EPA Sampling Determines No Manhattan Project Waste Found in Spanish Village Homes 

RESULTS

The results of EPA's residential sampling in the Spanish Village neighborhood of Bridgeton, conducted the week of Dec. 26, 2016, show no Manhattan Project waste was found and no further action under CERCLA is warranted where the sampling was conducted.

EPA decided to conduct the sampling late in 2016 after hearing community health concerns about a private lawsuit.

EPA screened areas within and around the two homes for alpha, beta, and gamma radiation to determine where to collect exterior soil samples, and interior surface and bulk dust samples. More than 140 samples were collected between the two homes. EPA sent these samples to a certified laboratory to determine the concentrations of various radionuclides, including radionuclides associated with Manhattan Project waste.

Soil sampling results were all within normal background ranges for each of the analyzed radionuclides. Interior wipe sampling results were all below EPA’s residential screening levels. The dust sampling results showed no relation to materials found at West Lake. This body of scientific data supports the conclusion that no Manhattan Project wastes were found and no further action is needed.

EPA coordinated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Centers for Disease Control’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in developing this sampling plan and reviewing the analytical results.

The USACE St. Louis District provides subject matter experts and technical support to EPA for the West Lake Landfill Site. For the Pre-CERCLA screenings that were completed, the St. Louis District coordinated sampling protocol and assisted EPA in reviewing the analysis of the screenings.

The USACE St. Louis District concurs that all protocol standards were followed and the findings of the screenings are valid.

The final report of the Bridgeton Dust Pre-CERCLA screening is available online.

SAMPLING PLAN AND METHODS

EPA personnel and contractors, under EPA oversight, performed exterior and interior screening and sampling at two residential properties in Spanish Village. The Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for this investigation is available online. 

For the outdoor portion of the screening, radiation detectors were used to survey the soil outside the homes. The radiation survey detected gamma radiation to identify locations to collect soil samples from the surface of the property.

In addition to the sampling locations identified by the radiation survey, soil samples were collected from areas with the greatest potential for contamination or exposure, including play areas, vegetable gardens, and at other exterior features such as downspouts.

EPA also conducted indoor radiation surveys and wipe and dust sampling. Handheld instruments that can detect alpha, beta, and gamma radiation were used to determine optimum locations for dust sampling and surface wipe sampling of floors, walls, and other surfaces.

Wipe samples were also collected from surfaces in rooms where people spend the greatest amount of time, such as a bedroom or living room. Wipe samples were also collected from entrances, where there is a higher potential for materials from outdoors to be tracked indoors.

The wipe samples were collected by EPA using appropriate field equipment. EPA selected certain wipe samples for additional testing and analysis at a laboratory. All of the laboratory results were below EPA’s residential screening levels.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional information regarding the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site is available online.

The website contains informational publications such as the West Lake Update and Fact Sheets, technical documents and sampling results, and correspondence and other various documents related to EPA’s work at the site.

Interested citizens can also contact Ben Washburn to be added to EPA’s email list to receive updates (see below).

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