Environmental Management Directorate

Building 51
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000
Phone 631 344-8192
Fax 631 344-5844
grigoletto@bnl.gov

managed by Brookhaven Science Associates
for the U.S. Department of Energy

Monday, December 17, 2001

Dear Peconic River Working Group:

Thank you for participating in our first meeting on December 6. At that meeting we introduced a lot of important material and good discussion was generated about key issues related to the cleanup of Peconic River sediment. This email recalls some highlights from our first meeting, informs you about an important interim meeting, and announces our next standing meeting. Also, we realize that some of you have been following this project very closely and have a good understanding of past conditions and what we are trying to achieve. Some of you have not been this involved and may desire to have an opportunity to be briefed on the overall project. If you would like to have this sort of briefing, please contact me so that it can be arranged.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR FIRST MEETING

* Opening remarks were made by Ken White to define the purpose of the working group and to introduce key contacts at the Laboratory.

* I asked that you review the written charter and return review comments, if any, to me. Please try to return comments by January 7, 2002 so the charter can be finalized.

* Skip Medeiros, the Group Manager responsible for the Peconic River cleanup efforts, reviewed the key data points for mercury and cesium and addressed questions/comments regarding the interpretation of the data. He also "walked through" notable points in the two white papers related to the planned risk assessment and the establishment of new cleanup goals. The white papers were among the handouts found on the tables outside the meeting room.

* Kevin Shaw, one of the project engineers, discussed the work plan for the Electrochemical technology. Discussion related to this work plan sought to understand and evaluate the potential of this technology to meet the requirements of cleanup and the expectations of the stakeholders.

INTERIM MEETING

An interim meeting is scheduled as follows:

Peconic Working Group Interim Meeting on January 7, 2002 from 6:30-8:30pm at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Berkner Hall, Room "B".

Included on the agenda will be a review of pilot study and sediment trap work plans including further evaluation of electrochemical remediation viability, and Risk Assessment protocols.

Prior to the meeting on January 7, please review the white papers and work plans distributed at our December 6 meeting.

OUR NEXT STANDING MEETING

Our next standing meeting will take place on January 22, 2002 from 6:30-8:30pm here at

Brookhaven National Laboratory in Berkner Hall, Room "B".

Thank you once again for participating on the Peconic River Working Group. If you have any questions, please contact me at your convenience:

Keith Grigoletto
email to: grigoletto@bnl.gov
(631) 344-8192

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