Remediation strategies for perched water bodies underlying the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory

Conference · Mon Aug 19 00:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:7117519

Russell, B F; Wozniewicz, J V; Jensen, C ^[1]; Williamson, D J; Williams, J L; Martin, C J ^[2]

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1. Golder Associates (United States)
2. Westinghouse Idaho Nuclear Co., Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Analysis of water samples collected from perched water underlying the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) indicates the presence of low levels of radionuclides. The perching layers are formed by dense basalts and/or sediment interbeds with sufficient clay to form an aquitard. The distribution of contaminants and depth to water levels observed in the perched water well monitoring network suggest the perched water occurs as discrete bodies of water, but these are not necessarily interconnected across a large area. Present data suggests that the perching occurs as discrete of pools,'' and the presence of contamination is a function of vertical contaminant transport from above. The remediation of this perched water will be dependent upon the types of contaminants, the hydrogeologic conditions, the physical setting, and the size of the perched water body. Remediation strategies under consideration include the use of wells for the extraction of contaminated water and the installation of horizontal wells. A preliminary conceptual model has been developed and is being refined as additional hydrogeologic and contaminant data are acquired. Contaminant transport hypotheses have been formulated, and tests of those hypotheses are planned to assist with the refinement of the conceptual model. The testing of transport hypotheses and development of the conceptual model will help provide the basis to evaluate the available options for remediation of the perched water and to select the most effective strategy(ies) for implementation.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Idaho Nuclear Co., Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-84ID12435
• OSTI ID: 7117519
• Report Number(s): WINCO-11734; CONF-910981-64; ON: DE92017222
• Resource Relation: Conference: Environmental remediation '91 conference, Pasco, WA (United States), 8-11 Sep 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
GROUND WATER
REMEDIAL ACTION
IDAHO CHEMICAL PROCESSING PLANT
WATER
FLOW RATE
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDROLOGY
MONITORING
RADIOCHEMISTRY
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SAMPLING
CHEMISTRY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety
540230 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540330 - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)