Modeling of radioactive transport for decommissioned nuclear reactor waste

Journal Article · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

OSTI ID:89463

Martin, W J; Whelan, G ^[1]

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1. Washington State Univ., Tri-Cities, WA (United States)

Technological advances have safeguarded the quality of our lives, but many of these developments have led to improper management and uncontrolled disposal of hazardous and radioactive wastes. The introduction of these waste by-products into our complex and interconnected natural environment has resulted in the migration of contaminants into life-sustaining resources: air, water, and land. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is faced with one of our nation`s most complex and challenging environmental problems: cleanup and remediation of nuclear waste sites, including nuclear material from decommissioned defense-related nuclear reactors. The Hanford installation, near Richland, Washington, has eight surplus production reactors, which have been identified for decommissioning and subsequent disposal (D&D). The final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was completed in December 1992 with the Record of Decision (ROD) issued in September 1993. The proposed action is for deferred one-piece removal and safe storage of the reactors at Hanford; these wastes will be transferred for burial to a central disposal facility, which has a doubled-lined leachate collection system and a long-term engineered cover (i.e., infiltration barrier). The D&D proposed action was based on a worst-case scenario that assumed the fastest travel times and greatest mobility associated with the contaminants. To provide a more realistic assessment of the potential impacts of these constituents, more representative hydraulic and geochemical values are assigned. By implementing a more reasonable assessment, pragmatic outcomes can be ascertained and evaluated for actual human-health impact.

• OSTI ID: 89463
• Report Number(s): CONF-941102--
• Journal Information: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 71; ISSN TANSAO; ISSN 0003-018X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COLUMBIA RIVER
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FORECASTING
GROUND WATER
HANFORD RESERVATION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SOILS
SOLID WASTES
SURPLUS NUCLEAR FACILITIES