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Dust and Indoor Air Samples for Beryllium and Uranium at Bannister Federal Complex Show No Health Concerns

Release Date: 05/09/2011
Contact Information: David Bryan, 913-551-7433, bryan.david@epa.gov

Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., May 9, 2011) – Indoor air and dust samples for beryllium and uranium taken from General Services Administration buildings at the Bannister Federal Complex in Kansas City, Mo., reveal no health concerns, according to an environmental investigation commissioned last November by GSA Region 6 and recently reviewed by EPA Region 7 technicians.

Beryllium was not detected in air samples. Minute detections of beryllium in dust samples from two locations did not exceed risk-based screening levels for indoor dust. Additionally, uranium was not detected in the dust or air samples.

All of the samples analyzed in the study came from GSA's portion of building 1 and 2 at the complex.

“We are very pleased with this latest round of results. Working closely with the EPA, we will continue to assess environmental conditions on the GSA-managed portion of the Bannister Federal Complex,” said Jason Klumb, GSA Region 6 administrator. “We believe that the more scientific data we have, the better we will be able to address the concerns of our current and former employees.”

GSA and EPA Region 7 have approved an Environmental Working Agreement that outlines a plan to investigate and manage environmental conditions at GSA-managed facilities at Bannister Federal Complex.

As part of EPA’s comments on the sampling for beryllium and uranium, the Agency recommended that air and surface dust sampling be continued on a quarterly basis. EPA also recommended that if future sampling detects uranium at reportable levels, analyses should be performed to identify its specific isotopes, or types.