High Flux Beam Reactor Decommissioning
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is planning the
decommissioning of the High Flux Beam Reactor (HFBR), a small research reactor
that was permanently shut down by DOE in 1999 after being operated on the
Lab site from 1965 through
1996.
With safety as its top priority, DOE and Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL)
will decommission the
HFBR in a manner that protects workers, the public, and the environment.
The decommissioning is being conducted under the Federal Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). In 1992, an
Interagency Agreement (IAG) among the DOE, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation became effective. The IAG provides the overall framework
for conducting environmental restoration activities at BNL. Structures
that will be addressed as part of the HFBR
decommissioning project include the confinement building, which is the
recognizable hemispherical dome-shaped building often seen in photographs,
along with several ancillary structures. Together these buildings are known
as the HFBR complex. All of these buildings are located within the
central portion of the BNL site. During the past several years, many interim
cleanup
actions were undertaken to ensure the facility is in a safe and stable condition. Detailed
sampling and analysis activities were completed and a
Feasibility Study
was prepared to
document the site characteristics and the evaluation of remedial
alternatives for the decommissioning project.
The Feasibility Study results were used to prepare a
Proposed
Remedial Action Plan (Proposed Plan). The Proposed Plan identifies the
preferred alternative and the rationale for its choice, and provides the
community with concise, yet complete information on the project. The
public is encouraged to submit comments on the Proposed Plan during the
formal comment period to help ensure
that community expectations are considered in selecting the remedy for
the HFBR. After the public comment period ends, DOE will review public
comments and make a final decision on the cleanup remedy. A
"responsiveness summary," which compiles the public comments and DOE's
responses to them, will be part of a Record of Decision that documents the
final cleanup agreement, and will be included on this website.
Project Schedule
- Feasibility Study & Proposed Plan Issued -
Thursday, January 10, 2008
- Public Comment Period - Thursday, January 10, 2008 -
Monday, March 17, 2008
- Information Sessions to learn more about the Proposed
Plan - Tuesday, March 4, 2008, noon - 2 p.m., Berkner Hall, Room D & 7 - 9
p.m., Berkner Hall, Room B, BNL
- Public Meeting - Thursday, March 6, 2008, 7 - 9 p.m., Large
Conference Room, Medical Dept., Bldg. 490, BNL
Please note: All visitors to BNL age 16 and older must
present photo identification for admission to the Laboratory. |
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For additional information, contact
John Carter
Director, Community Affairs
U.S. Department of Energy
(631) 344-5195
Jeanne D'Ascoli
Community Relations Manager
Brookhaven National Laboratory
(631) 344-2277
Peter Genzer
Asst. Manager, Media & Communications
Brookhaven National Laboratory
(631) 344-3174
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Last Modified: February 1, 2008 Please forward all questions about this site to:
Kathy Schoenig
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