Brookhaven National Laboratory Overview of Environmental Cleanup and Groundwater Restoration Projects

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1 Brookhaven National Laboratory Overview of Environmental Cleanup and Groundwater Restoration Projects SCC November, 2015 Managed for the U.S. Department of Energy by Brookhaven Science Associates Vincent Racaniello - Environmental Engineer Groundwater Protection Group Environmental Protection Division

2 Location 2

3 BNL History World War I - Camp Upton created as US Army training base Interwar Years Camp Upton dismantled, buildings sold at auction Civilian Conservation Corps replanted trees World War II Camp Upton re-opens as induction center, medical rehabilitation 1947 Brookhaven National Laboratory created 3

4 BNL Historical Perspective Photos from early years at BNL a car at south gate 1958 AGS Construction 4

5 Background on BNL The U.S. Department of Energy s only multi-program national lab in the Northeast Operated by Brookhaven Science Associates since 1998 Battelle-Stony Brook U. Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale 5

6 Brookhaven s Facilities 6

7 Environmental Time Line USGS studies on the BNL hydrogeology for AEC Environmental surveillance began soon after laboratory operations started Emphasis on radioactivity Air releases Surface water releases Potable water supply 1970 s and 80 s more emphasis on groundwater surveillance Nation-wide emphasis on environmental quality (USEPA created in 1970) Development of routine analytical procedures for common contaminants First detection of volatile organic compounds in groundwater at BNL 1980 BNL added to NYS Inactive Hazardous Waste Sites List 1989 BNL added to Federal National Priorities List (CERCLA) 1990 Start of BNL Environmental Restoration Program 1992 Federal Facilities Compliance Agreement finalized Interagency Agreement 7

8 Long Island aquifer system Unconsolidated sequence of sand, silt, clay, and gravel Late 1940 s USGS characterization of the BNL site for the Atomic Energy Commission Early 1990 s BNL/USGS characterization work to support protection and clean-up actions EPA Designated Sole Source Aquifer System 8

9 Groundwater Flow USEPA Designated Sole Source Aquifer System in

10 Common Terms Source Area = Location where a contaminant was released to the environment VOCs = Volatile Organic Compounds Examples: Gasoline, Solvents Radionuclides = Radioactive elements characterized by the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Examples: tritium [H-3], strontium-90 [Sr-90] Plume = A portion of the aquifer that has contaminants at concentrations above regulatory standards µg/l (micrograms per liter) Typical NYS drinking water standard for VOCs = 5 µg/l pci/l (picocuries per liter) Drinking water standard for tritium = 20,000 pci/l, Sr-90 = 8 pci/l 10

11 Soil and Groundwater Contamination at BNL Soil and Groundwater contamination were the result of: Previously accepted waste disposal practices: Disposal of chemicals and radiological materials in landfills, Chemical discharges to drywells, septic tanks, main BNL sanitary system Accidental spills Leaks from underground storage tanks and piping Improper storage Some contamination may be the result of Camp Upton activities 11

12 Groundwater Plumes 12

13 Groundwater Investigation Process Steps in groundwater investigation and clean-up A problem is identified (i.e., spill which reaches the groundwater, or a well is contaminated) Characterize through soil and groundwater sampling. Determine the horizontal and vertical extent of groundwater contamination Evaluate what to do based on the following Criteria: Protection of human health and environment Compliance with applicable rules and regulations Short-term effectiveness Long-term effectiveness and permanence Reduction of toxicity, mobility and volume Implementability Cost State and community acceptance Record of Decision (Input/acceptance from Regulatory Agencies and Public) 13

14 Groundwater Clean-up Goals & Objectives Remediate groundwater contaminants Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on-site and off-site Tritium and Strontium-90 (Sr-90) on-site Operate/maintain and monitor system performance and aquifer conditions until clean-up objectives have been met Prevent or minimize plume growth Reach drinking water standards (DWS) 14

15 Potential Groundwater Exposures - Risk Mitigation and Monitoring Private Wells Sampled (via SCDHS) private wells in 1996, no contaminants from BNL identified Most private wells are shallower than BNL plumes DOE provided funds to connect ~1,500 homes to public water due to potential risks and alleviate public concerns Small number of homeowners still using private wells for drinking water DOE offers free annual testing (via Suffolk County DHS) Air Discharges Expected discharges from treatment systems is evaluated during system design to determine need for off-gas treatment Soil Vapor Evaluation of possible vapor migration into buildings performed on VOC plumes BNL plumes go deeper as you move off-site Clean layer of groundwater between potential receptor and plume Where VOC source areas exist, no inhabited buildings Evaluate sites of future buildings during planning stage 15

16 Public Water Hookup Area BNL 16

17 Professions Involved in Environmental Work at BNL Geologists/Hydrogeologists Engineers (Environmental, Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical) Chemists Sampling Technicians Radiation and Health and Safety Specialists Well Drillers Construction Workers, Electricians, Plumbers Computer Programmers, Data Management Specialists Waste Management Specialists 17

18 Groundwater Characterization How does BNL characterize potential contaminant source areas and monitor groundwater quality? 18

19 Source Characterization - Soil Sampling Sampling Technicians, Hydrogeologists, Engineers 19

20 Source Characterization - Soil Gas Sampling (Chemists, Hydrogeologists, Engineers) 20

21 Groundwater Monitoring Extensive monitoring well network on-site and off-site. Insert map that shows locations of all monitoring wells Typical Year: 780 permanent and 40 temporary wells sampled ~2,000 sets of groundwater samples collected 21

22 Monitoring Groundwater Flow Directions BNL routinely measures water levels in monitoring wells Produce water table maps Track seasonal changes in water table position Information used to determine: Groundwater flow directions Groundwater flow velocity Water supply pumping and water recharge impact local groundwater flow directions 22

23 Measuring Water Levels in Wells 23

24 Tracking Position of the Water Table 7 24

25 Installing Groundwater Monitoring Wells (Well Drillers, Hydrogeologists, Engineers) 25

26 Drilling 26

27 Monitoring Well Construction 27

28 Completed Wells 28

29 Collecting Groundwater Samples (Sampling Technicians, Hydrogeologists) 29

30 Groundwater Cleanup How does BNL cleanup the groundwater? 30

31 Source Remediation 31

32 Source Remediation (Engineers and Construction, Transportation, and Waste Disposal Experts) 32

33 Cap Landfills (Engineers, Hydrogeologists) Caps prevent rainwater infiltration and the leaching of contaminants into the groundwater 33

34 Groundwater Remediation Characterize the extent of plume Determine best method to treat the groundwater Design groundwater treatment system Hydrogeologists Engineers Regulatory agencies

35 Computer Models (Simulations) are Used to Predict Changes in Plume Position and Concentrations 35

36 Install Wells to Remove the Contaminated Water Hydrogeologists Engineers Well Drillers Construction Workers Plumbers Electricians 36

37 Groundwater Extraction Well 37

38 Placement of groundwater extraction wells Extraction Wells 38

39 Groundwater Remediation 18 Remediation Systems 15 volatile organic compound (VOC) treatment systems 3 radionuclide (Sr-90 and tritium) treatment systems Systems located on-site and offsite Ten still operating 39

40 Treatment System 40

41 VOC Treatment - Activated Carbon 41

42 VOC Treatment - Air Stripping 42

43 Strontium-90 Treatment System Ion exchange resin treatment vessels 43

44 Remediation of HFBR Tritium Plume 44

45 VOC Remediation Progress 1997 to