The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and N.Y. State Department of Environmental Conservation are now reviewing the planned cleanup of Brookhaven Lab's sewage treatment plant. The Department of Energy recently sent a decision document to these agencies for their approval.
The Department plans to excavate localized areas within the sewage plant. These areas contain elevated levels of mercury and cesium. The excavated material will be disposed of off site.
Upon approval by the regulatory agencies, the Laboratory will prepare and obtain approval on a "remedial action work plan" describing in detail the planned cleanup actions. Brookhaven will then begin excavation of the contaminated sewage plant soils. The Laboratory hopes to receive this approval in spring 2001.
A second decision document will address Peconic River sediments on the Laboratory site. This document will be drafted after a proposed cleanup plan is released and a public comment period is held in summer 2001. See the article at left for more.