We previously reported that a radiation survey of an area of land along Meeker Slough, adjacent to the RFS, revealed no evidence of radioactive contamination. This is an area where a former UC employee claims to have buried metal drums in the late 1960s.
Assessment of this area continued on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2005, with the completion of a magnetometer survey under the oversight of the state Department of Toxics Substances Control (DTSC). The survey located an area with buried material containing ferrous metal at a depth greater than five feet below the ground surface. The survey method was unable to determine the specific identity of the fill material.
Because the fill area is not on UC Berkeley property (it is owned by the City of Richmond Community Redevelopment Agency) and due to uncertainties about the origin of the fill material, DTSC will lead the continued investigation of the presence and content of any material buried in the fill area with cooperation from UC Berkeley's EH&S staff. DTSC staff and contractors are expected to be working in the area late October and into November. DTSC's work will primarily include excavation to uncover and identify the buried material.
As reported on September 6, no radioactive contamination was detected in this area. This area is safe and does not present a health hazard. As DTSC begins excavation work, however, it is expected that fencing will be erected as a precaution to prevent injuries from accidental falls.
We will continue to update you on these activities and DTSC's findings on this website.
What is a magnetometer survey?
Magnetometers are scientific survey instruments designed to measure small variations in local magnetic fields, known as anomalies. Magnetometers have been widely used for locating buried objects. Unlike metal detectors, which can detect a variety of metals, magnetometers only detect ferrous metals (iron, cobalt nickel, steel and other alloys) and are therefore useful for finding common objects such as iron pipes, drums and well casings. A magnetometer survey is completed by walking transects across a survey area with the magnetometer and mapping the magnitude of the magnetic field. Buried objects will cause anomalies in the magnetic field that can be identified on the survey map. Surveys are not always successful due to interferences. For example, if an area has an extensive quantity of buried iron objects, anomalies may be difficult to detect.