Waxman Document 30

Exclusive 2019 Update: VICTORY AT THE VA – West LA Veterans Administration master plan protects old nuclear dump from development

While this document reverts back to the original characterization of the dump that made it into the draft PricewaterhouseCoopers report, there are some interesting differences. This web page displays notes of the pertinent passages of this 114-page document.

P. 11/114:

“Records show that radioactive materials are used and/or stored in at least 12 site buildings. There is no evidence from the records that these materials have ever been mishandled or improperly disposed.”

P. 12-13/114:

“Medical Waste Disposal Areas: An approximately two-acre area in area “J” along the banks of the arroyo was used as a medical waste disposal area from the 1950’s until 1968. The medical waste included radioactive biomedical wastes. These radioactive wastes were apparently disposed of in accordance with the U.S. Department of Energy requirements that allow for burial of radioactive medical wastes.

“Construction of athletic fields for the Brentwood School between 1996 and 1999 uncovered several of the disposal areas. Excavated wastes were collected and removed to an off-site disposal facility.

“At this point the radioactive wastes are at approximately 10 half-lives and theoretically do not emit radiation greater than other non-radioactive materials. Testing of the waste did not detect any radiation levels above background. Off-site monitoring well sampling has not detected any radiation above back ground [sic] levels.

“Radioactive medical wastes not excavated for construction of the athletic fields remains [sic] in place in this area under 15’–to-30′ of soil fill.”

P. 15/114:

“2. It is also recommended that follow-up testing be done to delineate the medical and construction debris disposal areas. It is recommended that a Health Risk Assessment be done for areas where radiological wastes, medical wastes, and construction demolition debris is known to be buried to quantify the potential health risks for use of these areas. This should include an assessment to the risk to contractors doing grading and sub-surface drilling for exploration purposes as well as for construction of pile footings.”

“3. It is recommended that further research be done to determine the source of the diesel contaminated soil used for fill under the Brentwood School Athletic Fields. This soil apparently came from an on-site soil stockpile under a helicopter-landing pad. There may be some knowledge of where the soil originally came from that was used to from the soil stockpile under the landing pad. If the potential contamination can be traced back to an on-site source it is recommended that additional testing be done in areas with a potential diesel fuel contamination.”

P. 16/114:

“The biomedical, radioactive medical waste and ACM [asbestos containing material] containing construction debris waste sites are all now buried under 15′ to 30′ of fill material areas leased to the Brentwood School for use as athletic fields. None of these disposal areas is considered a significant environmental hazard at this time. Radiation and ACM’s are below threshold limits. Biomedical wastes encountered during development of the athletic fields were removed to a suitable off-site disposal area. Without a potentially negative public reaction to these types of wastes this end of the site may be considered as having a “Medium” potential for development. Remediation of these wastes includes encapsulation (which has already been done) or removal to an acceptable disposal site. The fact that this area has already been developed for use as athletic fields indicates that:

1. Either the public was not informed as to the contaminates under the athletic fields,
or
2. These environmental hazards did not trigger a significant negative public reaction from nearby residents (including parents of students using the fields).”

P. 19/114:

MicroTech had access to the Oct. 23, 2000 Locus Technologies report.

P. 20/114:

MicroTech had access to the Nov. 21, 2000 Locus Technologies report.

P. 43/114:

Building 113: animal research
114 & 115: research

P. 46/114:

Building 337: research animals
Building 345: radiation therapy

P. 74/114:

Both Arroyo and Brentwood School athletic fields are 20 acres apiece.

P. 106/114:

MicroTech backing off initial May 30 flip-flop IS MISSING!