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Surface erosion and hydrology of earth covers used in shallow land burial of low-level radioactive waste

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6842908· OSTI ID:6842908
Shallow land burial is the current method of disposal of low-level radioactive waste in the United States. The most serious technical problems encountered in shallow land burial are water-related. Water is reported to come into contact with the waste by erosion of earth covers or through infiltration of precipitation through the earth covers. The objectives of this study were to: compare and evaluate the effects of crested wheatgrass and streambank wheatgrass on surface erosion of simulated earth covers at Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), characterize the surface hydrology, and estimate cumulative soil loss for average and extreme rainfall events and determine if the waste will become exposed during its burial life due to erosion. 30 refs., 26 figs., 21 tabs.
Research Organization:
Utah State Univ., Logan, UT (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/DP
DOE Contract Number:
AS07-85ID12761
OSTI ID:
6842908
Report Number(s):
DOE/ID/12761-T1; ON: DE90012485
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English