EPA Radiological Survey of Area IV and the Northern Buffer Zone

The 4,727-page EPA report “Draft Final Radiological Characterization of Soils, Area IV and the Northern Buffer Zone, Area IV Radiological Study” showed that the radiation contamination across Area IV of SSFL was far greater than previously known. Huge hits of strontium-90, plutonium 239-240 and cesium-137 are mapped showing wide swaths of radioactive soil, roads, and reactor remains. One Area IV road is contaminated with strontium-90 at 67 times background. Cesium-137 clocks in at 1,016 times normal in one spot and a stupefying 1,918 times background in another. Nearby, a borehole under an old reactor finds a hot spot deep beneath the surface: Plutonium 239-240 over 24 feet down intensely ionizing at over 92 times background. What makes these enormous radiation readings even more alarming is the fact that most of Area IV has supposedly been remediated, twice in some cases. Plus, government surveys signed off on these areas declaring them fit for unrestricted use.

Highway to Hell is paved with hot isotopes

Strontium-90 at 256 x background draining to Brandeis Bardin

Sr-90 at 114 x background 220 feet uphill from Runkle

Sodium Reactor Experiment Hot Zone

Site of Building 4028 Shield Test Irradiation Reactor now perfect for a picnic with plutonium 239-240 in the ground at over 92 times background

Sodium Reactor Experiment site, where America suffered its worst meltdown in 1959, still sizzles with radiation even after multiple cleanups

Rocketdyne Reactor Zone which mostly drains into the Los Angeles River

Radioactive Materials Handling Facility hot radiation readings suggest that the radioactive materials weren't handled very carefully.

Rad hits in Rocketdyne Area-IV reactor zone

Plutonium 239-240 over 92 x background 24 feet under reactor site

Plutonium 239-240 over 3 times background

Mule mounted gamma scanner at Area IV

Huge gamma rad hits on Runkle Ahmanson Boeing border-WPB

High alpha radiation recently found on Brandeis Bardin-WPB

High alpha and beta radiation recently found near Runkle Canyon border-WPB

Enhanced Radiation Ground Scanner at Area IV

EPA field office at SSFL

EPA contractor performing gamma scan of borehole

EPA 2012 Red Hot Rocketdyne Zones

Cesium-137 at 183 x background at SRE site where in 2015 Boeing will allow public on bus tours to be before cleanup is complete.

Cesium-137 at 1015 x background along Area IV road

Burro with gamma detectors guided through Area IV rough terrain

SSFL Area IV with San Fernando Valley in background

SSFL subsurface soil sampling direct push sampling rig

One of the futuristic, and expensive, radiation ground scanners at SSFL.

SSFL subsurface soil sampling Direct push sampling rig 2

25 Years of Award-Winning SSFL/Rocketdyne Reporting
1998 – 2023