97-34
Issued April 3, 1997
UPTON, NY -- The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) today released further data that support previous findings about the location and extent of the tritium plume in groundwater on its site, south of its High Flux Beam Reactor (HFBR).
Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Suffolk County Department of Health Services continue to state that the contamination poses no public health threat.
The chart below summarizes results to date from the 63 wells that were installed from one-fifth of a mile south of the HFBR and southward. Peak concentrations in some groups of wells have increased compared to previous announcements, because data from additional wells have been included. Additional data from the remaining wells is expected next week.
Distance South of HFBR Note: All distances are within BNL site |
Number of Wells Installed | Number of Wells Analyzed (as of 4/3/97) |
Peak Tritium Level (picocuries/liter) (EPA drinking water standard: 20,000 pCi/L) |
Depth of Peak Tritium Level (feet below surface) |
| 1,170 feet (one-fifth of a mile) |
3 | 3 | 133,250** | 90 |
| 1,880 feet (one-third of a mile) |
9 | 9 | 140,700 | 140 |
| 2,865 feet (one-half of a mile) |
12 | 12 | 2,020 | 140 |
| 3,585 feet (two-thirds of a mile) |
22 | 20 | 6,440** | 150 |
| 6,370 feet (1 1/5 miles) 188 ft. N of BNL south boundary |
17 | 9 | 1,510 | 150 |
** New peak based on recently received results
Public Information Sessions
Information sessions on the tritium contamination and cleanup plans are planned for: Tuesday, April 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Manorville Fire Department on Silas Carter Road; and Saturday, April 12 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Longwood Library on Route 25 in Middle Island.
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