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EPA Region 7 to Hold May 29 Press Call to Discuss Aerial Radiological Survey of West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton, Mo.

Release Date: 05/28/2013
Contact Information: Chris Whitley, 913-551-7394, whitley.christopher@epa.gov

Environmental News

NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR COVERAGE PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY

(Lenexa, Kan., May 28, 2013) - EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks will participate in a telephone media availability for working journalists from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, to discuss the results of an aerial radiological survey of the West Lake Landfill Site in Bridgeton, Mo.

EPA Region 7 requested the survey, which was conducted March 8 by EPA’s Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT) Program, to gather data to help inform future decisions about the Superfund site. An ASPECT airplane with a pilot, co-pilot, technician and scientific equipment on board flew multiple low-altitude passes over the site and adjacent residential and industrial properties to identify surface areas that emit gamma radiation.

The ASPECT survey is part of EPA’s work to update information collected through prior investigations. The 200-acre West Lake Landfill Site encompasses several inactive areas of closed sanitary and demolition fills, including two areas where leached barium sulfate waste from World War II-era nuclear weapons manufacturing was buried in the 1970s; and the separate Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill.

During the May 29 telephone media availability, Regional Administrator Brooks will summarize the results of the ASPECT survey and next steps in EPA’s continuing work at the site, and answer journalists’ questions. NOTE: Because of a limited number of call-in lines, participation in this telephone availability is intended for working press members only.

A corresponding EPA Region 7 press release, and the full text of the ASPECT survey report, will be available for review online by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29.

WHO: EPA Regional Administrator Karl Brooks

WHAT: Telephone Media Availability to Discuss Results of Aerial Radiological Survey of West Lake Landfill Site in Bridgeton, Mo.

WHEN: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Central Time, Wednesday, May 29, 2013

HOW: Dial the Conference Number, 1-866-299-3188 and enter Access Code 913-551-7444 at the prompt.