Nevada National Security Site 2018 Data Report: Groundwater Monitoring Program, Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site
- Nevada National Security Site, Nye County, NV (United States); Mission Support and Test Services LLC, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
This report is a compilation of the groundwater and waste cell leachate sampling results from the Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site (RWMS) at the Nevada National Security Site, Nye County, Nevada. Groundwater samples from the aquifer immediately below the Area 5 RWMS have been collected and analyzed and static water levels have been measured in this aquifer since 1993. These groundwater data are evaluated for evidence of effects on the aquifer related to the Area 5 RWMS. Leachate from one lined mixed waste cell at the Area 5 RWMS (Cell 18) has been sampled since the cell opened in 2011. These leachate data are analyzed for hazardous contaminants to determine appropriate leachate handling and disposal. A second lined mixed waste cell at the Area 5 RWMS (Cell 25) began receiving waste in August 2018, but no leachate samples were collected or analyzed during 2018. This report includes data from 2014 through 2018 but focuses on the 2018 data. During 2018, groundwater samples were collected and static water levels were measured at three wells surrounding the Area 5 RWMS. Groundwater samples were collected at wells UE5PW-1, UE5PW-2, and UE5PW-3 on March 6 and August 14, 2018. Static water levels were measured at each of these wells on March 5, June 4, August 13, and October 25, 2018. Groundwater monitoring at the Area 5 RWMS complies with Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 264.97, General ground-water monitoring requirements, and 40 CFR 264.98, Detection monitoring program. Groundwater samples were analyzed for indicators of contamination (pH, specific conductance [SC], total organic carbon, total organic halides, and tritium) and, beginning in 2017, toxicity characteristic metals (arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, and silver). General water chemistry parameters (calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, bicarbonate, and silicate) were also measured. Results from samples collected in 2018 are within the limits for each parameter established by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Permit NEV HW0101, Revision 6. Data from the shallow aquifer indicate there has been no measurable impact to the uppermost aquifer from the Area 5 RWMS, and there were no significant changes in measured groundwater parameters compared to previous years. Leachate from lined mixed waste Cell 18 drains into a sump and is pumped into an above ground tank. Samples are collected from the tank when the leachate volume approaches the 3,000-gallon tank capacity. During 2018, leachate samples were collected on March 1, 2018 and August 1, 2018. All leachate analysis results are below the regulatory levels for toxicity characteristic contaminants (40 CFR 261.24) and below the investigation levels for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), tritium, pH, and SC specified in RCRA Permit NEV HW0101, Revision 6. No quantifiable PCB levels were detected in any leachate sample. Based on the leachate analysis results, RCRA Permit NEV HW0101 allowed all leachate collected from Cell 18 to be pumped from the collection tank and used for dust control at Cell 18.
- Research Organization:
- Nevada National Security Site, Nye County, NV (United States); Mission Support and Test Services LLC, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- NA0003624
- OSTI ID:
- 1499048
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/NV/03624-0400
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Nevada Test Site 2007 Data Report: Groundwater Monitoring Program Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site
Nevada National Security Site 2019 Data Report: Groundwater Monitoring Program Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site
Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Area 5 Radioactive Waste Management Site (RWMS)
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RCRA
groundwater
pH
specific conductance
total organic carbon
total organic halides
tritium
arsenic
barium
cadmium
chromium
lead
mercury
selenium
silver
calcium
iron
magnesium
manganese
potassium
sodium
sulfate
chloride
fluoride
bicarbonate
silicate
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)