Hydrological conditions at the 317/319 Area at Argonne National Laboratory
This study examined the hydrological conditions of the glacial till underlying the 317/319 Area at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) near Lemont, Illinois. The study's purpose was to review and summarize hydrological data collected by ANL's Environment, Safety, and Health Department and to characterize, based on these data, the groundwater movement and migration of potential contaminants in the area. Recommendations for further study have been made based on the findings of this review. The 317/319 Area is located between Meridian Road and the southern border of ANL. The 317 Area was commissioned in the late 1940s for the temporary storage of radioactive waste. Low- and high-level solid radioactive waste is stored in partially buried concrete vaults. Low-level radioactive waste awaiting shipment for off-site disposal is stored in aboveground steel bins north of the vaults. The 319 Area is an inactive landfill, located east of the 317 Area that was used for the disposal of general refuse, demolition debris, and laboratory equipment. Fluorescent light bulbs, chemical containers, and suspect waste were also placed in the landfill. Liquid chemical wastes were disposed of at each site in gravel-filled trenches called French drains.'' The 317/319 Area is underlain by a silty clay glacial till. Dolomite bedrock underlies the till at an average depth of about 19.5m. Organic contaminants and radionuclides have been detected in groundwater samples from wells completed in the till. Fractures in the clay as well as sand and gravel lenses present in the till could permit these contaminants to migrate downward to the dolomite aquifer. At the time of this report, no chemical quality analyses had been made on groundwater samples from the dolomite. The study found that existing information about subsurface characteristics at the site is inadequate to identify potential pathways for contaminant migration. 14 refs., 13 figs., 6 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (USA). Environmental Assessment and Information Sciences Div.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/ER
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 6625991
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/EAIS/TM-28; ON: DE91000099
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
58 GEOSCIENCES
ANL
HYDROLOGY
GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION
SURFACE WATERS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
RADIATION MONITORING
RECOMMENDATIONS
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SOLUTES
STRATIGRAPHY
WATER POLLUTION MONITORS
WATER QUALITY
WATER WELLS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
GEOLOGY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
MONITORS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER
WELLS
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540330 - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
580000 - Geosciences