In fallout from charges of environmental negligence and safety lapses at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), the federal government unilaterally revoked its contract with the consortium of universities--including Harvard--which has managed the lab since 1946.

An environmental group has sued BNL and other groups may sue the universities involved.

"I'm sending a message to [BNL]--and to our facilities nationwide--that I will take appropriate action to rebuild trust and to make environment, safety and health a priority," Energy Secretary Federico Pena said in a May 2 statement. "There need not, and will not, be a trade-off between award winning scientific research and environment, safety and health."

The Department of Energy, who owns the lab, began an extensive review of the lab's environmental, health and safety policies after a 1994 fire at BNL's high flux beam reactor exposed several workers to radiation.

In January, the lab announced that it had discovered an underground spill of radioactive tritium beneath one of the lab's two nuclear reactors, which has now been shut down.

Outgoing Dean of the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences Engineering and Applied Sciences Paul C. Martin '52 currently chairs the board of directors of Associated Universities Inc. (AUI), the nine member, non-profit university consortium which manages the lab.

Martin defended the AUI yesterday against the charges leveled against the lab by the Department of Energy. While acknowledging some environmental concerns, Martin said that perhaps the AUI's greatest short-coming was in community relations.

"High priority has always been given to the health and safety of our neighbors and staff," Martin said. "The environment has always been high priority."

"We have not succeeded in community relations as well as we should have but we are determined to do that in the future," he said. "We regret that such drastic action was taken."

University spokesperson Alex Huppe dissociated the University yesterday from the lab, saying that Harvard has no official over-site of or connection to BNL.

"Harvard has no institutional connection with Brookhaven. Our official connection began in the late 1940s. We have not had a legal connection since then," Huppe said.

He also said that the lab's continued use and success was important for Harvard's scientific research.

AUI President and BNL's interim director Lyle Schwartz said, "I am sobered, but not surprised by the decision."

The department allowed Schwartz to continue to hold both positions as it rebids the contract to manage the lab. AUI had two years remaining on its contract.

Environmental activists were gratified by Pena's decision but said it was too long in coming.

"It took an incredible amount of courage and leadership on Pena's part," said William Smith, executive director of Fish Unlimited, an environmental activist group which has battled BNL for several years.