Erosion of earth covers used in shallow land burial at Los Alamos, New Mexico

Journal Article · · J. Environ. Qual.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6078645

Nyhan, J W; Depoorter, G L; Drennon, B J; Simanton, J R; Foster, G R

The Los Alamos National Laboratory and the USDA-ARS examined soil erosion and water balance relationships for a trench cap used for the shallow land burial of low-level radioactive waters at Los Alamos, NM. Eight 3.05 by 10.7 m plots were installed with bare soil, tilled, and vegetated surface treatments on a 15 by 63 m trench cap constructed from soil and crushed tuff layers. A rotating boom rain simulator was used to estimate the soil erodibility and cover-management factors of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) for this trench cap and for two undisturbed plots with natural vegetative cover. The implications of the results of this study are discussed relative to the management of infiltration and erosion processes at waste burial sites and compared with similar USDA research performed throughout the USA.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6078645
• Journal Information: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Qual.; (United States) Vol. 13:3; ISSN JEVQA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
COVERINGS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EROSION
HYDROLOGY
LASL
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
RUNOFF
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
US AEC
US DOA
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES