Groundwater Protection Group - Peconic River Annual Reports

The Peconic River receives discharges from the Lab's sewage treatment plant. During the remedial investigation, elevated levels of heavy metals (such as mercury, copper, and silver), organic chemicals (such as polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs), and low levels of pesticides (such as DDD, a product of DDT degradation) and radionuclides were detected in Peconic River sediment.

A cleanup of the river was initiated in May 2004 and completed in May of 2005. Approximately 14,025 linear feet (2.66 miles) of the Peconic River were remediated between the BNL Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and just downstream of Manor Road in Manorville, NY encompassing a riverbed area of approximately 19.8 acres.

During January 2011 the Peconic River Sediment Trap, located adjacent to Z path and upstream of stream gauging station HQ, was removed as required by the Peconic River ROD. Between November 2010 and January 2011 supplemental sediment was also removed from the PR-WC-06, Sediment Trap, and PR-SS-15.

The cleanup achieved the goals for average mercury concentrations established in the ROD both on and offsite.

Surveillance and Maintenance Plan

Soil and Peconic River Surveillance and Maintenance Plan Revision 1 (3/13) (PDF)

The Soil and Peconic River Surveillance and Maintenance Plan was prepared in support of post-remedial activities for surface projects at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), in Suffolk County, New York. The purpose of this plan is to monitor the long-term effectiveness of soil and sediment remedial actions undertaken in Operable Units (OU) I, III, V, g-2 and the Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer (BLIP) source area caps, the Waste Loading Area (WLA), and the A/B Waste Transfer Lines at BNL and to assess whether significant impacts to human health, ecological receptors and/or the environment remain. This plan was originally issued in May 2006 as the "Operable Unit I Soils and Operable Unit V Long-Term Monitoring and Maintenance Plan." In March 2013, the plan was revised to include additional areas.