Environmental monitoring of the tumulus low-level waste disposal facilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
The tumulus facilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) were constructed beginning in 1987 as a means of above-grade disposal of low-level radioactive waste (LLW). The facilities consist of Tumulus I, Tumulus II, and the Interim Waste Management Facility (IWMF). They are designed to meet performance criteria that require no release of radioactive contaminants to the environment for a period of one hundred years. This paper describes the tumulus facilities, the environmental monitoring program, and what we have learned from the program over approximately three years of operation. Our data suggest that the tumulus facilities are an effective means of disposal of low-level radioactive waste. However, problems with high pH and the leaching of [sup 40]K, and potentially other elements from the concrete disposal pads and vaults, need to be addressed with regard to the long-term performance of the facilities.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6755663
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-921137-2; ON: DE93004112
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 14. low-level radioactive waste management conference, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 18-20 Nov 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
GROUND DISPOSAL
LEACHING
ORNL
PH VALUE
POTASSIUM 40
ALKA
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-PLUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DISSOLUTION
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NANOSEC LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
POTASSIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
540230 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540210 - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (1990-)