Failure of 307 basin transfer line and resultant ground contamination
A leak of apparently long duration was discovered on December 9, 1965, in the transfer line from the 307 retention basins to the 340 contaminated waste system during the transfer of liquid from one of the 307 basins. This line was designed to carry only mildly-contaminated retention system waste. However, the uncovered line suggests that, over a period of time, the bottom half of the carbon steel transition section between the transfer line and the 340 contaminated waste system was corroded out. This permitted the highly contaminated waste to percolate into the soil beneath the missing pipe section. Since neither the duration of leakage nor the exact origin or nature of the contaminants were known, this study was undertaken to: (1) estimate the amount of radioactivity released; (2) document its location with respect to the 340 Area and to the underlying groundwater; and (3) investigate its potential environmental impact. Soil samples were collected to determine the approximate location and quantity of each of the radionuclides which had leaked to the soil. One-digit accuracy was deemed sufficient to decide what, if any, action would be required. The findings from the several exploratory holes drilled at and adjacent to the site of the corroded transfer line are reported. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(45-1)-1830
- NSA Number:
- NSA-29-010778
- OSTI ID:
- 4358281
- Report Number(s):
- BNWL-CC-2617
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-74
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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