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Santa Susana Field Laboratory: Difference between revisions
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In 2002, a [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]] (DOE) official described typical waste disposal procedures used by Field Lab employees in the past. Workers would dispose of barrels filled with radioactive [[sodium]] by dumping them in a pond and then shooting the barrels with [[rifle]]s so that they would explode and release their contents into the air.{{ r | VCR_2003-02-19 }} Since then, the pit has been remediated by having 22,000 cubic yards of soil removed down {{Convert|10-12|ft}} to bedrock.<ref name=VCR_2003-02-19 >{{ cite news | url=http://www.vcreporter.com/reports1219.htm | title=Rocketdyne: It's the pits - Lots of questions, few answers at the latest meeting on Rocketdyne cleanup | last=Collins | first=Michael | newspaper=Ventura County Reporter | date=2003-02-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030219115332/http://www.vcreporter.com/reports1219.htm | archive-date=2003-02-19 | url-status=dead | quote=Lopez described the cleanup of the heavily polluted sodium burn pit, a six-acre site where Rocketdyne disposed of massive amounts of radioactive waste. The modus operandi included chucking barrels of radioactive sodium into the sludgy pond and firing a gun at the canisters, which would then explode, releasing radioactive contaminants into the air. Lopez said that the pit has now been excavated ten to 12 feet down to the bedrock, resulting in the removal of 22,000 cubic yards of soil. }}</ref> | In 2002, a [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]] (DOE) official described typical waste disposal procedures used by Field Lab employees in the past. Workers would dispose of barrels filled with radioactive [[sodium]] by dumping them in a pond and then shooting the barrels with [[rifle]]s so that they would explode and release their contents into the air.{{ r | VCR_2003-02-19 }} Since then, the pit has been remediated by having 22,000 cubic yards of soil removed down {{Convert|10-12|ft}} to bedrock.<ref name=VCR_2003-02-19 >{{ cite news | url=http://www.vcreporter.com/reports1219.htm | title=Rocketdyne: It's the pits - Lots of questions, few answers at the latest meeting on Rocketdyne cleanup | last=Collins | first=Michael | newspaper=Ventura County Reporter | date=2003-02-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030219115332/http://www.vcreporter.com/reports1219.htm | archive-date=2003-02-19 | url-status=dead | quote=Lopez described the cleanup of the heavily polluted sodium burn pit, a six-acre site where Rocketdyne disposed of massive amounts of radioactive waste. The modus operandi included chucking barrels of radioactive sodium into the sludgy pond and firing a gun at the canisters, which would then explode, releasing radioactive contaminants into the air. Lopez said that the pit has now been excavated ten to 12 feet down to the bedrock, resulting in the removal of 22,000 cubic yards of soil. }}</ref> | ||
On 26 July 1994, two scientists, Otto K. Heiney and Larry A. Pugh were killed when the chemicals they were illegally burning in open pits exploded. After a [[grand jury]] investigation and [[FBI]] raid on the facility, three [[Rocketdyne]] officials [[pleaded guilty]] in June 2004 to illegally storing explosive materials. The jury [[hung jury|deadlocked]] on the more serious charges related to illegal burning of hazardous waste.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-dec-11-me-rocket11-story.html|title=Scientist Fined $100 in Lab Blast That Killed 2|first=Jean|last=Guccione|newspaper= | On 26 July 1994, two scientists, Otto K. Heiney and Larry A. Pugh were killed when the chemicals they were illegally burning in open pits exploded. After a [[grand jury]] investigation and [[FBI]] raid on the facility, three [[Rocketdyne]] officials [[pleaded guilty]] in June 2004 to illegally storing explosive materials. The jury [[hung jury|deadlocked]] on the more serious charges related to illegal burning of hazardous waste.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-dec-11-me-rocket11-story.html|title=Scientist Fined $100 in Lab Blast That Killed 2|first=Jean|last=Guccione|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=11 December 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-28-me-rocket28-story.html|title=Executive Sentenced in '94 Blast|first=Jean|last=Guccione|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=28 January 2003}}</ref> At trial, a retired Rocketdyne mechanic testified as to what he witnessed at the time of the explosion: "I assumed we were burning waste," Lee Wells testified, comparing the process used on 21 and 26 July 1994, to that once used to legally dispose of leftover chemicals at the company's old burn pit. As Heiney poured the chemicals for what would have been the third burn of the day, the blast occurred, Wells said. "[The background noise] was so loud I didn't hear anything ... I felt the blast and I looked down and my shirt was coming apart." When he realized what had occurred, Wells said, "I felt to see if I was all there ... I knew I was burned but I didn't know how bad." Wells suffered second- and third-degree burns to his face, arms and stomach.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-Rocketdyne Worker Describes Fatal 1994 Blast|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=5 January 2002|access-date=14 November 2018|first=Jean |last=Guccione |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-05-me-20512-story.html}}</ref> | ||
===2018 Woolsey fire=== | ===2018 Woolsey fire=== | ||