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Fact Sheet
October 2012
Administrative Record File Available for Comment, Radiation - Garwin, Inc. (former), Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 has compiled the Administrative Record file for the Radiation - Garwin, Inc. (former), Superfund site in Wichita, Kansas. The Administrative Record file is the official site file and contains technical documents such as the Action Memorandum, which authorizes Agency funding for site sampling and response/removal activities.
EPA invites the public to review the Administrative Record file during a 30-day comment period from October 4 to November 5, 2012.
Community members can review the Administrative Record file during normal business hours at the following locations:
Planeview Community Library
2820 S. Roosevelt Street
Wichita, Kansas
EPA Region 7
Records Center
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, Kansas
Comments may be submitted by mail or email to:
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 7
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
Email: himes.beckie@epa.gov
Comments must be postmarked or submitted by November 5, 2012.
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 Radiation - Garwin, Inc. (former) site was the location of an aircraft instrument repair shop in 1970 through 1990. Garwin used this facility to strip radioluminescent paint containing radium-226 from aircraft instruments.
THE CONTAMINATION
Radium dial repair shops were set up in the Wichita area soon after World War II to upgrade and repair radium-bearing aircraft instruments. During this repair process, the dials containing radium-bearing paint were removed, the radium-bearing paint stripped from the dials with solvent, and the dials repainted. These teardown and dial-stripping operations are potential sources for solvents, heavy metal, and radium contamination of buildings, soil, and potentially ground water.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have questions or need additional information about the site, please contact:
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
Office of Public Affairs
U.S. EPA Region 7
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
Phone: 913-551-7253 or
Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425
Email: himes.beckie@epa.gov