Department of Energy: Information on the Tritium Leak and Contractor Dismissal at the Brookhaven National Laboratory
Abstract
As requested, we reviewed the events surrounding the leak of the radioactive element tritium from a research reactor at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and the resulting termination of Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), as the laboratory's contractor. BNL is a federally funded research facility located in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, that is owned by the Department of UUI is a not-for-profit corporation that has operated the laboratory since it was created in 1947. In January 1997, ground water samples taken by BNL Staff revealed concentrations of tritium that were twice the allowable federal drinking water standards -some samples taken later were 32 times the standard. The tritium was found to be leaking from the laboratory's High Flux Beam Reactor's spent-fuel pool into the aquifer that provides drinking water for nearby Suffolk County residents. In response to DOE'S investigation and other factors, we identified the events leading up to discovery of the tritium leak, evaluated why these events occurred, and determined the reasons used by the Secretary of Energy to terminate DOE'S contract with AUI.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 04, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA331640
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office