Study of Vadose Zone Monitoring at the Hanford Site Task 2 Potential Applications at the Central Plateau Remediation Project
This report is the second of two studies on potential applications for vadose zone monitoring (VZM) at the Hanford Site. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) agreed to perform the studies in a letter from M. S. Schlender, DOE, to M. L. Goldstein, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and M. A. Wilson, Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), subject ''Vadose Zone Monitoring Study,'' 02-ERD-0055, dated March 11, 2002. The first study evaluated the potential for performance monitoring at the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility (ERDF) and was published as ''Study of Vadose Zone Monitoring at the Hanford Site, Task I . Use in New Cells at the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility'', dated May 2003 (DOE/RL-2003-31). This report is Task 2 and examines the potential for VZM at waste sites and tank farms in the 200 East and West Areas of the Central Plateau Remediation Project (Central Plateau). The potential benefits of VZM are discussed in the introduction, as well as the objectives of the study. A summary of the hydrogeology of the central plateau is presented. This includes a discussion of the stratigraphy, vadose zone transport, and groundwater characteristics. A chapter on the regulatory framework is presented in the context of the anticipated remediation, Environmental Protection Agency regulations, and the regulations of other western states. While the previous Task I study presented a survey of commercial sites in the western part of the United States, this report surveys vadose zone monitoring at other government sites in the western United States. Most of the significant Department of Energy Sites are discussed and compared. Since the western part of the United States contains many of the DOE research facilities, a discussion is presented on the vadose zone research and development activities at these facilities. The ongoing development and use of VZM by the Air Force, Navy, and Army is presented. A summary is presented of the planned remediation on the Central Plateau in order to identify the relevant types of remediations that would be candidates for VZM. A short discussion of the existing groundwater plumes is given to complete the picture of how vadose zone contamination eventually becomes groundwater contamination. The technology is surveyed and categorized by type. These types include moisture change methods, moisture sampling methods, geophysical techniques, and remote sensing techniques. Future trends are identified. The probable course will be the development of methods that can integrate the information over larger volumes, particularly those that will use less invasive or remote sensing technologies. A discussion of deployment methods is given. These include basin lysimeters, access tubes, sensors placed inside landfills, and cover monitoring. In order to match the technologies with the planned remedies the current technologies are discussed in the context of specific types of site remediations. These include waste sites such as cribs and trenches, tank farm sites, and other facilities. Conclusions are reached, which include an analysis of the different types of conditions appropriate for VZM, considerations in the selections of the appropriate technologies, and issues associated with adapting to the development of new technologies. Also, a short discussion is given of the operational facilities that will be used during the cleanup efforts.
- Research Organization:
- DFSH (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-96RL13200
- OSTI ID:
- 818259
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/RL-2003-57, Rev.0; TRN: US0305411
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 30 Oct 2003
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Challenges for Deep Vadose Zone Remediation at the Hanford Site
Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
LYSIMETERS
MONITORING
SAMPLING
REMOTE SENSING
SANITARY LANDFILLS
STORAGE FACILITIES
STRATIGRAPHY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HANFORD RESERVATION
SOILS
REMEDIAL ACTION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
GROUND WATER
CONTRACT DELIVERABLE