EPA and DEC continue review of second Record of Decision
The final review process continues for the Operable Unit VI "Record of Decision" (ROD). The Lab's second ROD is under review by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), the three agencies overseeing BNL's Superfund cleanup.
The Operable Unit VI ROD documents the remediation strategy for groundwater contamination from ethylene dibromide (EDB) in an undeveloped area of Manorville. EDB, once commonly used as a pesticide, was applied to the Lab's Biology Fields around 1970. The remediation strategy includes public water hookups, natural attenuation (dilution and decay), and additional monitoring.
The ROD is a major step in the Superfund process, signifying that all characterization and evaluation of remedial action alternatives have been completed. It includes a "Responsiveness Summary," which documents community input and summarizes DOE's responses to questions and concerns raised during the comment period.
The ROD will be available this fall at the Lab's four information repositories (for locations click here). Its Administrative Record reference will be BNL/OU6/12.1.
First of 2 consultation reports due this autumn from ATSDR
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is expected to release its Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) groundwater health consultation by early fall. Based upon site-specific analysis, this report will summarize on- and off-site groundwater contamination from past practices at BNL and discuss the potential for public exposure to and health-related concerns from this contamination.
A 60-day public comment period will give the community an opportunity to comment on the findings, evaluate whether the community's concerns have been adequately addressed and provide ATSDR with additional relevant information.
The public will be able to find the document at the Lab's four information repositories (for locations, see page 7), or call (404) 639-6068 for a copy. Comments should be addressed to: Andy Dudley, Environmental Health Specialist, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ATSDR, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
ATSDR is also completing an air quality consultation, which will be released following the groundwater health consultation. Historic and current air emissions from BNL facilities will be reviewed to determine if they present a potential health risk to the public or BNL employees.
hookupdate
The Shirley/North Shirley/East Yaphank and Weeks Avenue area of Manorville hookups are essentially completed, including restoration of roads and lawns.
Installation and chlorination of water mains are complete for the northern part of the remaining Manorville hookup area. About half of the water mains have been installed in the remainder.
To date, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has spent more than $5.6 million on this project, and more than 850 residents have been provided with public water. All hookups are expected to be completed by the end of December. Unseasonable weather conditions in the fall/winter could delay landscaping and repaving.
It is important that all eligible residents and business owners in all areas recognize that once work in Manorville is completed (i.e., December 31, 1997), DOE will consider the project to be completed and there will be little, if any, opportunity for DOE to provide additional hookups. The contract with the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) will be closed, and no financial mechanism will be in place for compensating the SCWA or residents for work done after that date.