The United States Department of Energy
announces the availability of a document relating to the
investigation of the Brookhaven National Laboratory
Inactive Hazardous Waste Site, Operable Unit V,
for public review

 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability for public comment of a document relating to the environmental restoration activities at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL).  The Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis(EE/CA) and Action Memorandum: Peconic River Removal Action for Sediment on BNL Property is available for review at the libraries listed below.   This document describes the intended cleanup action for sediment within the Peconic River on Laboratory property.

Wastewater from Laboratory operations is processed and treated at the BNL Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).  The treated water is monitored and discharged into the Peconic River in accordance with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation discharge permit requirements.  Past operations and practices resulted in wastewater containing chemical and radiological contaminants being discharged into the Peconic River; contaminants were deposited into the sediment.  

Over the past several years, DOE and BNL have conducted numerous investigations of the Peconic River sediment, fish, and plants.  Mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been detected in fish living in portions of the Peconic River.  Analytical results of extensive sampling indicate that the source of the mercury and PCBs found in fish is the sediment in the upstream areas of the river.

Four cleanup alternatives are described in the EE/CA-Action Memorandum.  The first is a “No Action” Alternative, which is required by the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, under which this investigation is conducted.  

Alternatives Two, Three, and Four involve different levels of sediment removal using low-impact, conventional construction equipment (or vacuum guzzlers, where appropriate).  The excavated sediment would be shipped off site to an appropriate disposal facility.  Habitat in the river would be restored as appropriate.

All three removal alternatives would be expected to protect human health and the environment by reducing, to varying amounts, bioaccumulation of contaminants in fish and toxicity to aquatic life.  All three removal alternatives include long-term monitoring of surface water, sediment, and fish to ensure cleanup effectiveness.

The public is invited to review and comment on this document.  The 30-day public comment period for this document is from September 22, 2003 to October 21, 2003.  Written comments may be mailed to:

Michael D. Holland, Manager
U.S. Department of Energy-Brookhaven Area Office
Attn: Peconic River
Bldg. 464
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000

Information sessions will be held on October 7, 2003 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Cornell Cooperative Extension on Griffing Avenue in Riverhead, and on October 15, 2003 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in Berkner Hall at BNL.

Operable Unit V, Peconic River is being addressed as part of a nationwide U.S. Department of Energy effort to clean up legacy waste. 

Located in Upton, N.Y., BNL is classified as an Inactive Hazardous Waste Site by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. BNL is on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List.

The Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis and Action Memorandum: Peconic River Removal Action for Sediment on BNL Property is available for review at the following libraries:

Longwood Public Library
800 Middle Country Rd
Middle Island, NY
(631) 924-6400

Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Public Library
301 William Floyd Parkway
Shirley, NY
(631) 399-1511

BNL Research Library
Building 477A
Upton, NY
(631) 344-3483

U.S. EPA, Region II Library
290 Broadway
New York, NY
(212) 637-4296

For more information, contact:

John Carter
U.S. Department of Energy
(631) 344-5195
jcarter@bnl.gov

Ken White
Brookhaven National Laboratory
(631) 344-4423
kwwhite@bnl.gov