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Fact Sheet

September 2010

EPA Removal Action to Begin, Karnish Instruments, Inc., Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will conduct a Removal Action (RA) at the Karnish Instruments, Inc. site at 4711 E. 31st Street South in Wichita, Kansas. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment conducted a Unified Focused Assessment at the site and requested EPA to perform the RA.

EPA PLANNED ACTIVITIES

The RA is to begin in October 2010. Post removal sampling will be conducted on soil at the site to ensure that no contamination is left behind to pose a threat to human health and the environment. The RA will last about a week.

BACKGROUND

Radioluminescent paint and radium luminous compounds have been used extensively on watch and clock faces since the early 1900s. The wide use of radium in luminescent paints continued through World War II, because the soft glow of radium-produced luminescence made aircraft dials, gauges, and other instruments visible to operators at night.

The Karnish Instruments, Inc. site was located at the above address in Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas. The site was the location of an aircraft instrument repair shop from 1965 through 1969. Karnish Instruments, Inc. used this facility to strip radioluminescent paint containing radium-226 from aircraft instruments.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact:

Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
Office of Public Affairs
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7253 or
Toll Free: 1-800-223-0425
himes.beckie@epa.gov

or

James Johnson
On Scene Coordinator
Superfund Division
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS  66101
Phone:  913-551-7058
johnson.james@epa.gov

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