Urge Probe Of Lab

United States Representative Michael Forbes and Senator Alfonse D'Amato, declaring that they were "fed up" by contamination of groundwater at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, called last week for investigations by the Federal Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency into lab operations following the finding of high levels of radioactive tritium less than 100 feet from B.N.L.'s main nuclear reactor.

"While we have been informed by the lab that drinking water has not been affected," they wrote in a letter to Acting U.S. Secretary of Energy Charles B. Curtis, "it is part of a pattern with respect to groundwater contamination that has continued to exist at the lab over the past year. Quite frankly, we are fed up."

Lack Of Confidence

"We are not confident that Brookhaven National Laboratory has an adequate handle on the health and environmental sensitivities of the surrounding residential neighborhoods. This recent incident raises questions as to whether there is further contamination elsewhere at the lab and the lab's ability to detect and/or prevent such contamination."

"We believe that a full-scale, top-to-bottom review of the operations at Brookhaven National Laboratory needs to be undertaken by officials at the highest levels within the Department of Energy," they went on. "In addition, we believe that the High Flux Beam Reactor -- which is being investigated as a possible source of contamination -- should remain shut down until it is proven that it is not the source of this latest groundwater contamination."

Ongoing Problem

In a letter to the E.P.A. Administrator, Carol M. Browner, the Congressman and Senator wrote that "this is the third time in one year that B.N.L. has indicated significant groundwater problems emanating from the site. Obviously, something is very wrong. Due to the repeated and ongoing contamination problems, we urge you to send a senior official from the E.P.A. to B.N.L. to find out exactly what has occurred and insure that every step is taken to protect the health and safety of the surrounding residents and on site workers."

In a letter of response which Mr. Forbes made available, Mr. Curtis said that a D.O.E. "team" is being formed "to conduct a health and safety review to investigate the source of the tritium contamination and insure that the appropriate mitigative and corrective actions are identified and implemented as quickly as possible."

Reactor Still Shut

He also said that "the High Flux Beam Reactor, a possible source of the contamination. . . will remain shut down until the situation is satisfactorily understood and resolved by the Department of Energy and Brookhaven National Laboratory."

Suffolk Legislator Michael Caracciolo, a Wading River Republican whose district includes the lab, last week also called for the continued shutdown of the High Flux Beam Reactor at the lab. Mr. Caracciolo said that he was especially concerned about the tritium moving with the groundwater to houses near the lab. "I want the laboratory to get a handle on this," he said. "Then and only then should they be permitted to reopen the facility."

According to a lab press release, tritium beyond the E.P.A. and New York State drinking water standard was found in a test well near the High Flux Beam Reactor.