Site characterization program at the radioactive waste management complex of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory

McElroy, Deborah L.; Rawson, S.A.; Hubbell, Joel M.; Minkin, S.C.; Baca, R.G.; Vigil, M.J.; Bonzon, C.J.; Landon, J.L.; Laney, P.T.

doi:10.2172/5435860

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…According to Hughes (1993), AB sediment is mainly very fine sand and silt deposited in a floodplain environment. According to McElroy et al (1989), this sediment is primarily loess. At least one period of loess accumulation in interbed AB, probably about 150000 to 140000 yr ago, has been identified (Forman et al, 1993).…”

Section: Hydrologic Frameworkmentioning

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

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

Section: Hydrologic Frameworkmentioning

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

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These investigations have included both field and modeling studies. One such field study consisted of a vadose zone monitoring program, which was conducted to characterize infiltration at the SDA (McElroy, 1990). From 1985 to 1987, a network of vadose zone instruments were installed at the SDA.…”

Section: Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The analysis by McElroy (1990) indicated that a substantial portion of the cumulative precipitation infiltrated into the sediments and that the infiltration patterns at the SDA may be highly variable. Additional monitoring of the two NATs in 1992 and 1993 confirmed the earlier findings of both substantial and variable infiltration (McElroy, 1993).…”

Section: Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

UNSAT-H infiltration model calibration at the Subsurface Disposal Area, Idaho National Engineering Laboratory

Martian¹

1995

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Review of the transport of selected radionuclides in the interim risk assessment for the Radioactive Waste Management Complex, Waste Area Group 7 Operable Unit 7-13/14, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho

Rousseau¹,

Landa²,

Nimmo³

et al. 2005

Scientific Investigations Report

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Site characterization program at the radioactive waste management complex of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory

Cited by 3 publications

References 6 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

UNSAT-H infiltration model calibration at the Subsurface Disposal Area, Idaho National Engineering Laboratory

Review of the transport of selected radionuclides in the interim risk assessment for the Radioactive Waste Management Complex, Waste Area Group 7 Operable Unit 7-13/14, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About