E.P.A. Region Seven to Conduct Removal Action and Radiological Assessment at Beta Chem Lab Facility in Lenexa, Kan.

(Lenexa, Kan., April 30, 2014) - E.P.A. Region seven will begin work next week to remove hazardous chemicals and conduct a radiological assessment of the abandoned and seized Beta Chem Lab facility at 14410 West 100^th Street, in Lenexa, Kan.

Region 7's On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) and E.P.A. contractors will begin the removal and assessment work on Monday, May 5. E.P.A. anticipates the work could take about 4 weeks to complete.

Beta Chem previously used the 2,000-square-foot facility, situated in the Noon Industrial Park, for the synthesis of radioactive carbon-14 into pharmaceutical compounds for medical research. Between 2006 and 2012, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) tried to compel the company to attain compliance with its Radioactive Materials License, but the company did not comply.

On October 3, 2013, KDHE seized and secured the lab facility, which was found to contain numerous hazardous materials and substances, including compressed gas cylinders and deteriorated containers of various chemicals. In February 2014, KDHE referred the facility to E.P.A. Region 7's Superfund Division for further investigation and removal of the hazardous materials.

EPA's work will occur in 2 phases. First, OSCs and contractors will address the collection, characterization, segregation and off-site disposal of containers of hazardous substances present at the site. The 2nd phase will include an assessment of the nature and extent of non-containerized hazardous substances, including radiological contamination. Preliminary screening of soils at the back door of the lab facility has detected beta radiation at elevated levels.

Under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as the Superfund law, E.P.A. may take removal actions to abate, prevent, minimize, stabilize, mitigate or eliminate the release or threat of release of hazardous materials when the Agency determines there is a threat to public health or welfare or the environment.

There are currently no comments for this story. Be the first to add a comment!
Click here to add a comment about this story.