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Subscribe to RSSSIMI VALLEY, Calif. -- Lingering radioactive contamination exists at a former rocket test lab outside of Los Angeles that was the site of a partial nuclear meltdown, federal environmental regulators said Wednesday.
The Environmental Protection Agency launched a $42 million study to investigate radioactive pollution at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, 25 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Technicians collected 3,735 soil samples from a corner of the 2,850-acre hilltop lab where most of the testing was done. Of those, they found about 10 percent contained radioactive concentrations exceeding background levels.
Most of the contaminated soil was found in places like the materials handling facility that were previously cleaned, but it looked like "isolated spots were missed," said Mary Aycock, an EPA Superfund remedial project manager.
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The pollution occurred in restricted areas of the lab and environmental officials said there was no immediate threat to the community because the site is secure.
The EPA presented its findings at a public meeting in Simi Valley, home of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. It expects to issue a final report by the end of the month.
The Energy Department conducted nuclear research at the site from the 1950s through 1998. It was the site of 10 reactors, one of which had a partial meltdown, and an open-air pit where workers burned radioactive and chemical waste.
The EPA deals with Superfund sites around the United States and many former Energy Department facilities in the West are more contaminated than Santa Susana, said Michael Montgomery, assistant director of EPA's Superfund division.
The Energy Department, NASA and Boeing Co. are responsible for a cleanup that is being overseen by the state. The deadline for ridding the site of chemical and radioactive pollution is 2017.
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Leave a Comment:
$42mil to dig up some dirt? What were they using, solid gold shovels?
You have no idea the number of hoops the EPA makes you go through. Big Goverment.
A drop in the bucket. Look up what it cost to clean up Rocky Flats between Denver and Boulder. And they're not done yet.
$42mil to dig up some dirt? What were they using, solid gold shovels?
"Yes" and when there through (shovels), the angels take them back to heven to pave the streets.
Yep. And they can only use them once.
lol .... and then they bury them.
What a terrible article
"Yeah" My soap box broke to!!!!!
Think about the depot workers who walked around this site for years. What about the folks living down-wind from this site? What about the farms that were down-wind from this site? Ask the Japanese people if there is a problem down-wind from nuclear spill sites.
3,735 soil samples for 42 million worth of environmental investigation = $11,244.98 per sample.
"they found about 10 percent contained radioactive concentrations exceeding background levels" The question is, by how much did this 10 percent exceed background level radiation. If it was only 1 or 2%, I hope there is a Congressional inquiry into the waste spent on this project.
While the cost per sample seems within reason, depending on the testing methods, the E.P.A. is still out of control. They need to be taken down a notch or two, "out to the proverbial pasture and put to rest." They are the main reason why we have no manufacturing in this Country anymore. The cost to implement their standards are more than attainable profits.
On a side note: I have been touting that if our policies are so great and do so much good for this Country, then we need to make them mandatory for all foreign imports to follow. Imagine how many companies would run overseas and start up operations then, knowing full and well they still have to abide by the same policies plus pay the cost to import. This includes FDA/ OSHA/ EPA/ USDA/ child labor and slave labor laws. Imagine the garbage we could eliminate from the retail market. However, the cost to realize environmental standards as good is very expensive. But, like I stated before, if its so great for us then why aren't we leading the World and demanding the same from all imports? Write your representatives today and demand equality in our policies, demand the same from all imports. Thank you!
This is great news for one of my family members who work for the people overseeing these toxic cleanups.The bad news is the people who have inadvertently been exposed to this toxic mess.
thats what I was thinking..if its on the ground it must have gotten on people..
Are we still talking about gold shovel$?
why do a 42 million study. they now it is there. so clean it up!!!
Well, this sort of explains a lot about the mindset of many people in Californica.
Because the most Conservative town in California, totally reflects California as a whole.