Lab Publishes 1997 Site Environmental Report
On March 5, Brookhaven National Laboratory published its Site Environmental
Report for the year 1997. This report presents the results of Brookhaven's
environmental monitoring program for that calendar year and provides an
assessment of the Lab's environmental performance. The data in the report
demonstrate that the Laboratory was in full compliance with the federal
Clean Air and Clean Water Acts during 1997.
Highlights of the report include the following:
- In 1997, pollution prevention and waste minimization efforts continued
to pay dividends at the Laboratory. For example, the Lab's photography
shop converted to digital processing, which significantly reduced the need
for photo developing chemicals. Hazardous waste production by Brookhaven's
vehicle maintenance group has been completely eliminated through measures
such as recycling of oil and batteries, as well as the use of nonhazardous
cleaning products. Also, a scrap-metal compactor purchased in 1997 will
reduce the volume of metallic waste generated by the Lab, thereby reducing
disposal costs by an estimated $170,000 per year.
- In 1997, the compliance rate for liquid discharges from Brookhaven's
sewage treatment plant (a discharge point regulated by the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation) was greater than 99%. Tritium
concentrations in the sewage treatment plant discharges were at their lowest
levels since routine monitoring began in 1966. The average tritium concentration
in released water was less than seven percent of the drinking water standard
set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For surface water
samples in the Peconic River, all water quality measurements were consistent
with off-site control locations and, with the exception of iron, met the
N.Y. State drinking water standards. (High levels of iron are common in
the region.)
- As has been reported in previous years, tritium was found in eight
private wells east of the Lab. The highest tritium level measured in 1997
was about one-ninth of the EPA drinking water standard. The homeowners
were informed of all testing results. These homes were included in the
public water hookup area established by the Department of Energy in 1996
as a precautionary measure to ensure that residents would not be exposed
to chemical contaminants. The maximum expected radiation dose to a person
drinking water from one of these wells is 0.1 millirem per year. (A millirem
is 1/1000th of a rem.) This is well below the EPA limit of 4 millirems
per year from drinking water.
- In 1997, Brookhaven collected over 1,100 air samples on site to monitor
airborne radioactive elements, primarily tritium. Results showed that levels
were well within federal standards. A person standing at the Laboratory
boundary 24 hours a day for an entire year would receive a radiation dose
of 0.07 millirem. This dose is well below the EPA's standard of 10 millirems
for the air pathway.
- Extensive characterization of the High Flux Beam Reactor spent fuel
pool tritium plume was begun in 1997. This characterization included the
installation of more than 100 temporary monitoring wells and the analysis
of more than 1,800 groundwater samples. An interim groundwater extraction
system was constructed to prevent tritium from leaving the Lab site at
levels above the drinking water standard. Water was removed from the spent
fuel pool in December 1997, eliminating the source of the tritium. The
plume continues to be addressed under the Lab's environmental cleanup program.
Other areas of the Brookhaven site where past activities have caused
groundwater, soil and sediment contamination continued to undergo monitoring
and cleanup in 1997 under the environmental restoration program. This program
is conducted in cooperation with the N.Y. State Department of Environmental
Conservation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department
of Energy.
The 1997 BNL Site Environmental Report can be viewed at local libraries. A copy of the report or a 12-page
summary booklet can be obtained by calling (516) 344-2345. The report is
also available on the web at http://www.esh.bnl.gov/esd/1997ser.htm.
The summary booklet is available on the web at http://www.bnl.gov.
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