Tank 241-SX-115 Leak Assessment
Tank 241-SX-115 (SX-115) is one of 149 underground single-shell tanks (SST) used for the storage of radioactive wastes at the Hanford Site near Richland, Washington. The status of Tank SX-115 today is Interim Stabilized/Interim Isolated. It contains approximately 12,000 gal of dry sludge (no interstitial liquid). Tank SX-115 was built in 1953-1954 and was put into service on August 31, 1958. In March 1965 Tank SX-115 was found to have leaked about 50,000 gal of nitrate solution into the sediments beneath the tank. The remaining solution was pumped to another tank, a small air purge was introduced, and the nearly empty tank was allowed to dry through self-heating. In August 1965 10 test wells were drilled around the tank. Data from these wells and from the already existing drywells and materials were used in earlier studies to define and characterize the contaminated area under the tank. About 60% the leaked material was accounted for. It appears possible that part of the 40% not accounted for may have penetrated deeper into the sediments below the tank. Evidence to support this inference is the relatively high level of radioactivity in Lateral 3 that persisted from 1969 through 1987. If it is necessary to confirm this and to fully define the extent of contamination before final plans for remediation are made, core drilling at an angle under the tank will be required. Radionuclides remaining in the leakage plume as of January 1, 1992, are approximately 21,000 Ci, almost all of it {sup 137}Cs.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-87RL10930
- OSTI ID:
- 10117476
- Report Number(s):
- WHC-MR--0302; ON: DE93005012
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
053002
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540230
CESIUM 132
CONTAMINATION
GAMMA RADIATION
HANFORD RESERVATION
INVENTORIES
LEAKS
MONITORING
NITRATES
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SAFETY
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SEDIMENTS
STORAGE FACILITIES
TANKS
WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE