Environmental Restoration Projects was established in 1993 to complete Brookhaven National Laboratory's cleanup activities. We are responsible for the cleanup of legacy contamination that resulted from the early operation of Brookhaven National Laboratory as a national research center including the decommissioning of the nuclear reactors at the Laboratory that are no longer in operation.

Ongoing Environmental Restoration Projects activities are dominated by the decommissioning of the Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor (BGRR) and High Flux Beam Reactor (HFBR). Between 1993 and 2005, Environmental Restoration Projects and the Laboratory safely and successfully completed the construction phase of several environmental restoration and decommissioning projects spanning several broad areas including the Peconic River cleanup, groundwater remediation and contaminated soil cleanup.

By the end of 2005, several projects were completed at the BGRR involving the removal of contaminated structures, components and soil, and facility characterization. The HFBR was transferred to Environmental Restoration Projects in 2000, and this reactor is being prepared for decommissioning activities that will start in Fiscal Year 2008.

Brookhaven American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009

On March 31, 2009, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced $6 billion in new funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to accelerate environmental cleanup work and create thousands of jobs across 12 states – including a major investment in New York State.

“These investments will put Americans to work while cleaning up contamination from the cold war era,” said Secretary Chu. “It reflects our commitment to future generations as well as to help local economies get moving again.”

These projects and the new funding are managed by the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management, which is responsible for the risk reduction and cleanup of the environment, one of the largest, most diverse and technically complex environmental programs in the world.

Funding for New York (totaling $148 million) includes $42 million for Brookhaven National Laboratory to accelerate and complete the following projects:
Facilities/Areas Scope of Work Scheduled Completion
Former Hazardous Waste Management Facility Perimeter Area Remove and remediate the contaminated soils July 2009
801/811 Transfer Waste Lines Remove underground lines and remediate the soils Oct. 2009
Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor (BGRR) pile removal Remove graphite pile blocks Jan. 2010
High Flux Beam Reactor (HFBR) systems isolation Prepare Bldg. 750 for long-term surveillance and maintenance May 2010
Bldgs. 704 and 802 Fanhouses Remove all structures above ground and below ground and remediate soils Dec. 2010
Exhaust Stack Stack demolition and waste disposal July 2011

For further information about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, please visit the Department of Energy's Environmental Management website at EM Recovery.

Environmental remediation at Brookhaven National Laboratory is carried out under requirements of the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980. CERCLA requires that the selected cleanup remedy must protect human health and the environment. The clean-up remedy also must be cost-effective, comply with other laws, and technologies, and resource-recovery options.

Ongoing Environmental Restoration Projects Mission- Decontamination and Decommissioning (D&D) of BGRR and HFBR

Environmental Restoration Projects Vision

Environmental Restoration Projects (ERP) Vision is to deliver best-in-class performance in completing the Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor (BGRR) and High Flux Beam Reactor (HFBR) projects. ERP is committed to the safe, timely and cost effective completion of these projects, and through its actions, exemplifies this best-in-class standard as follows:

We recognize the value in completing the projects as urgently as possible, but never at the expense of worker health and safety or environmental protection. All project activities are planned and implemented, accordingly.

We will continue to foster the constructive working relationships that have been developed with the involved regulatory agencies and officials. These relationships are grounded by open, timely and honest communications, regulatory compliance, and consistently meeting regulatory commitments.

We will complete the projects with the participation of the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) community and other involved stakeholders.

ERP fosters a safety and completion-focused culture, and will continue to seek and deploy innovative strategies with the objective of surpassing both Laboratory and Department of Energy performance expectations. This Vision will only be realized through the commitment and involvement of the entire Team. We rely on each individual member of the ERP Team to meet the fundamental requirements of their appointed positions.

ERP’s managers provide and direct the resources required to safely do the job right the first time and meet the project schedule. They oversee the project work through direct observation and communication with the front line supervisors and hands-on physical workers, and take the time to consider and promptly respond to emergent issues and questions raised by any member of the ERP Team.

Front-line as well as hands-on physical workers will also follow procedures, work safely, do the job right the first time, and promptly identify issues requiring attention and follow-up action.

We will maintain a constant focus on and commitment to this Vision and to that end, we as individual members of the ERP Team will:

  • Take responsibility for our own personal safety, the protection of our coworkers and the environment.
  • Follow procedures, safety practices and regulations at all times.
  • Do the job right the first time.
  • Pay attention to detail because details are important.
  • STOP in the face of uncertainty or doubt.
  • Ask questions and identify issues and problems.

Brookhaven Graphite Research Reactor

The BGRR was the world's first research reactor constructed solely for the peaceful use of atomic energy. The BGRR operated from 1950 to 1968. The Record of Decision calling for the removal of the graphite pile and biological shield was approved in Fiscal Year 2005. This project including the removal of the graphite pile and biological shield and preparation of the BGRR reactor building for safe storage is scheduled to be complete in Fiscal Year 2010.

High Flux Beam Reactor

The HFBR is a research reactor that operated at Brookhaven National Laboratory between 1965 and 1996. The nuclear fuel was removed from the reactor and transported to another Department of Energy (DOE) in 1998. The HFBR was transferred to Environmental Restoration Projects in 2000 for surveillance and maintenance pending the development of a plan and schedule for its decommissioning. The DOE and the Laboratory led by Environmental Restoration Projects are working with local, state and federal regulatory agencies to determine course of action and requirements for HFBR decommissioning. More...

Fiscal Year 2005 Cleanup Milestones - Completion of Peconic River , Groundwater and Soil Cleanup Projects

Several major Brookhaven National Laboratory cleanup milestones were safely and successfully achieved by Environmental Restoration Projects in Fiscal Year 2005. These were major milestones in that they signified the completion of numerous cleanup projects , some of which were ongoing since 1993.

Peconic River and Sewage Treatment Plant Projects

These projects were completed under Operable Unit V. Operable Unit V is an area in the eastern-central portion of BNL. This area includes the Laboratory’s sewage treatment plant, an active facility used to process sewage from the Laboratory’s facilities. Operable Unit V also includes areas of the Peconic River impacted by past Laboratory operations, as well as sewer pipes and groundwater beneath the eastern portion of the Laboratory. The Record of Decision that documents the Operable Unit V cleanup requirements is included in the Administrative Record. More...

Groundwater Remediation Projects

The construction phase for several groundwater remediation projects was ongoing for several years and was completed in 2005. This work was completed under Operable Units I, III, IV, V, and VI. The major thrust of the construction phase was to build a fleet of treatment systems designed to safely remove and dispose of groundwater contamination that resulted from historical Laboratory operations. The Records of Decision that documents the cleanup requirements for these Operable Units is included in the Administrative Record. More...

Soil Projects

The soil remediation projects were ongoing for several years and were completed in Fiscal Year 2005. This work was completed under Operable Units I, II, IV and VII. These projects were primarily involved in the removal and disposal of contaminated soil. In limited instances, contaminated soil was stabilized on the Laboratory site. The Records of Decision that document the cleanup requirements for these Operable Units is included in the Administrative Record. More...

Long Term Response Actions

The post-construction, long-term operations, monitoring and reporting responsibilities that are part of the above projects were transferred to the Long Term Response Actions (LTRA) Group of the Laboratory’s Environmental Protection Division, (formerly called Environmental and Waste Management Services Division) at the end of Fiscal Year 2005. The LTRA Group’s responsibilities include the preparation, regulatory review and issuance of Five Year Reviews. More...

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Last Modified: August 6, 2009
Please forward all questions about this site to: Kathy Schoenig