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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Bounding potential diesel exhaust impacts produced from North Ramp construction

Conference ·
OSTI ID:127252
;  [1]
  1. INTERA Inc./CRWMS M&O, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
Diesel exhaust that may be produced during construction of the Yucca Mountain Project`s Exploratory Studies Facility (ESF) North Ramp will introduce potentially permanent chemical constituents into the geochemical system. Therefore, the potential impacts from diesel exhaust constituents which may be retained permanently underground should be bounded. To provide some guidance, conservative bounding calculations have been used to predict the potential for peturbation to the existing geochemical environment. A local peturbation of 10% of ambient conditions, which is well below the observed natural variations, has been assumed conservatively as the limit for negligible impact to waste isolation. The geochemical peturbations at the closest potential waste package have been computed using estimates of the quantity and distribution of each constituent deposited in the North Ramp, and a three-dimensional advection-dispersion transport calculation. Based on estimated usage of diesel equipment, calculations suggest that, if exhaust constituent concentrations are at or below the low average values, there is minimal risk to the waste isolation capabilities of the site.
OSTI ID:
127252
Report Number(s):
CONF-9504179--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English