Brookhaven National Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy research facility covering about 8 square miles in Upton, New York. It was added to the EPA's National Priorities List in November 1989 and has been undergoing cleanup for over 30 years. The site sits over a sole source aquifer that supplies drinking water to municipal and private well users within 3 miles of the facility.
Contamination came from accidental spills and historical storage and disposal practices. The site contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and benzene in groundwater and soil. Heavy metals including mercury, lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc are present in sediment and surface water. Radioactive substances such as tritium, strontium-90, cesium-137, and plutonium-239/240 have been found in soil and groundwater. The laboratory is also investigating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 1,4-dioxane. Elevated mercury levels in Peconic River sediment have required repeated attention, including a supplemental removal in 2017.
The Department of Energy, the EPA, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation have worked together on cleanup since 1992. Nine Records of Decision cover ten operable units. Major actions include removing about 260 tons of PCB-contaminated soil, 252 tons of mercury-contaminated soil, and over 13,000 cubic yards of soil from disposal holes. Eleven groundwater pump-and-treat systems operate across the site, treating roughly 105 million gallons of contaminated groundwater each month. Soil cleanup levels have been met, and several operable units have completed their remedial action work. Two PFAS treatment systems are currently running as part of a Time Critical Removal Action after PFAS were detected in three of the laboratory's drinking water supply wells.
All operable units are considered protective of human health and the environment in the short term. However, groundwater migration is not yet stabilized, and three operable units still require work toward long-term protectiveness. Human exposure is currently assessed as under control. Construction has not been completed across the entire site, and a new five-year review is estimated for August through October 2026.
Community members can stay informed through the Community Advisory Council, which meets monthly to discuss site matters. The laboratory's website provides additional information and participation opportunities. The EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator and Remedial Project Manager are available to answer questions and help the public access site documents. A complete Administrative Record can be reviewed online or in person at the EPA's Superfund Records Center at 290 Broadway, 18th floor, in New York City.
