Special Analysis: Impact of Updated GSA Flow Model on E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility Groundwater Performance

Hamm, L.L.; Aleman, S.E.; Danielson, Thomas; Butcher, B.

doi:10.2172/1504627

“…The results of the study showed that simulated and vadose zone plume concentrations are reasonably consistent and that the phased operation of ET 1 and ET 2 is likely to ensure that performance objectives are met. This conclusion was later confirmed by the Special Analysis of the impact of the updated GSA flow model on E-Area groundwater performance (Hamm et al 2018)…”

Section: Engineered Trenchmentioning

confidence: 69%

FY2019 Performance Assessment Annual Review for the E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility

Wohlwend

¹

,

Butcher

²

,

Dixon

³

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Savannah River Site (SRS) E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility (ELLWF) consists of six types of disposal units described in the Performance Assessment (PA) (WSRC, 2008): Low Activity Waste Vault (LAWV), Intermediate Level Vault (ILV), Trenches [Slit Trenches (STs), Engineered Trenches (ETs), and Component-in-Grout (CIG) Trenches], and Naval Reactor Component Disposal Areas (NRCDAs). The ELLWF is a part of the Solid Waste Management Facility (SWMF). SWMF is managed and operated by the SRS Management and Operations prime contractor, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS). Within SRNS, the Solid Waste Management (SWM) organization is responsible for operating the SWMF, and the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is the technical agency responsible for preparing and maintaining the PA. SWMF operations have been performed at SRS since 1952. The mission of the SWMF is to provide storage, processing, disposal, and shipment of radioactive, hazardous, and mixed waste. The SWMF is committed to treat, store, and dispose of these waste products in a manner that protects the environment and the health and safety of the facility worker, the co-located worker, and the offsite general public. Wastes handled in the SWMF include low level waste, transuranic waste, hazardous waste, Toxic Substances Control Act waste, and mixed waste (containing both hazardous and radioactive constituents). SRS low-level waste management at ELLWF is regulated under Department of Energy (DOE) Order 435.1 (DOE 1999a) and is authorized under a Disposal Authorization Statement (DAS) as a federal permit. The original DAS was issued by Department of Energy-Headquarters (DOE-HQ) on September 28, 1999 (DOE 1999b) for the operation of the ELLWF and the Saltstone Disposal Facility. Those portions of that DAS applicable to the ELLWF were superseded by Revision 1 of the

show abstract

“…Although CA-related work completed in FY2019 provides indications that the conclusions of the CA are still valid, the 2010 SRS CA should be updated upon revision of the SRS PA(s) to address the number of proposed changes to inventories and sources and model improvements accumulated since the 2010 CA. SRNL-STI-2018-00624, Revision 0 (Hamm et al 2018) CA impact TBD. GW flow directions used in estimating radionuclide transport to surface water (i.e., streams and Savannah River) will need to be updated in the next CA revision.…”

Section: Changes Potentially Affecting the Pa Ca Das Or Rwmbmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An SA was issued in December 2018 for the E-Area LLWF entitled Impact of Updated GSA Flow Model on E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility Groundwater Performance (Hamm et al 2018). The 2018 GSA flow model had been updated using 20 years of new hydrologic field data and model calibration methods that employed mathematical optimization software.…”

Section: Cumulative Effect Of Changesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Savannah River Site Composite Analysis (FY2019 Annual Review)

Stagich

¹

,

Butcher

²

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This document provides the Department of Energy (DOE) Order 435.1, Radioactive Waste Management (DOE 1999c) required Annual Review for the Savannah River Site (SRS) Composite Analysis (CA). Progress made to-date toward addressing the secondary issue from the LFRG review of the 2010 SRS CA has focused primarily upon inventory estimate improvements. Inventory impacts dose in a linear fashion and reduces the uncertainty with the CA conclusions. Maintenance items are addressed, as funding allows, based on the relative risk associated with meeting the performance objectives. Currently, there is minimal risk in exceeding the DOE 100 mrem/yr CA primary dose limit or the DOE 30 mrem/yr dose constraint (administrative limit). Proposed activities, discoveries, new information and changes potentially affecting the 2010 SRS CA are documented in this and earlier Annual Summary reports, and a consolidated list of changes since the 2010 CA is documented in this report. The impact to the CA of changes arising from these new PA baselines is expected to be minor for the following reasons: The primary contributors to the SRS CA dose impact at the UTR POA are the H-Canyon and Mixed Waste Management Facility (MWMF), contributing 68% and 9%, respectively, to the dose impact at that POA. The combined contribution to the UTR dose impact from all PA's (SDF, E-Area LLWF, FTF and HTF) is ~2% of this total. The 2010 SRS CA model validation performed indicates that the CA projected dose, while generally conservative, provides a reasonable representation of the maximum annual doses. Doses evaluated are well below the SRS established 15 mrem/yr administrative limit (Crapse et al. 2011). Based on the assessment presented within this annual review and collective engineering judgement, the conclusions of the 2010 SRS CA remain valid and there is reasonable assurance that SRS will meet the performance objectives delineated in DOE Order 435.1. The 2010 SRS CA should be updated to incorporate PA changes, proposed changes to inventories and sources and model improvements accumulated since the 2010 CA. The timing will be dependent on the completed of PA revisions.

show abstract

“…STI-2018-00624 (Hamm et. al., 2018) The results of this SA provide increased confidence that the planned PA revision will produce acceptable GW limits…”

Section: Srnl-mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pending PA annual review affirms that the supporting studies performed in FY2019 do not alter the conclusions of the ELLWF PA (WSRC, 2008) and that there is a reasonable expectation that the ELLWF will meet the performance objectives delineated in DOE Order 435.1. New groundwater flow predictions resulted in the initiation of an SA (Hamm et al, 2018), and measures have been introduced to maintain assurance that performance objectives will continue to be met (see Table 1-1). The number of proposed changes to data, models and operational plans for the ELLWF since the 2008 PA were deemed sufficient to warrant a revision.…”

Section: Completementioning

confidence: 99%

FY2019 Performance Assessment Annual Review for the E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility

Wohlwend

¹

,

Butcher

²

,

Dixon

³

et al. 2020

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Savannah River Site (SRS) E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility (ELLWF) consists of six types of disposal units described in the Performance Assessment (PA) (WSRC, 2008): Low Activity Waste Vault (LAWV), Intermediate Level Vault (ILV), Trenches [Slit Trenches (STs), Engineered Trenches (ETs), and Component-in-Grout (CIG) Trenches], and Naval Reactor Component Disposal Areas (NRCDAs). The ELLWF is a part of the Solid Waste Management Facility (SWMF). SWMF is managed and operated by the SRS Management and Operations prime contractor, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS). Within SRNS, the Solid Waste Management (SWM) organization is responsible for operating the SWMF, and the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is the technical agency responsible for preparing and maintaining the PA. SWMF operations have been performed at SRS since 1952. The mission of the SWMF is to provide storage, processing, disposal, and shipment of radioactive, hazardous, and mixed waste. The SWMF is committed to treat, store, and dispose of these waste products in a manner that protects the environment and the health and safety of the facility worker, the co-located worker, and the offsite general public. Wastes handled in the SWMF include low level waste, transuranic waste, hazardous waste, Toxic Substances Control Act waste, and mixed waste (containing both hazardous and radioactive constituents). SRS low-level waste management at ELLWF is regulated under Department of Energy (DOE) Order 435.1 (DOE 1999a) and is authorized under a Disposal Authorization Statement (DAS) as a federal permit. The original DAS was issued by Department of Energy-Headquarters (DOE-HQ) on September 28, 1999 (DOE 1999b) for the operation of the ELLWF and the Saltstone Disposal Facility. Those portions of that DAS applicable to the ELLWF were superseded by Revision 1 of the

show abstract

Special Analysis: Impact of Updated GSA Flow Model on E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility Groundwater Performance

Cited by 13 publications

References 6 publications

FY2019 Performance Assessment Annual Review for the E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility

FY2019 Performance Assessment Annual Review for the E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility

Savannah River Site Composite Analysis (FY2019 Annual Review)

FY2019 Performance Assessment Annual Review for the E-Area Low-Level Waste Facility

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About