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Title: Annual Performance Report April 2015 Through March 2016 for the Shiprock, New Mexico, Disposal Site

Abstract

This annual report evaluates the performance of the groundwater remediation system at the Shiprock, New Mexico, Disposal Site (Shiprock site) for the period April 2015 through March 2016. The Shiprock site, a former uranium-ore processing facility remediated under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act, is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management. This annual report is based on an analysis of groundwater quality and groundwater level data obtained from site monitoring wells and the groundwater flow rates associated with the extraction wells, drains, and seeps. Background The Shiprock mill operated from 1954 to 1968 on property leased from the Navajo Nation. Remediation of surface contamination, including stabilization of mill tailings in an engineered disposal cell, was completed in 1986. During mill operation, nitrate, sulfate, uranium, and other milling-related constituents leached into underlying sediments and contaminated groundwater in the area of the mill site. In March 2003, DOE initiated active remediation of groundwater at the site using extraction wells and interceptor drains. At that time, DOE developed a baseline performance report that established specific performance standards for the Shiprock site groundwater remediation system. The Shiprock site is divided into two distinct areas: the floodplain andmore » the terrace. The floodplain remediation system consists of two groundwater extraction wells, a seep collection drain, and two collection trenches (Trench 1 and Trench 2). The terrace remediation system consists of nine groundwater extraction wells, two collection drains (Bob Lee Wash and Many Devils Wash), and a terrace drainage channel diversion structure. All extracted groundwater is pumped into a lined evaporation pond on the terrace. Compliance Strategy and Remediation Goals As documented in the Groundwater Compliance Action Plan, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission–approved compliance strategy for the floodplain is natural flushing supplemented by active remediation. The contaminants of concern (COCs) at the site are ammonia (total as nitrogen), manganese, nitrate (nitrate + nitrite as nitrogen), selenium, strontium, sulfate, and uranium. The compliance standards for nitrate, selenium, and uranium are listed in Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 192. Regulatory standards are not available for ammonia, manganese, and sulfate; remediation goals for these constituents are either risk-based alternate cleanup standards or background levels. These standards and background levels apply only to the compliance strategy for the floodplain. The compliance strategy for the terrace is to eliminate exposure pathways at the washes and seeps and to apply supplemental standards in the western section.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. USDOE Office of Legacy Management (LM), Washington, DC (United States)
  2. Navarro Research and Engineering, Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
US Department of Energy (USDOE), Washington DC (United States). Office of Legacy Management (LM)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Legacy Management (LM), Office of Field Operations
OSTI Identifier:
1348851
Report Number(s):
S14467
DOE Contract Number:  
LM0000421
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES

Citation Formats

Kautsky, Mark, and Miller, David. Annual Performance Report April 2015 Through March 2016 for the Shiprock, New Mexico, Disposal Site. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.2172/1348851.
Kautsky, Mark, & Miller, David. Annual Performance Report April 2015 Through March 2016 for the Shiprock, New Mexico, Disposal Site. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1348851
Kautsky, Mark, and Miller, David. 2016. "Annual Performance Report April 2015 Through March 2016 for the Shiprock, New Mexico, Disposal Site". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1348851. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1348851.
@article{osti_1348851,
title = {Annual Performance Report April 2015 Through March 2016 for the Shiprock, New Mexico, Disposal Site},
author = {Kautsky, Mark and Miller, David},
abstractNote = {This annual report evaluates the performance of the groundwater remediation system at the Shiprock, New Mexico, Disposal Site (Shiprock site) for the period April 2015 through March 2016. The Shiprock site, a former uranium-ore processing facility remediated under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act, is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management. This annual report is based on an analysis of groundwater quality and groundwater level data obtained from site monitoring wells and the groundwater flow rates associated with the extraction wells, drains, and seeps. Background The Shiprock mill operated from 1954 to 1968 on property leased from the Navajo Nation. Remediation of surface contamination, including stabilization of mill tailings in an engineered disposal cell, was completed in 1986. During mill operation, nitrate, sulfate, uranium, and other milling-related constituents leached into underlying sediments and contaminated groundwater in the area of the mill site. In March 2003, DOE initiated active remediation of groundwater at the site using extraction wells and interceptor drains. At that time, DOE developed a baseline performance report that established specific performance standards for the Shiprock site groundwater remediation system. The Shiprock site is divided into two distinct areas: the floodplain and the terrace. The floodplain remediation system consists of two groundwater extraction wells, a seep collection drain, and two collection trenches (Trench 1 and Trench 2). The terrace remediation system consists of nine groundwater extraction wells, two collection drains (Bob Lee Wash and Many Devils Wash), and a terrace drainage channel diversion structure. All extracted groundwater is pumped into a lined evaporation pond on the terrace. Compliance Strategy and Remediation Goals As documented in the Groundwater Compliance Action Plan, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission–approved compliance strategy for the floodplain is natural flushing supplemented by active remediation. The contaminants of concern (COCs) at the site are ammonia (total as nitrogen), manganese, nitrate (nitrate + nitrite as nitrogen), selenium, strontium, sulfate, and uranium. The compliance standards for nitrate, selenium, and uranium are listed in Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 192. Regulatory standards are not available for ammonia, manganese, and sulfate; remediation goals for these constituents are either risk-based alternate cleanup standards or background levels. These standards and background levels apply only to the compliance strategy for the floodplain. The compliance strategy for the terrace is to eliminate exposure pathways at the washes and seeps and to apply supplemental standards in the western section.},
doi = {10.2172/1348851},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1348851}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}