rest of
the landfill were consistent with slight differences in the emissivity of the surface

ttr*ll»kf- Ul.Ollll

TImiimI Contour Imng*.'
viurtJi n. 201 a

Heat Signature of Flare

Exposed cover
material

Page 24 of 31


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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

materials found in those areas and differential solar heating due to the sun angle. This
infrared data set from the landfill area does not provide the information needed to
delineate the subsurface smoldering event.

6.3 Electronic Data

Access to the electronic data and photos can be provided by contacting:

Dan Gravatt

Superfund Remedial Project Manager for West Lake Landfill

EPA Region 7

Gravatt.dan@epa.gov

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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

Appendix I : Uranium Decay Chain

Thorium [^34

Page 26 of 31


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Wt^i t ake Landfill Stuoev	M,n Jnf3

Appendix II

Discussion about radiological uncertainties associated

with airborne systems

Kle.ilI\ she jjrhwe radiation	wmiM be patpKtiounl u* Uie a\ eiuj»e Mil .acv

cmxvtiiivOions <>!*j,«!«> iai\e nwrusi> > nvanh \i >kM« Hp.ic* cr, iho*e are several
Sbe'.or-- lSiat c.hi tiilerleio w ith ihis s eLUnn>htp e.aiMng ibe iv-aaiw ,\i ho «i\ cr- 01 unUei-
e-4i>nated as de"-eribed be!ow vldibonnih,. !\\<> otbei seeison-. in tbK Appendix diseu^-s
ho1.', .iirbouK ba'a >!u-ttKi bo lcnenpieleu .a"sd compared lo atonnb~ !hv Sonc^tra! eontrbab.iu, all ease;
Manxes need to be .iceounLJ I'ai (subtracted bum the una! cum?.-1!. espeeiaih iorthi^
>ur\e\ \i bete >nu!l diffesuice^ .ax :r>!P<>n,tnt. Rail.mi ga^ is mobile and can escape !rom
is\1n and --eil and aovnnutlate m Hie ii<\\et ainso>pbeit, kaeon concct.nations v ar\ a^sa
da) u> das', u slIt hn;e of d n, w bh \\t,afher cMnddmn-. *e • nn I'iMans and siahdiH class),
and v\ 'ih aiuit'del b ;s the !ai gc and ch),parana me rSI'uMme am! ai:pi.nie i.-dulion (e.g.,
instrument panels and metals .anPiiiint! small umomus *>I \l< M\M l also ->io\ ide a small
eon; nbntion to ;he t>»';d counts 1 ne-*a are .keoymcd for m "bo p^ees-one algorithm b\
lhaiga 'lisds-altilikla" >»< "w ater" test hue and suim actme dicse contributions !'• t she
sur\ e> data.

Secular Equilibrium Assumption

Seeidai eeiailibruan > as>umed in >a\:e-" !<> e>'inaa,:e iboivaaa <>r ia-aa^u«r: ^one^iVia.Uons
i'roin one of its deea\ pcodnv.l,>, 11 oi ' 'l^i redaie; eqnaK !i)a! ol'i!s paixra radi nmeiale Fhi> ean otth
oeeu! n'liie lui'd-lde oS'bse de^ay pr.-daaet ^ uuseli ^sior',et tr, sin pa'en' ami the deup
pixnliic! sia\% with i;v po.ren! in tho environment, in tb^ ea>e. '.he nveaMire'n.ent of ! 'lb
^anniia etr.i'-.-non s\ -a>edi t>a e^lnna.ie the eonecnua'nor t.t >i- pareiu rad'.onuelnka manuim.
11"one .tNSunKS ail Hk- mteimedntte ladsomieiide.s ble wiili a. basH-bte o) a N da\v and nia\ de-ua- iuan >-o«K and ioA tlssure^ due u>
vi.an^ts in wealher comiitHMis Due U> the tct-ni* o!\ loni; h tb-h!e \ .a-ir-pafetl to 1 'p»i>
and l!x eun^bined elTeel ol'radon gas nit and cm ironsnenta! "ehentieai" migration,
if is no! certain \s b.ethe! die secular etpnb.biauir: a.ss'^mpiion b rea<«nufnle In aOairiior..
iunnari nuer\eiition in l!*n^ r.atnra', eb.am ot e\ents nias inne caiKed an n-erea-.ed
uneertairit} in nraniuni cvti:ee:Hrab-on cstbiatkN. ! !r,\ bceerac> more eo:np!e\ ailti
uianauni ore ua^te nuitetia!\ u b.e'*e ?he uranhm; Iws been e\lrae;ed ami the re>'aiting

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West [ akc	Sur\cy

\!a\

\\ ,r it' mate: ;aN contain mo^th m anuim tic pioduci». e g, nidi am. In tins snuanon. the
elL concentration u ould be a bene, », Minute for indium concentration rather than
tnanium i\ ncentsaUons, as is 'he im\' n> thtsnmcv.

Atmospheric Temperature and Pressure

lit. iicKMt\ ofmr a t'nnct'.uii of atmospheric icmpcractsn. ;*n»I prc-Mirc. I >enMi\
mci eases v, ith cooler temperatures and higher prcssutes. causing a reduction in detect mn
oi gatnnia-(a\s Hiii eduction m gamm.;-!n\ detection is called attenuation am! il is also
a Innction eddhe naiinna-ntx encr&v, I hjjher enetg\ eainmu-J jvs» arc more likeh «» reach
She Jctcct.'jv than lower entrsn gamma-m*. IVi example. 5«>'V ,•! the MBi 1." > Me\
ganaiunaxs w til leaeii the deiccloi a! an aliilikte of 3it() Si uheieas ofih -4'f, of die 'K
1 .-lit Me\ gamma-im.s u i!I reach dk detector, ] cmpa'atine and pressure changes
c*m ribdie httic to she o\ eiall aneerumiie- associated nsth aitk>me victectu»r> ,s\ stems ;ss
eon pared to odie: I actors I Vsnitc die nominal correction. she \SI'I(' I' pn tgr.nn
aceounSs lor iemperaturc and pressure ct teets.

Soil moisture and Precipitation

Soil moHaie can he a significant source ofetroi in gamma lay Mines lug \ 10-'.
Hkrcasc in se;! nuu<{a:e will decrease die total count rate in about the satne amount due
to absorption of die gumma ra\s h\ die w ater Snow eo\ er will cause an o\ erail

redi ction m die total coiuv rate because ;! also altenuaics (shields) die gamma ra>s from

reaching die detector \honi 4 incites oi" fresh snow is equn alent to about 33 feet of air
! Iv a ^ a\ no sign; *k ant precipitation dm ing iht^ sui\e\. howexcr, the pound Was like!}
saiu;ak-J from recent snow men

Topography and vegetation cover

d'op tgianhic effect can lie sc\c!t tor both airborne ami ground sui\e\:ng- Bod) airborne
and grouad-iiased detection s\stems are calibrated tor an minute plane sotnee which is
referred to as 2jt geometry ta flat snrfaeet If the surface has mesas, cliffs. \allc\s. ami
large height fluctuations, then the vuhbrniion assnniptions arc not mcT and care ninsi be
exercised in the inletpretation id^dte data \ enetation can al'lect the tadiation dtlecled
Ironi an airborik p'attoiir. in two »a\e 11 t die inonniss absorb and scalier die
radiation in rhe -aime \\ra\ as snow leading to a reduced signal or Id) it can increase the
sign d if the hiomass cnn.centrated radionuclides found m the soil nntncnS are present tn
die icaxes or surfaces of the \cgetatie(

Spatial Considerations

Ciroand-based e:nironnnental ineasntxnieiUs are usually taken 3 ft abo\e the ground with
a 'die. J oMsen of about 3n fr i lie \SIMn '! collected, data at about Sou a abosc ti>c
ground as ith an etfecfiN e field of view ol about 10 acres These aeiiai measurements
pnn itle an average Mitfaec actix its «»ver the effective field of view, !t the ground
:ieli\ (fy \ anes significant!) os ct die lieid id' \ icu. then the results from ground- and
acna!-based sxslenns nia\ not agree, il is not unusual to ha\e differences a> imieh as

\tt uuHi. « cocUi.H'iiH ni o - to—in • ~ ! "r, \ta andor i '^12' 1 tar i j\	___ 	 __

F'age 28 of 31


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West Lake Landfill Survey

May 2013

several orders of magnitude depending on the survey altitude and the size and intensity of
the source material. For example, in the figures below, if the "A" circle represents the
detector field of view and the surrounding area had no significant differences in surface
activity, a 500 ft aerial measured could correlate to a ground-based exposure-rate of 3.5
pR/h. However, if all the activity was contained in a small area such as a single small
structure containing uranium waste materials (represented by the blue dot within the field
of view of "B"), a 500 ft aerial measurement may still provide the same exposure-rate
measurement but the actual ground-based measurements could be as high as 3,150 ^R/h.

Detector Field of View

¦ >

^«w|

.... 			 ...

Concentration A

Concentration B

Aerial measurement is
a good indicator of
average ground
activity.

Aerial measurement

will not capture
differences in smaller
areas of intense
activity.

Illustration of aerial measurement capabilities and interpretation of the results

Comparing ground samples and airborne measurements

Aerial measurements are correlated to ground concentrations through a set of calibration
coefficients. The ASPECT calibration coefficients for exposure-rate, potassium,
uranium, and thorium concentrations were derived from a well characterized
"calibration" strip of land near Las Vegas, Nevada. In situ gamma spectroscopy and
pressurized ionization chambers measurements were used to characterize the area. One
must exercise caution when using a laboratory to analyze soil samples to verify or
validate aerial measurements because differences will occur. In addition to local
variations in radionuclide concentrations, which are likely to be the most significant
issue, differences may arise due to laboratory processing. Laboratory processing
typically includes drying, sieving and milling. These processes remove soil moisture,
rocks and vegetation, and w ill disrupt the equilibrium state of the decay chains due to
liberation of the noble gas radon. Thus reliance on 2(IST1 and ~l4Bi as indicators of 2 l2Th
and 238U (as is assumed for aerial surveying) is made more complex. In addition, aerial

Page 29 of 31


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Mux :>fI3

xiir^ e> n ^annoi rced on
I he ictwotk running the W nuhm s-based opei ad ng -a stem and llie sensor tuning i niters
l".i\ •- a hrne iv^oluuon of 5<; millisecond-,. so She controlling error if- tuning is )he network
tsme. If thi^ nu\inmin tuning es re.r k lonipkd to die u pie.il ground \ eh\ in ot 55
meter Nee of! lie adphne, an instantaneous erior of ^5 meter-* is po-'-dbie due to tmung
In a ida!;,s rc*.uhs in an absolute m.ivnunrs instantaneous error of about St> meieb
in tie direction o!dra\ el.

for isKM-ineine'j's uepe.iUent on airplane altitude tphotographs !R una^c-l thice
additional e< ror-> ai e reie\ ant and avlude the etror o! I he iiuatiai navigation unit ilNt ).
die --ysienie error-. asNovaated wbh sensor to INI mounting. and altitude error > abo\e
grot !kl Angular en on. associated with the INI are less than 0.5 dcjiaxs id'are.

Mounting error ss minimi/cd using detailed Hoie alignment of all sensors on the airplane
ha^s p!ate and is k>\ titan U.5 degfcc> o! are If the maximum etror is assumed, then an
eno of ' ,U dcgiee of are u id ieMdt. ,\i an aliunde of 15>> meters tabout 5iM feet), tins
cn'o" translates So about Id me;er> \hibidc abo\e ground >s Uerixed front die difference
in the heiehi above »lie |ictnd (laken from the (iPSi iron1 the ground elevation derhed
:>>«•>! a **i) meter d;e;tal cknution mouel. !f,»n cito: o; the ajodei is asMtinei: to be ii'
ineieie aiu! lite Id'S siiow.x a i\pieai maviiitian erroi of 10 meters, dus result> in an
a'tttiuL maxintitni erros ^ult ("rear, the airplane fhing stiaigha raid le\el in
¦ - 13b nieiers in the direetion ot trasel aiivl - 5st ir-eter^ perpendieular to die direelion
of tr e.el, Matishaai e\alii.su.«n ef eofievted Vsl'll"! data has .shown that txpieal crroi•»
of • - 22 a;eter^ in bodt (lie diteedon of and perpendicular io ira\e.I are s\pieal
Maximum errors of-1 - us; meters lu\e been obsers ed duraie hteSt turbn'.eitee eonvhnons.

* The ASPECT network is synchronized to the master GPS time at system start-up. If the observed
network/GPS time ditferen.ee exceeds 1 see. at any time alter synchronization, the network clock is reset.

Page 3


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Max >i '

References

HivMi >\\ O { {<^]i \wbi^;\c "•-< ax -|Kvf run satr\ ui I aavtati ! xpanafum
i'nnoplc*. and I uncn' P;ac;»vV. ! mania! ;o;v,d jf»!a*nal of Xpn'icJ RadaUjon and
Ui'ojv*-34« H i^>~2

t \RI) \l. \)„ ^id * 'i d ariaar.c	capaHdiUcv. !kauh l'h\ Sucich Mkhea;

Mvvun.c: rta»tut»on XH\«Mi:vmvt-K ('harlcsfiHi, South i uv!mu. 1 chtu.us S. .>.M i

(page 27) Abstract available at

http://wwwjips.org/documents/2011 midyear final prograiiLpcif Accessed on 10
AnnI 20B,

{ \RD \K' l 1 1 I. j , 1 HO\! \S, M .XXRRN , I . kl'D \K \i Mv\S, P.. and
K \PI'L 1 MAV D «:•>} i 1. Scn.il :uV ({mu'hI	Sunew i'ho-.pha'o

Mdte^ I!t Jaiiua;_\ 2<11 ! I M i' \ \\adabica:

hap: cpa.,;o\ sy^nm4 NjupyifunU inwgvs iiplmcdsa j\!fV aoroif]ri?\li	Wcov-ol

on 12 March 20! 3.

i'lStXB' .f). \1.. t iON'd, | n\ tAtinnonui} RjOhMcuxjtx, 1 runs \amrJ. dkla-anal. and
Mnda'A	a:\i I dai.ai \cadosnic "us,-. Inc., Nea > ^rK, \A

t;R \M'v. R !r\:-;dson j m uiarhov.i \i , 'p wn<>i man, p.b.

I h'K-H Natural fiaAuunChl Radiation m Taiiaua <. ieol Sua ( \in. Bud. 3(>o

I vF \ (i°yH j, i;Kcrnali(•/!«• t/Ar
Sf- (o •/',(,*•! >s 'f;1 (.v'u'.u a I\c|H>it Nc:;o No ;3 ; 1 l!UouuUt>aa! \tu;i2'»o3i iatcnMt a >,¦	a ."a /a

f.v, */'»a• > a> \'Vsaa-",a a 1 ./a*a teJauc a f )a» aaicnl I ! \! \
\ iciaut \\adahle a; hsip. www,

puhaavj-orq micJ yniNicafh'i> i\il ;c i 3«>; wob paj Xcco^^cd 12 Maavli 2n; 1

K( R5* j j<»T) Nalaaad	on Railianoa	aad McaNUioaacals.

/'~\t.1 1 >•' a'',	, ,-r	Si-',' s i a v '/•»"" \ ' it i \at'oaa! i\i«,at'i on Rjil-ataai 1'raioclatn
and Mea^utviivnts. Hotdo^da. Mar_\ iaial!

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