Environmental assessments for the existing radioactive materials in the Weldon Spring raffinate pits. [Various radioactive residues and wastes from processing of uranium and thorium between 1957 and 1966]
Various radioactive residues (raffinates) and wastes from the processing of uranium and thorium between 1957 and 1966 are stored in four pits at Weldon Spring, Missouri. The US Department of Energy (DOE) plans to stabilize all the contaminated materials on a long-term (more than 1000-year) basis. The effectiveness of stabilization measures are evaluated by estimating radioactive releases under two options: (1) no action, and (2) improved containment using the existing raffinate pits. Two major pathways of radiation exposure are examined: (1) airborne radioactive gases and particulates, and (2) seepage into near-surface groundwater. The relative reductions of releases into the air and groundwater for a reference stabilization option (improved containment) are analyzed using mathematical models for radioactive and particulate gas fluxes and atmospheric dispersion, as well as groundwaterr transport and dispersion. The consequent health risks for nearby individuals and the general public are also evaluated. This study focuses on the migration of radionuclides under existing conditions and evaluates the effectiveness of proposed stabilization measures at the pits. Results indicate that the potential effects to the general public would be insignificant. 22 refs., 2 figs., 6 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Camp Dresser and McKee, Inc., Chicago, IL (USA); Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31-109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 6475012
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8511127-2; ON: DE86003069
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Conference on technology and science, Newton, MA, USA, 29 Nov 1985; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Engineering evaluation of alternatives for the disposition of the Weldon Spring Raffinate Pits Site. Addendum 1
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
GROUND WATER
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
HUMAN POPULATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
MISSOURI
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
RADIUM 226
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SURFACE AIR
THORIUM 230
URANIUM 238
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HEALTH HAZARDS
RADIUM 228
STABILIZATION
THORIUM 232
URANIUM 234
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
AIR
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DATA
DOSES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION VII
FLUIDS
GASES
HAZARDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POPULATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIUM ISOTOPES
STORAGE
THORIUM ISOTOPES
URANIUM ISOTOPES
USA
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE STORAGE
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
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053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects
500300 - Environment
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520301 - Environment
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