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Title: How NOT to Dispose of NORM/TENORM-bearing Wastes: A Case Study

Abstract

The Ashtabula River in northern Ohio contains a large amount of sediment containing quantities of NORM and TENORM from previous industrial activities at nearby mineral processing plants. Due to PCB contamination, these sediments were to be dredged and isolated in a landfill to be constructed by the responsible parties. Unfortunately, the State of Ohio has determined that these wastes may not be disposed of in this manner, and this determination has resulted in delaying the remediation project. Computer models performed using the RESRAD computer code indicate that isolating these wastes in this manner will reduce dose to the nearby population because the NORM/TENORM will be safely buried beneath a compacted clay cover and isolated from all sources of exposure. In fact, radiation doses (including radon emanation) from these wastes in a properly maintained landfill are significantly lower than in the present condition, and the reduction is even more marked for NORM/TENORM in tailings piles. This suggests that, in many cases, disposal of NORM/TENORM wastes in on-site landfills may be a cost-effective and dose-conscious method of disposal, if regulatory issues can be resolved.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
University of Rochester (US)
Sponsoring Org.:
Sponsor not identified (US)
OSTI Identifier:
828448
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Waste Management 2002 Symposium, Tucson, AZ (US), 02/24/2002--02/28/2002; Other Information: PBD: 26 Feb 2002
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; CLAYS; COMPUTER CODES; COMPUTERS; CONTAMINATION; PROCESSING; RADIATION DOSES; RADON; RIVERS; SANITARY LANDFILLS; SEDIMENTS; TAILINGS; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTES

Citation Formats

Karam, P A. How NOT to Dispose of NORM/TENORM-bearing Wastes: A Case Study. United States: N. p., 2002. Web.
Karam, P A. How NOT to Dispose of NORM/TENORM-bearing Wastes: A Case Study. United States.
Karam, P A. 2002. "How NOT to Dispose of NORM/TENORM-bearing Wastes: A Case Study". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/828448.
@article{osti_828448,
title = {How NOT to Dispose of NORM/TENORM-bearing Wastes: A Case Study},
author = {Karam, P A},
abstractNote = {The Ashtabula River in northern Ohio contains a large amount of sediment containing quantities of NORM and TENORM from previous industrial activities at nearby mineral processing plants. Due to PCB contamination, these sediments were to be dredged and isolated in a landfill to be constructed by the responsible parties. Unfortunately, the State of Ohio has determined that these wastes may not be disposed of in this manner, and this determination has resulted in delaying the remediation project. Computer models performed using the RESRAD computer code indicate that isolating these wastes in this manner will reduce dose to the nearby population because the NORM/TENORM will be safely buried beneath a compacted clay cover and isolated from all sources of exposure. In fact, radiation doses (including radon emanation) from these wastes in a properly maintained landfill are significantly lower than in the present condition, and the reduction is even more marked for NORM/TENORM in tailings piles. This suggests that, in many cases, disposal of NORM/TENORM wastes in on-site landfills may be a cost-effective and dose-conscious method of disposal, if regulatory issues can be resolved.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/828448}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 26 00:00:00 EST 2002},
month = {Tue Feb 26 00:00:00 EST 2002}
}

Conference:
Other availability
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