In response to extensive community input, the U.S. Department of Energy and Brookhaven continue to review alternative options for cleanup up contaminated sediment in the Peconic River, and expect to field-test several of these technologies following community roundtable sessions this fall.

Original cleanup plans for the riverbed on and near the Laboratory site called for excavating sediment containing elevated levels of silver, mercury, copper, DDD and PCBs, and then restoring the wetland areas. Based on community feedback gathered during several roundtable and information sessions, however, the Department and the Lab decided to re-evaluate those plans and see if there might be a less-disruptive option that would still meet cleanup standards set by the Lab’s regulatory agencies.

Last December, the Lab held a workshop designed to identify alternative technologies for use in the river. Since that time, laboratory staff has reviewed several of these technologies to judge their appropriateness for conditions in the Peconic River, their ability to minimize disruption of the existing ecosystem, and their prior performance in other locations. Based on this initial technical review, additional input from community members, and discussions with regulatory agencies, the Department has identified several innovative technologies worth further evaluation.

The next step involves additional data-gathering and screening studies to evaluate whether these technologies will be effective in cleaning up the river contaminants found at Brookhaven. A series of community roundtable sessions will be scheduled this fall to discuss detailed plans for the technology pilot projects, including their locations and evaluation criteria.

Community feedback from these roundtables will be an integral part of the decision-making process. Detailed information on roundtable times and locations will be provided in a separate mailing once they are set.

Fact sheets explaining the targeted technologies can be found at www.bnl.gov/erd/ou5doc.html, or can be requested by calling Kathy Gurski at (631) 244-7459.