Isotope Specialties (State of California)

This site description was provided by the cognizant Agreement State, and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) makes no claim regarding the validity of the information provided. See our Site Disclaimer for more information.

1.0 Site Identification

2.0 Site Status Summary

The facility, located at 703 South Main Street, in Burbank, California, was originally used for fabrication of sealed radioactive sources and packaging of low-level radioactive waste for disposal. The licensee was authorized to possess and use curie quantities of by-product material, atomic numbers 3-83 inclusive, and source material (uranium and thorium) in any chemical or physical form. The site is currently being occupied by Viktor Benes Bakery. Operations moved to 170 West Providencia, Burbank CA in late 1950 or 1960. The site was surveyed February 21 and 23, 1996, by Mr. H. Dean Chaney, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Region IV. The survey was conducted as part of a NRC project that evaluated approximately 16,000 retired licenses. Elevated radiation levels were identified during the visit. On February 23, 1996 a California Department of Health Services inspector performed confirmatory gamma, beta-gamma, and alpha exposure rate measurements. Both the NRC and DHS/RHB surveys showed five widely separated areas of elevated gamma radiation levels. No evidence of removable radioactive contamination was found. The formal inspection results, NRC Inspection Report 30-90006/96-01, were forwarded to Edgar Bailey, Chief, Radiologic Health Branch, in a letter dated April 8, 1996, from Mr. Ross A. Scarano, Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, U.S. NRC, Region IV, to Mr. Bailey. A copy was also sent to Mr. Ugo Mamolo, President, Viktor Bene's Bakeries. Gamma spectroscopy was performed at the facility on September 14, 2000, by Daniel Gollnick, Ph.D., CHP, President of Pacific Radiation Corporation and confirmed the presence of Cs-137. A limited survey was performed by Duratek Services, Inc to quantify contamination below the existing concrete slab. The survey identified elevated soil contamination of Cs-137 below the slab; On February 22, 2006, the CA Department of Health Services issued an "Order to Characterize and Remediate Radioactive Contamination at Viktor Bene's Bakery , 703 South Main Street, Burbank, CA 91506" to NUCOR Corporation (successor to Isotope Specialties) and Hugo Mamolo, President of Viktor Bene's Bakery. NUCOR contracted with PhiloTechnics to prepare and submit a characterization plan for the facility. The plan was submitted January 2008 and deficiency letter by Los Angeles County sent out May 5, 2008.

3.0 Major Technical or Regulatory Issues

Operational bakery

4.0 Estimated Date For Closure