Hydrologic data for the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory site, Idaho

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4094345· OSTI ID:4094345

Barraclough, J. T.; Jensen, R. G.

The Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) discharges low-level waste and chemical waste directly to the Snake River Plain aquifer through a 600-foot (180 meter) disposal well. Most of the radioactivity is removed by distillation and ion exchange prior to being discharged into the well. During 1971 to 1973, the well was used to dispose of 404 curies of radioactivity, of which 389 curies were tritium (96 percent). The average yearly discharge was about 300 million gallons (1.1 x 10$sup 9$ liters). The distribution of waste products in the Snake River Plain aquifer covers about 15 square miles (30 square kilometers). Since disposal began in 1952, the wastes have migrated about 5 miles (8 kilometers) downgradient from discharge points. The perched ground-water body contains tritium, chromium-51, cobalt-60, and strontium-90. Radionuclides are subject to radioactive decay, sorption, and dilution by dispersion in the aquifer. Chemical wastes are subject to sorption and dilution by dispersion. Waste plumes south of the ICPP containing tritium, sodium, and chloride have been mapped and all cover a similar area. The plumes follow generally southerly flow lines and are widely dispersed in the aquifer. The waste plume of strontium-90 covers a much smaller area of the aquifer, about 1.5 square miles (4 square kilometers). Based on the relatively small size of the plume, it would appear that the strontium-90 is sorbed from solution as it moves through the Snake River Plain aquifer. (auth)

• Research Organization: IDO (Idaho Operations Office, Idaho Falls, ID (United States))
• Sponsoring Organization: US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
• NSA Number: NSA-33-020190
• OSTI ID: 4094345
• Report Number(s): IDO--22055
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS-- DIFFUSION
*IDAHO CHEMICAL PROCESSING PLANT-- WASTE DISPOSAL
*RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS-- DIFFUSION
510300* --Environmental Sciences
Terrestrial--Radioactive Materials Monitoring &
AQUIFERS
CHROMIUM 51
COBALT 60
Earth Sciences--Chemical Effluents
Earth Sciences--Radioactivity Monitoring &
GROUND WATER
LIQUID WASTES
N44300* --Environmental &
N44700 --Environmental &
STRONTIUM 90
TRITIUM
Transport