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Fact Sheet

June 2013

EPA Final Removal Action to Begin, Standard Products, Inc., Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will conduct a final removal action at the Standard Products, Inc. site in Wichita, Kansas. EPA conducted a removal action on a portion of the site, which is a private parcel, in July 2009. The primary contaminant of concern was radium-226.

Another removal action was conducted in July 2012. Radium-contaminated soils and other material were excavated from the property and replaced with clean soil. Contaminated material was shipped to an approved off-site facility.

This final cleanup action is expected to be completed by July 2013.

BACKGROUND

Radioluminescent paint has 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.

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 radium-bearing paint was stripped from the dials with solvent, and the dials were repainted. This process resulted in releases of solvents, heavy metal, and radium into buildings, soil, and ground water.

The Standard Products, Inc. site was located at 650 E. Gilbert St., Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas. The site was the location of an aircraft instrument repair shop in the 1950s and 1960s. Instruments included radium dials and faces.

THE CONTAMINATION

During investigations conducted by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and EPA, radium-226 was detected at levels above the EPA and Nuclear Regulatory Commission screening level. Workers at the 650 E. Gilbert parcel, residents and passersby could be exposed to radium.

CLEANUP REMOVAL ACTION

The final cleanup removal action will address the potential threat to human health and the environment that is posed by the radium-contaminated soil and other materials at site. The objectives of the removal include:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EPA encourages the community to review the Administrative Record file, which is available at the following locations during normal business hours:

Wichita Department of Environmental Services
1900 East 9th
Wichita, Kansas

EPA Region 7
Records Center
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, Kansas

If you have questions, or need additional information, 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
Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425
himes.beckie@epa.gov

or

Randy Schademann
On-Scene Coordinator
Superfund Division
U.S. EPA Region 7
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
Phone: 913-551-7331
schademann.randy@epa.gov

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