Hydrology of the low-level radioactive-solid-waste burial site and vicinity near Barnwell, South Carolina
Geologic and hydrologic conditions at a burial site for low-level radioactive waste were studied, and migration of leachates from the buried waste into surrounding unconsolidated sediments were evaluated. The burial site and vicinity are underlain by a sequence of unconsolidated sediments of Late Cretaceous, Tertiary, and Quaternary age. These sediments are deposited over a graben which has been filled with sedimentary rocks of Triassic age. Hydraulic properties of the sediments beneath the burial site were determined by laboratory and field tests. Laboratory hydraulic conductivity values ranged from about 10/sup -7/ to 10/sup -1/ ft/day for the clayey sediments to nearly 22 ft/day for aquifer sands. Field aquifer tests indicate a transmisivity of about 22,000 ft/sup 2//day for Cretaceous sediments and about 6000 ft/sup 2//day for Tertiary sediments. Aquifer tests indicate heterogeneity in the upper 200 ft of the Tertiary sediments. Water samples were analyzed from 51 wells, 5 streams, a Caroline bay, and rainfall at the burial site. The total dissolved solids of the ground water ranged from about 7 to 40 mg/l in the upper clayey sediments to about 150 mg/l in the water in the deeper calcareous sediments. The pH of the ground water ranges from 4.8 to 6.5. This slightly acidic water is corrosive to buried metal. Tritium activity greater than background was detected in sediment cores taken from drill holes adjacent to the burial trenches. High tritium activity occurred at depths above the trench floor. This indicates upward movement of water or vapor to the land surface. Tritium and organic constituents greater than background concentrations were observed in a monitoring well about 10 ft from a trench, indicating lateral migration of radionuclides from the buried waste. Traces of /sup 60/Co and tritium greater than background activity were observed in sediment cores collected 5.8 ft beneath the trench floor at one site. 26 references.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Denver, CO (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5569830
- Report Number(s):
- USGS-OFR-82-863; ON: DE84900473
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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DATA
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FEDERAL REGION IV
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