My staff and I are glad to see that the report issued by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (known as the ATSDR) confirms the results of investigations by the Environmental Restoration Division. Both sets of investigations show that the plumes originating from BNL are not adversely affecting public health.
Although the ATSDR report is reassuring, much work remains to be done. We have many completed and ongoing remediation projects (see story, page 3) and are starting new ones in 1998 to ensure that existing contamination, both on- and off-site, is cleaned up. We are also working to prevent further contamination from occurring.
Groundwater remediation
Three groundwater pump-and-treat systems have been put in place in the past year, two at the Lab's southern boundary and one as part of the remedial technologies treating the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the tritium plume. The wells in these systems are removing more than 1,300 gallons per minute of contaminated water. The two systems at the southern boundary clean groundwater contaminated with VOCs. The system addressing the tritium plume will prevent tritium above drinking water standards from moving beyond the Lab's southern boundary. It consists of a pump-and-recharge system in which the extracted water is carried about one mile north to a recharge basin, where it is discharged. This gives the tritium additional time to naturally decay and dilute as it slowly moves south.
Soil remediation
We also have important soil remediation projects underway. These employ innovative and effective technologies, such as soil vapor extraction, which will be used to remediate contaminated soils in the central portion of the Lab. Air sparging will also be a part of this system, treating area groundwater.
We have just completed remediation at the Interim Landfill as part of a "fast track" removal action. The landfill was capped, which means it was covered with an impermeable liner and clean soil and then seeded. This prevents rainwater from entering the landfill waste and carrying contaminants into the groundwater.
This summer we completed soil cleanup at the Chemical/Animal/Glass Pits, where pit contents and contaminated soils were excavated. This action eliminated the threat of additional groundwater contamination. The excavated soil will be sorted, and any soil that is found to be hazardous and/or radioactive will be disposed off-site.
Future efforts
As part of our efforts to clean up off-site contamination, we have recently evaluated in-well air sparging and pump-and-treat systems for remediation of an off-site VOC plume. A pilot study has shown us that air sparging would be effective in treating this plume. We have also begun to study alternatives to remediate the sediments in the Peconic River. In addition, we are making plans to clean up radiologically contaminated soils on-site beginning in 1999.
ERD will continue its efforts to clean up on- and off-site contamination
in the groundwater and soil. By issuing its positive findings in the Health
Consultation Report and Addendum, ATSDR has provided a document that we
hope will reassure area residents who are concerned about potential adverse
health effects from BNL activities. We appreciate the Agency's work and
will continue to work with it to ensure that threats to the public health
are appropriately addressed.
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