Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is an active Department of Energy research facility in Livermore, California. It has been on the EPA's National Priorities List since 1987. Contamination came from decades of weapons design and nuclear research, including spills, unlined disposal pits, leaking tanks, and hazardous materials handling that began after the U.S. Navy transferred the site to the Atomic Energy Commission in 1951. Regional water officials found on-site and off-site groundwater contamination in 1983.
The site contains 28 identified substances of concern in soil and groundwater. These include volatile organic compounds such as benzene, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, toluene, and xylene. Metals such as chromium, chromium(VI), lead, and manganese are also present, along with nitrate, sulfate, and tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen. People can be exposed by ingesting or touching contaminated soil or groundwater, or by inhaling contaminants in vapor.
Cleanup began with the excavation and removal of more than 18,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil from disposal pits and a closed landfill. The lab then built multiple groundwater treatment plants and soil vapor extraction systems. Today the site runs 27 groundwater treatment facilities, 8 soil vapor treatment facilities, and nearly 100 extraction wells. Treated water is reinjected into the aquifer or discharged under a permit. Physical remedy construction finished in August 2007, and the site entered an operations and maintenance phase. The Department of Energy owns and operates the facility and is responsible for remediation. EPA serves as the lead regulatory agency under the federal cleanup law known as CERCLA. A 2014 solar energy project and solar-powered groundwater treatment units have been incorporated into site operations.
Current assessments show human exposure is under control with no unacceptable exposure pathways identified. Contaminated groundwater migration is stabilized and there is no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site has restricted access and is limited to industrial use. Zoning restrictions and institutional controls prevent residential use. A 2017 EPA review found that the vapor intrusion pathway, where contaminated soil gas can enter buildings, was not adequately characterized. The Department of Energy has since launched a prioritized sampling effort, including indoor air screening in about 20 facility buildings. The most recent five-year review was completed in September 2022. The next review is expected between September and November 2027.
Community members can get involved through several channels. Tri-Valley CAREs, a local group serving as the Technical Assistance Grantee for the site, provides support to residents seeking information. The public can also visit the lab's environmental information website at enviroinfo.llnl.gov/tours for public tour information. The site's Administrative Record is available online at www.erd.llnl.gov. EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator and Remedial Project Manager can direct people to documents and answer questions.
