Demonstration of performance modeling of a low-level waste shallow-land burial site: A comparison of predictive radionuclide transport modeling versus field observations at the nitrate disposal pit site, Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories
Before a license can be obtained to construct a facility for the shallow-land burial of low-level wastes, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission must be assured that the facility will meet both performance objectives and prescriptive requirements set forth in 10CFR61, Licensing Requirements for Land Disposal of Radioactive Waste. Subpart D of 10CFR61 states that a disposal site shall be capable of being characterized, modeled, analyzed and monitored. To test the concept of site modelability, a 30-year old low-level radioactive waste disposal site at Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories (CRNL), Canada, was used as a field location for evaluating the process of site characterization and the subsequent modeling prediction of radionuclide transport from the site by groundwater. The radionuclide source term was a limestone-lined pit (since covered with soil) which in 1953 to 1954 received approximately 3800 liters of aqueous waste containing 1000 to 1500 curies of aged, mixed fission products, including 700 to 1000 curies of /sup 90/Sr and 200 to 300 curies of /sup 137/Cs. This evaluation was performed by comparing the actual measured radionuclide migration with predicted migration estimated from hydrologic/radionuclide transport models. This comparison provided valuable insights into the applicability of transport modeling, and to determining what level of effort is needed in site characterization at locations similar to the Nitrate Disposal Pit to provide the desired degree of predictive capabilities. 47 refs., 42 figs., 7 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 5587066
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CR-4879-Vol.1; PNL-6175-Vol.1; ON: TI88005710; TRN: 88-009678
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CESIUM 137
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
GROUND DISPOSAL
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
STRONTIUM 90
SURPLUS NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CANADA
CHALK RIVER NUCLEAR LABS
COMPLIANCE
FORECASTING
GROUND WATER
LICENSING
LIQUID WASTES
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ATOMIC ENERGY OF CANADA LTD
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CANADIAN ORGANIZATIONS
CESIUM ISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects
510300 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)