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U.S. EPA seeks former Atomics International, Rocketdyne, Rockwell, employees for Santa Susana Field Lab radiological study

Release Date: 11/10/2009
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, 213 244 1815, arcaute.francisco@epa.gov

For Immediate Release: November 10, 2009
Contact: Francisco Arcaute
(213) 244-1815, Cell (213) 798-1404
arcaute.francisco@epa.gov

The EPA is interested in interviewing past lab employees that have knowledge of spills, dumping, or other types of releases of radiological material to the land, air and water. The EPA is planning a study of radiological contamination at the lab and a full understanding of past operations and events that may have caused contamination is critical to EPA’s study.

The interview can be conducted in-person with EPA representatives only, jointly with EPA and Department of Energy representatives or with DOE representatives only. Interviews will be conducted in a manner most convenient to the former employee. In addition, the EPA is seeking written information (i.e. documents, reports, photos, etc) associated with radiological activities including spills and dumping of radiological materials that may assist with EPA’s research.

If you are interested in assisting the EPA, please contact Andrew Taylor at (415) 972-3129 or taylor.andrew@epa.gov. Or leave a message on the EPA toll-free number, (800) 231-3075.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Energy provided the EPA with $38.3 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to conduct a radiological study on a portion of the site. The scope of the EPA study includes research into past nuclear operations at the site, a thorough scan of gamma radiation levels at the ground surface, and laboratory testing of soil, groundwater, and surface water.

Established in 1946, the Santa Susana Field Laboratory covers nearly 2,900 acres in eastern Ventura County. The site has been used for rocket engine tests, nuclear energy research and nuclear reactor development. The entire SSFL site is currently undergoing a joint environmental cleanup program performed by Boeing, DOE, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under the regulatory authority of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.