Geohydrologic characterization of the area surrounding the 183-H Solar Evaporation Basins

Technical Report · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6574504· OSTI ID:6574504

Liikala, T L; Aaberg, R L; Aimo, N J; Bates, D J; Gilmore, T J; Jensen, E J; Last, G V; Oberlander, P L; Olsen, K B; Oster, K R; Roome, L R; Simpson, J C; Teel, S S; Westergard, E J

The purpose of this investigation is to achieve regulatory compliance with the applicable ground-water monitoring requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). An assessment-level compliance monitoring project was established for the 183-H Basins because hazardous waste constituents were known to have entered the ground water beneath the facility. Three phases were defined for this project, with work being concentrated in five areas: geology, hydrology, ground-water monitoring, geochemistry, and ground-water modeling. These characterization activities have resulted in the definition of principal lithologic and hydrostratigraphic units. Ground-water monitoring results indicated a contamination peak, which occurred between April and August 1986. Further monitoring has shown that nitrate, sodium, gross alpha, and gross beta are the clearest indicators of ground-water contamination attributable to the 183-H Basins. In addition, the concentrations of these contaminants are affected by variations in Columbia River stage. Future studies will focus on continued ground-water monitoring throughout the closure and post-closure periods for the 183-H Basins, sampling of the Columbia River and nearby ground-water springs, and soil sampling adjacent to the facility. 45 refs., 90 figs., 19 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6574504
• Report Number(s): PNL-6728; ON: DE89005508
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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