Page 318 - Beyond Decommissioning

Case studies of nuclear redevelopment 299

the site. Established in 1999, the Superfund Redevelopment Initiative (SRI) is the
entity responsible for the planning and execution of this segment of the broader Super-
fund program. Currently, Superfund sites are being reused for all sorts of reuse
options, including residential, commercial or industrial uses as well as parks, farm-
lands, and public institutions. Redeveloped sites produce social, economic, and envi-
ronmental returns by regenerating economically depressed areas and reinforcing
community links. While the EPA is committed to protection of health and environ-
ment, the SRI complements that broad commitment without compromising safety
standards.
Table 7.1 shows some radioactive Superfund sites that have been redeveloped or
are considered for redevelopment.

7.3.1 The Lansdowne Radiation site, PA (US Environmental
Protection Agency, 2013)
From 1924 to 1944, a university professor processed an enriched radium ore in the base-
ment of his home. Activities produced radium contamination of his three-story house in
which he lived, two garages on his property, two garages on adjacent properties, some
80m of municipal sewage pipes, sidewalks, the street, and soil on numerous properties.
Following the detection of radioactive contamination, including radium, radon, and
radon decay products, the EPA inserted the site on the NPL in 1985. In 1986, the
EPA carried out cleanup activities, including demolishing the house; cleaning up con-
taminated soil, sidewalks, and affected parts of the street; and repaving the street and
replacing the sewage pipes. Following the disposal of contaminated materials at an
off-site RAW disposal site, the EPA backfilled and reseeded the excavated areas.
The remediation generated 1300ton of contaminated construction debris and
3700ton of contaminated soil. The site was delisted from the NPL in 1991. It remains
for residential use. At Lansdowne, activity and use limitations (i.e., institutional con-
trols) are in place. Institutional controls affect human behaviors. For instance, zoning
restrictions prevent land uses that are not compliant with cleanup criteria.

7.3.2 The Ottawa Radiation Area, IL (US Environmental Protection
Agency, 2017a)
The site includes 16 areas scattered throughout the city of Ottawa. The Radium Dial
Company (1918–36) and Luminous Processes, Inc. (1937–78) made glow-in-the-dark
dials for clocks and watches using radium-based paint. Fill material at Ottawa used
building debris and soil contaminated with RAW from the above installations. The
site was added to the NPL in 1992. Cleanup actions included the removal of contam-
inated soils and the setting of radon mitigation systems. Institutional controls are also
in place to ensure long-term protection. Private owners use the Frontage Property for
commercial purposes. The Illinois Power Building is currently a commercial building
leased to a law office. The City of Ottawa uses the Luminous Processes, Inc. adjacent
subarea as a gravel parking lot.