Peconic River Project The Peconic River receives discharges from
the Lab's sewage treatment plant. During the remedial
investigation, elevated levels of heavy metals (such as mercury,
copper, and silver), organic chemicals (such as polychlorinated
biphenyls, or PCBs), and low levels of pesticides (such as DDD,
a product of DDT degradation) and radionuclides were detected in
Peconic River sediment. Most of the contaminants were found in
the top six inches. As expected, contaminants are more prevalent
in areas where more sediment is deposited by the river and
decrease with distance downriver. Last update on: February 22,
2008.