Lab cleans up its act
It's another good environmental report for Brookhaven National Lab
By Michael White
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have given themselves a virtual A-plus in the lab's annual environmental report, continuing a years-long trend of marked improvements in air and water quality at and around the 5,000-acre site.
"The lab has been making great strides in improving its environmental performance," said Robert Lee, who oversees environmental compliance at the lab, which had come under fire in past decades over a spotty track record. "It's a far cry from 15 years ago."
The report noted, among other items, a 22 percent decrease in chemical spills between 2006 and 2007, from 27 to 21 spills. Most of the spills involved less than a gallon of petroleum-based products or antifreeze, according to the report.
Researchers also found that Peconic River water quality at and near the site was indistinguishable from water tested from locations not influenced by the lab. Levels of mercury found in Peconic River fish also continued to decline in 2007, according to the report.
The review was prepared using data from in-house researchers as well as the findings of outside auditors, Mr. Lee said.
"The laboratory puts a lot of effort into the preparation of the report, as well as monitoring programs that collect the data," he said. "And the data continues to show that the laboratory's operations have minimal to no impact on the environment."
Adrienne Esposito of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment advocacy group said the 2007 report -- and others from recent years -- illustrate "a change in culture" at the Upton lab.
"I've been doing this since 1998 and in 10 years I have to say a tremendous amount of progress has been made," she said. "They have shifted their mind-set to be protective of groundwater and air, and that's great news. It's good news for their employees and the general public and for future generations.
"We like seeing reports that illustrate great improvements, and that's what this thing does."
The 2007 Site Environmental Report can be found online at http://www.bnl.gov/ewms/ser/.
