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Title: Status of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory new hydrofracture facility: Implications for the disposal of liquid low-level radioactive wastes by underground injection

Abstract

From 1982 to 1984, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) disposed of approximately 2.8 x 10/sup 16/ Bq (7.5 x 10/sup 5/ Ci) of liquid low-level radioactive wastes by underground injection at its new hydrofracture facility. This paper summarizes the regulatory and operational status of that ORNL facility and discusses its future outlook. Operational developments and regulatory changes that have raised major questions about the continued operation of the new hydrofracture facility include: (1) significant /sup 90/Sr contamination of some groundwater in the injection formation; (2) questions about the design of the injection well, completed prior to the application of the underground injection control (UIC) regulations to the ORNL facility; (3) questions about the integrity of the reconfigured injection well put into service following the loss of the initial injection well; and (4) implementation of UIC regulations. Ultimately, consideration of the regulatory and operational factors led to the decision in early 1986 not to proceed with a UIC permit application for the ORNL facility. Subsequent to the decision not to proceed with a UIC permit application, closure activities were initiated for the ORNL hydrofracture facility. Closure of the facility will occur under both state of Tennessee and federal UIC regulations. Themore » facility also falls under the provisions of part 3004(u) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act pertaining to corrective actions. Nationally, there is an uncertain outlook for the disposal of wastes by underground injection. All wells used for the injection of hazardous wastes (Class I wells) are being reviewed. 8 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6588640
Report Number(s):
CONF-870306-46
ON: DE87009667
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-84OR21400
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Waste management '87, Tucson, AZ, USA, 1 Mar 1987; Other Information: Paper copy only, copy does not permit microfiche production
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL; STRONTIUM 90; RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION; WATER POLLUTION; REGULATIONS; REMEDIAL ACTION; CESIUM 137; COBALT 60; FLUID INJECTION; GROUND WATER; GROUTING; HAZARDOUS MATERIALS; HISTORICAL ASPECTS; HYDRAULIC FRACTURING; LEGAL ASPECTS; ORNL; RESOURCE RECOVERY ACTS; RUTHENIUM 106; TENNESSEE; US EPA; ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES; ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES; BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; CESIUM ISOTOPES; COBALT ISOTOPES; COMMINUTION; ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT; EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI; FEDERAL REGION IV; FRACTURING; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI; INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES; ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES; ISOTOPES; LAWS; MANAGEMENT; MASS TRANSFER; MATERIALS; MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS; NORTH AMERICA; NUCLEI; ODD-EVEN NUCLEI; ODD-ODD NUCLEI; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; POLLUTION; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; RADIOISOTOPES; RUTHENIUM ISOTOPES; STRONTIUM ISOTOPES; US AEC; US DOE; US ERDA; US ORGANIZATIONS; USA; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTES; WATER; YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; 052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage; 054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety

Citation Formats

Haase, C S, and Stow, S H. Status of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory new hydrofracture facility: Implications for the disposal of liquid low-level radioactive wastes by underground injection. United States: N. p., 1987. Web.
Haase, C S, & Stow, S H. Status of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory new hydrofracture facility: Implications for the disposal of liquid low-level radioactive wastes by underground injection. United States.
Haase, C S, and Stow, S H. 1987. "Status of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory new hydrofracture facility: Implications for the disposal of liquid low-level radioactive wastes by underground injection". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6588640.
@article{osti_6588640,
title = {Status of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory new hydrofracture facility: Implications for the disposal of liquid low-level radioactive wastes by underground injection},
author = {Haase, C S and Stow, S H},
abstractNote = {From 1982 to 1984, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) disposed of approximately 2.8 x 10/sup 16/ Bq (7.5 x 10/sup 5/ Ci) of liquid low-level radioactive wastes by underground injection at its new hydrofracture facility. This paper summarizes the regulatory and operational status of that ORNL facility and discusses its future outlook. Operational developments and regulatory changes that have raised major questions about the continued operation of the new hydrofracture facility include: (1) significant /sup 90/Sr contamination of some groundwater in the injection formation; (2) questions about the design of the injection well, completed prior to the application of the underground injection control (UIC) regulations to the ORNL facility; (3) questions about the integrity of the reconfigured injection well put into service following the loss of the initial injection well; and (4) implementation of UIC regulations. Ultimately, consideration of the regulatory and operational factors led to the decision in early 1986 not to proceed with a UIC permit application for the ORNL facility. Subsequent to the decision not to proceed with a UIC permit application, closure activities were initiated for the ORNL hydrofracture facility. Closure of the facility will occur under both state of Tennessee and federal UIC regulations. The facility also falls under the provisions of part 3004(u) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act pertaining to corrective actions. Nationally, there is an uncertain outlook for the disposal of wastes by underground injection. All wells used for the injection of hazardous wastes (Class I wells) are being reviewed. 8 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6588640}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987}
}

Conference:
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