The role of plants on isolation barrier systems
Conference
·
OSTI ID:10123345
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
- UNC Chem-Nuclear Geotech, Grand Junction, CO (United States)
Surface barriers are used to isolate buried wastes from the environment. Most have been built for short-term isolation. The need to isolate radioactive wastes from the environment requires that the functional integrity of a barrier be maintained for thousands of years. Barrier function strongly depends on vegetation. Plants reduce wind and water erosion and minimize drainage, but may transport contaminants if roots extend into buried wastes. Our review of the function of plants on surface barriers focuses on the role of plants across mesic to arid environments and gives special consideration to studies done at Hanford. The Hanford Barrier Development Program was created to design and test an earthen cover system to inhibit water infiltration, plant and animal intrusion, and wind and water erosion, while isolating buried wastes for at least 1000 years. Studies at the Hanford have shown that plants will significantly interact with the barrier. Plants transpire soil water back into the atmosphere. Deep-rooted perennials best recycle water; soil water may drain through the root zone of shallow-rooted annuals. Lysimeter studies indicate that a surface layer of fine soil with deep-rooted plants precludes drainage even with three times normal precipitation. The presence of vegetation greatly reduces water and wind erosion, but deep-rooted plants pose a threat of biointrusion and contaminant transport. The Hanford barrier includes a buried rock layer and asphalt layer to prevent biointrusion.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 10123345
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-SA--24159; CONF-941124--18; ON: DE95007756
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Biointrusion test plan for the Permanent Isolation Surface Barrier Prototype
The role of vegetation in barriers and the prediction of soil water dynamics
Experimental plan and construction guidance for Hanford Protective Barrier Test at Hill AFB, Utah
Technical Report
·
Thu Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1994
·
OSTI ID:10148410
The role of vegetation in barriers and the prediction of soil water dynamics
Conference
·
Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994
· Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:7163776
Experimental plan and construction guidance for Hanford Protective Barrier Test at Hill AFB, Utah
Technical Report
·
Thu Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1994
·
OSTI ID:10147385