Projected Subsurface Migration of Radionuclides from Buried Idaho National Engineering Laboratory Transuranic Waste

Humphrey, T.G.; Smith, Thomas H.; Pope, Matthew C.

doi:10.13182/nt82-a32925

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Assuming there are no losses of water between 3 m and the water table, the range of estimates from these two studies would directly represent recharge rates. Assuming an average water content of about 0.2, the corresponding rates of convective transport would be 5 to 50 mm yr −1 Estimates of this magnitude do not explain the findings of contamination at considerable depths (Humphrey et al, 1982; Laney et al, 1988), suggesting that there are operative flow modes outside of those assumed in this analysis, or significant recharge that does not fall in this category.…”

Section: Dynamics Of Vadose Zone Flowmentioning

confidence: 64%

“…The waste buried at the SDA is in a variety of different physical forms that include containerized sludge, assorted solid wastes, empty contaminated drums, sewage sludge, nitrate salts, depleted uranium waste, and secondary sources such as contaminated asphalt and soil (Humphrey et al, 1982; Becker et al, 1998, p. 3‐38–3‐42). The waste is packaged in a variety of containers, such as steel boxes, concrete casks, steel drums, plywood boxes, cardboard boxes, and other containers (Becker et al, 1998, p. 6‐2).…”

Section: Contaminant Transportmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hydraulic and Geochemical Framework of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory Vadose Zone

Nimmo

Rousseau²,

Perkins

et al. 2004

Vadose Zone Journal

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Questions of major importance for subsurface contaminant transport at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) include (i) travel times to the aquifer, both average or typical values and the range of values to be expected, and (ii) modes of contaminant transport, especially sorption processes. The hydraulic and geochemical framework within which these questions are addressed is dominated by extreme heterogeneity in a vadose zone and aquifer consisting of interbedded basalts and sediments. Hydraulically, major issues include diverse possible types of flow pathways, extreme anisotropy, preferential flow, combined vertical and horizontal flow, and temporary saturation or perching. Geochemically, major issues include contaminant mobility as influenced by redox conditions, the concentration of organic and inorganic complexing solutes and other local variables, the interaction with infiltrating waters and with the contaminant source environment, and the aqueous speciation of contaminants such as actinides. Another major issue is the possibility of colloid transport, which inverts some of the traditional concepts of mobility, as sorbed contaminants on mobile colloids may be transported with ease compared with contaminants that are not sorbed. With respect to the goal of minimizing aquifer concentrations of contaminants, some characteristics of the vadose zone are essentially completely favorable. Examples include the great thickness (200 m) of the vadose zone, and the presence of substantial quantities of fine sediments that can retard contaminant transport both hydraulically and chemically. Most characteristics, however, have both favorable and unfavorable aspects. For example, preferential flow, as promoted by several notable features of the vadose zone at the INEEL, can provide fast, minimally sorbing pathways for contaminants to reach the aquifer easily, but it also leads to a wide dispersal of contaminants in a large volume of subsurface material, thus increasing the opportunity for dilution and sorption.

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Section: Dynamics Of Vadose Zone Flowmentioning

confidence: 64%

Section: Contaminant Transportmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydraulic and Geochemical Framework of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory Vadose Zone

Nimmo

Rousseau²,

Perkins

et al. 2004

Vadose Zone Journal

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show abstract

“…Early modeling studies of subsurface contaminant transport at the SDA by Pope et al, (1982), Humphrey, et al, (1982), Mizell et al (1983) predicted that contaminants would only move a few meters in a time frame of ten thousand years. Environmental monitoring at the RWMC, however, has confirmed that organic contaminants and certain actinide elements have migrated a significant distance into the vadose zone beneath the SDA in less than thirty years (Laney, et al, 1988).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A modeling study of water flow in the vadose zone beneath the Radioactive Waste Management Complex

Baca¹,

Magnuson²,

Nguyen³

et al. 1992

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Simplified Assessment Methodology of Radionuclide Contamination for Subsurface Soil

2022

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Projected Subsurface Migration of Radionuclides from Buried Idaho National Engineering Laboratory Transuranic Waste

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

Hydraulic and Geochemical Framework of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory Vadose Zone

Hydraulic and Geochemical Framework of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory Vadose Zone

A modeling study of water flow in the vadose zone beneath the Radioactive Waste Management Complex

Simplified Assessment Methodology of Radionuclide Contamination for Subsurface Soil

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