Estimates of deep drainage rates at the U.S. Department of Energy Pantex Plant, Amarillo, Texas

Technical Report · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/658180· OSTI ID:658180

Fayer, M J; Richmond, M C; Wigmosta, M S ^[1]; Kelley, M E ^[2]

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1. Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
2. Battelle Environmental Restoration Dept., Columbus, OH (United States)

In FY 1996, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) provided technical assistance to Battelle Columbus Operations (BCO) in their ongoing assessment of contaminant migration at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas. The objective of this report is to calculate deep drainage rates at the Pantex Plant. These deep drainage rates may eventually be used to predict contaminant loading to the underlying unconfined aquifer for the Pantex Plant Baseline Risk Assessment. These rates will also be used to support analyses of remedial activities involving surface alterations or the subsurface injection withdrawal of liquids or gases. The scope of this report is to estimate deep drainage rates for the major surface features at the Pantex Plant, including ditches and playas, natural grassland, dryland crop rotation, unvegetated soil, and graveled surfaces. Areas such as Pantex Lake that are outside the main plant boundaries were not included in the analysis. All estimates were derived using existing data or best estimates; no new data were collected. The modeling framework used to estimate the rates is described to enable future correlations, improvements, and enhancements. The scope of this report includes only data gathered during FY 1996. However, a current review of the data gathered on weather, soil, plants, and other information in the time period since did not reveal anything that would significantly alter the results presented in this report.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 658180
• Report Number(s): PNNL--11862; ON: DE98052883; BR: G4561862F
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
AQUIFERS
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FUELS
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
METALS
PANTEX PLANT
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
SOLVENTS