Input from local community members continues to be a valuable resource in the decision-making process for the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) cleanup. As a result of community and regulator input, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has re-examined the priorities of the Lab's next major cleanup project - the decommissioning of the Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor (BGRR).
The Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor was the world's first reactor constructed solely for peaceful scientific research. It operated from 1950 to 1969. During its operation, this reactor contributed to many scientific and technical advances in fields such as medicine, biology, chemistry, physics and nuclear engineering.
Two series of roundtable meetings were held this year. Participants included members of the Community Advisory Council, civic organizations, environmental groups, representatives of regulatory agencies and elected officials, Laboratory employees, businesses, and the general public. Aside from representatives of DOE, BNL, or the project staff, 56 people participated in the first series of meetings this summer, and 42 people participated in the second series of meetings this fall.
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| This fan is one of five that will be removed as part of the graphite reactor cleanup. |
The community shares its concerns
One ongoing area of stakeholder interest is funding. Members of the public are concerned about the length of the project, and wonder what procedures are in place to provide funds throughout the project duration. The cleanup schedule is ambitious - work is scheduled to be completed in 2005 - and DOE has committed to funding the work. In fact, DOE has committed to a nation-wide cleanup of legacy wastes; the BGRR decommissioning is part of that national commitment.
An interest that was raised at both series of roundtable meetings was the prevention of any further contamination while the cleanup project is underway. Because of the importance of this community value, which parallels federal cleanup requirements, BNL has decided to remove two above-ground cooling-air ducts as a "time-critical" removal action. This action is discussed in greater detail below.
A related concern was the potential for further contamination to the environment if some portions of the cleanup were delayed while the entire project site was being characterized, as was originally planned. (The process of characterization involves the discovery and analysis of the materials - including those that may be hazardous - in and around the area being studied.)
This concern to prevent further contamination is shared by DOE, BNL and regulators. Therefore, rather than wait until the entire site is characterized before beginning work, DOE and BNL divided the project into seven sub-projects that can occur in succession. Each of these sub-projects will be characterized, then cleaned up. This division of work allows the sub-projects with the greatest potential for impacting the environment to be completed quickly, thus removing that potential.
"Time-critical" actions are a priority
Federal regulations designate projects with the greatest potential for impacting the environment to be "time-critical." Such projects are given first priority in the cleanup process.
For instance, in 1996, BNL investigators determined that rainwater was leaking into the Pile Fan Sump, an area of known contamination. This rainwater had the potential to leak from the sump into the surrounding soil. Removing this sump, a sub-project that is already underway, eliminates the possibility of more rainwater intrusion. (See Progress below.)
After community input from the first series of roundtable meetings earlier this summer, DOE and BNL concluded that the removal of the above-ground ducts also needed to be performed as a time-critical removal action. The concrete outer surface of the ducts is deteriorating - through age and exposure to weather - creating a potential for small pieces of concrete to flake off. Not only could this become a potential hazard to workers, but it also opens another potential source for rainwater intrusion. Removing the above-ground ducts as a time-critical action will greatly reduce the potential for rainwater leakage into the ductwork, as well as provide greater protection for project workers.
There are additional benefits to dividing the graphite reactor cleanup into a succession of smaller projects. For example, if additional funds become available as the cleanup proceeds, then the rate of work on the sub-projects could be accelerated.
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| In late November 1999, Laboratory workers began removing the graphite research reactor's cooling fans. These fans will be shipped off site for disposal. |
Waste characterization and disposal
BNL has developed estimates of the types and amounts of contaminants that are likely to be encountered during this project. These estimates will be confirmed by additional characterization as the project proceeds.
The main contaminants of concern for this project are radioactive elements. The BGRR was in operation from 1950 until 1969, and the radioactive materials that have been found so far are the normal by-products of that operation.
The research reactor pile, or core, is a key area of concern due to the expected presence of radioactive materials. The pile is made of graphite, and is surrounded by a five-foot thick biological shield wall to protect workers. BNL expects to find very small amounts of fuel and fission products, in spite of the fact that the fuel elements were removed from the pile 30 years ago. These materials are expected because 28 fuel elements are known to have failed during the early years of the research reactor's operation. Because of these failures, small amounts of the fission products and fuel material contained in the fuel elements are believed to remain in the pile. Characterization of the pile is scheduled to begin in late 1999, and should take several months to complete.
The Lab will ship materials removed during this project using containers approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). These containers will be shipped either by rail or on trucks whose drivers are professionally licensed and certified to transport hazardous materials, and using DOT-approved routes.
Opportunities for you to provide input
While many decisions about the decommissioning of the BGRR are yet to be made, it is through dialogue with the project's stakeholders that the concerns of all interested parties can be addressed. The next opportunity for public input in the decision-making process will be after the release of the Removal Action Alternatives Study. This study is expected to be released in early 2000. Current information about the project's status and schedule - as well as announcements of upcoming public meetings and roundtables - can be found on the Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor Decommissioning Project's web site at http://www.bgrr.bnl.gov.
Progress on the BGRR cleanup
BNL has begun removing the Pile Fan Sump, an underground concrete structure weighing about 27,000 pounds. This sub-project is being performed as a "time-critical" removal action because the sump is a known pathway for rainwater intrusion. In 1996, during a Laboratory-wide environmental investigation, rainwater from surrounding pavement was found to be collecting in the sump. This water was completely filling the sump, allowing penetration to the surrounding soils, where the water then escaped to the environment. In addition to the sump itself, contaminated soils and about 250 feet of associated piping will be removed.
Currently, the Pile Fan Sump is scheduled to be removed in December 1999. BNL has sent initial sludge and soil samples to an off-site laboratory for analysis to determine what contaminants might be in the materials surrounding the sump. Project workers have securely covered the area where work is being conducted while the analysis is being performed. Only after the level of contamination has been determined will the work plan describing this removal be finalized.