On June 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the Operable Unit III Record of Decision. With this approval, the Laboratory will begin designing and installing new treatment systems for on-site groundwater containing tritium and strontium-90, and on- and off-site groundwater containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The U.S. Department of Energy and the N.Y. State Department of Environmental Conservation had previously approved this decision.
Milestone achieved
The approval represents an important milestone in the Laboratory's groundwater cleanup program. It allows the Lab to install additional treatment systems at nine locations on and off the Laboratory site. Brookhaven is currently operating six systems, five on site and one off site.
This milestone was achieved through the cooperation of the Department, regulatory agencies and the community. All worked together to ensure that the selected remedies would protect the public's health and the environment.
"We are excited to have reached this point in the Operable Unit III program," stated Scott Mallette, senior environmental advisor for the Department's Brookhaven Group, located on the Laboratory site. "We look forward to getting these additional groundwater treatment systems operating."
Next steps
Construction of a groundwater treatment system for VOCs on site at a former drum storage area is already under way. The design of a VOC-removal system to be located on Lab property at Middle Road is also under way.
A system at the Laboratory's southwestern boundary will be designed next. Additional design work remains for a tritium extraction system that will be installed on site at Temple Place. All groundwater treatment systems will be operating by 2006.
"The Department wishes to thank all community members who participated in the Operable Unit III project and commented on the proposed remedies," said Mallette.
The Record of Decision and Responsiveness Summary can be found online at www.oer.dir.bnl.gov/water/docs.html.