Groundwater Transport of Organic Compounds in Old Salvage Yard, Oak Ridge, TN - 12089
- Civil Engineering and Construction Department, Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625 (United States)
- Applied Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33174 (United States)
- Pro2Serve Professional Project Services, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN 37830 (United States)
In 1950's and early 1960's during production of nuclear weapons at the US Department of Energy Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge TN, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as heavy metals, nitrates, and radionuclides were released to the environment. Field investigations revealed that much of this contamination is still present in soil, bedrock, and groundwater. Operational buildings and old disposal facilities at the site have been identified as major sources of contamination. The Old Salvage Yard (OSY) on the western side of the site has long been characterized as the major source of VOC contamination in soil and groundwater. In order to analyze the fate and transport of VOC contamination- including tetrachloroethene (PCE), 1,2- dichloroethene (1,2-DCE), cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-1,2-DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) - in groundwater and soil at the vicinity of OSY, an integrated surface and subsurface flow and transport model has been developed for the Y-12 NSC using the hydrodynamic and transport numerical package, MIKE-SHE. Hydrogeological characteristics of the site such as hydraulic conductivity, and transport parameters such as partitioning coefficients were varied in an effort to delineate subsurface flow and transport pathways, potential downstream impacts on Upper East Fork Poplar Creek, and the potential risk to industrial workers involved in related Decontamination and Decommissioning (D and D) activities. The simulation results were compared with the analytical modeling results previously performed by McLane Environmental Inc. using SESOIL-AT123D. Specific simulations have been performed to investigate the effect of possible remedial action (removing the contaminated surface soil layers) on the fate and transport of VOCs. The results of the MIKE-SHE reported here can be considered as an upper limit for the predicted concentrations. Based on MIKE-SHE results, PCE, 1,2 DCE, cis-1,2-DCE, and VC are sources in soil with potential to equal or exceed industrial groundwater hazard and risk levels at the vicinity of OSY. VOC contaminants in soil and groundwater will decay below industrial groundwater risk and hazard levels within approximately 20 years. Excavation of surface soil layers at the site will considerably reduce the concentration of VOCs in groundwater and the possibility of migration of VOCs to surface waters. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9-332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 22293411
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-14-WM-12089; TRN: US14V1064114935
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: WM2012: Waste Management 2012 conference on improving the future in waste management, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 26 Feb - 1 Mar 2012; Other Information: Country of input: France; 17 refs.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Phyto-screening for Volatile Organic Compounds in a Clay-based Glacial Till at the Niagara Falls Storage Site, New York - 17372
Preliminary technology report for Southern Sector bioremediation
Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CONTAMINATION
DECOMMISSIONING
DECONTAMINATION
ENVIRONMENT
GROUND WATER
HAZARDS
HEAVY METALS
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
RADIOISOTOPES
REMEDIAL ACTION
SIMULATION
TRANSPORT THEORY
VINYL CHLORIDE
VOLATILE MATTER
VOLATILITY