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U.S. Department of Energy
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General investigation of radionuclide retention in migration pathways at the West Valley, New York low-level burial site. Annual report, September 1, 1977-September 30, 1978

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5625625

The scope of this research program includes several basic parts: a surface water program, a geomorphic and erosion study, a trench water study, and a soil analysis study. The study involved the collection of surface water data, a geomorphic study and mapping of a 4.1 km reach of Buttermilk Creek and adjacent areas within the drainage basin, the analysis of water samples collected from waste burial trenches, and the analysis of soil samples collected from a research trench near the burial site. Buttermilk Creek Valley is being actively subjected to erosion by a combination of fluvial transport, lateral channel scour processes, transport on alluvial fans, and landsliding. Local ponding may contribute to landsliding and slumping by bringing moisture contents close to the liquid limit of the soil. Tests indicate that the soil in which the waste is buried has been subjected to a load greater than the present day overburden loadng. The theoretical depth limit to which cracks can penetrate in the soil is approximately 50 feet.

Research Organization:
New York State Geological Survey, Albany (USA)
OSTI ID:
5625625
Report Number(s):
NUREG/CR-0794; NYSGS-79-2403
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English