104 site.16 In 1984 a $2 million plan for cleanup of the luminous processes building was approved and in 1985 it was demolished.17 However, the demolition process likely spread radioactive dust throughout Ottawa and some of the rubble may have been used as fill material.18 The EPA finally began a more comprehensive study and cleanup plan in 1988, starting with aerial monitoring of radiation, soil sample measurement, and radiation measurements.19 The EPA identified sixteen different sites of radioactive contamination.20 Eight residential areas were found to be contaminated and one park near a local high school was found to have extremely dangerous levels of radiation.18 The EPA determined that significant resources would need to be allotted to clean up these sites.21 Unfortunately, the EPA did not receive sufficient funding. The EPA prioritized the sites closest to residential areas, but as time and money ran out, standards slipped, and some areas were left contaminated. Ten of the sites were considered fully remediated but six were not.22 These sites were deemed too extensively contaminated that it would take $35 million to completely clean these sites up. The EPA did not have the time or money to devote to this project.23 Two sites were not cleaned at all, most importantly one on the bank of the Fox River. This was used as a dumping site and was not near human activity so the EPA did not clean it up. 16 JoAnn Hustis, "Judge Cites Radiation 'Leakage' at Luminous Processes Building," The Daily Times, July 13, 1981; Mike Cunniff, "2 Local Sites on EPA List," The Daily Times, July 27, 1982; Mike Cunniff, "Is Fencing Needed at Luminous?" The Daily Times, February 12, 1983 17 Dold, "Radium Deaths;" ATSDR, 3 18 ATSDR, 3; Roy F. Weston, Incorporated, Site Assessment/or Ottawa Radiation Sites, Ottawa, Illinois (Chicago, Illinois: United States Environmental Protection Agency Region V, 1988), 7. 19 Weston Solutions, Feasibility Study Report: NPL-II Site, Ottawa Radiation Areas, Ottawa, Illinois, Revision 2 - March 12, 2010 (Chicago, Illinois: United States Environmental Protection Agency Region V, 2010), 1-7; ATSDR, 3. 20 USEPA Superfund Sites (United States Environmental Protection Agency, n.d.), https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0500634. 21 Verneta Simon to Valdas V. Adamkus, 1988, "Action Memorandum - Funding Request for an Interagency Agreement for the Ottawa Radiation Sites, Ottawa, IL," 2; Weston Solutions, NPL11 Site, 16; Weston Solutions, Feasibility Study Report: NPL-8 Site, 13 22 Weston Solutions, NPL-ll Site, 17-18; Weston Solutions, NPL 1,4,9, 11, and Illinois Power, 16-17. 23 Weston Solutions, NPL 1, 4, 9, 11, and Illinois Power, 16-17.
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