Assessment of groundwater management at Hanford

A comprehensive review of the groundwater management and environmental monitoring programs at the Hanford reservation was initiated in 1973. A large number of recommendations made as a result of this review are summarized. The purpose of the Hanford Hydrology Program is to maintain a groundwater surveillance network to assess contamination of the natural water system. Potential groundwater contamination is primarily a function of waste management decisions. The review revealed that although the hydrology program would greatly benefit from additional improvements, it is adequate to predict levels of contaminants present in the groundwater system. Studies are presently underway to refine advanced mathematical models to use results of the hydrologic investigation in forecasting the response of the system to different long-term management decisions. No information was found which indicates that a hazard through the groundwater pathway presently exists as a result of waste operations at Hanford. (CH

Evaluation of basalt flows as a waste isolation media

Activities in basalt waste isolation programs in the Columbia River basin are reported. Work during the period is summarized for the overall program which is divided into systems integration, geology, hydrology, engineered barriers studies, engineering testing, and the construction of a near-surface test facility. (JRD

Basalt Waste Isolation Program: monthly report

20 square miles were mapped in the Saddle Mountains immediately north of Hanford. Twenty-six gravel pits within and adjacent to Hanford were given preliminary characterization and no tectonically induced structures were found. Approximately 1,800 wells have been identified in the Pasco Basin which penetrate basalt. In the Waste/Basalt Interaction area, progress continued in isolating those interaction products which are primary hosts for various cations and anions. Hydrologic Hole DC-5 was completed at 3,990 feet on Feb. 9. Mine modeling studies showed that at depths of 3,000 feet, the probability of joint slip above the plane of the respository is very small

Basalt waste isolation project. Quarterly report, April 1, 1981-June 30, 1981

This document reports progress made in the Basalt Waste Isolation Project during the third quarter of fiscal year 1981. Efforts are described for the following programs of the project work breakdown structure: systems; waste package; site; repository; regulatory and institutional; test facilities; in situ test facilities

Basalt waste isolation program. Quarterly report, January 1, 1979--March 31, 1979

During the quarter, progress was made in all areas of the Basalt Waste Isolation Program. In the Geosciences, Hydrology, and Engineered Barriers areas, work continued on schedule aimed at being able to make a site selection decision in 1981, as scheduled. Emphasis continued to be placed on geologic mapping studies, on hydrologic data gathering, and on definitions of waste/basalt interactions and needed engineered barriers. Construction of the Near-Surface Test Facility was rescheduled to reflect tunnel design changes and previous quarter work delays. Progress at the end of the quarter was approximately on schedule and the rate of work was accelerating to better than scheduled due to some equipment improvements and tunnel design modifications. In the Engineering Testing area, design work, test planning, and fabrication of heaters and auxiliary equipment continued on schedule. In the Repository area, an Architect/Engineer Evaluation Board was formally designated by the US Department of Energy-Headquarters during October 1978. The evaluation board will select an architect/engineer for repository conceptual design with an option for follow-on Title I, Title II, and Title III engineering services. Selection will be completed by October 1979. Questionnaire information was received from a number of interested architect/engineer firms by the US Department of Energy-Richland Operations Office and has been evaluated. Onsite visits with the qualified firms are scheduled during April 1979. In addition, repository preconceptual design studies continued on schedule with emphasis on compilation of repository functional design criteria by July 1979, and the repository preconceptual design report in August 1979. Twenty-nine documents were issued during the quarter. These documents are listed at the end of this report

Preliminary analysis of some waters from the confined aquifers underlying the Hanford site

This report presents results of analyses available at this time from waters from some wells sampled in or near the Hanford Site. The analyses of these wells were done for various purposes and are consolidated to help define the nature of the waters found within the Columbia Plateau basaltic sequence. Results of the analyses show the waters from the unconfined aquifers underlying the Hanford Site are characterized by a high calcium--magnesium content. These waters can be described as calcium--magnesium--bicarbonate-type. Waters from deeper basaltic confined aquifers are primarily of the sodium bicarbonate type. Two waters sampled from the Grande Ronde Formation from Rattlesnake Hills Exploratory Well Number 1 are slightly different and can be described as sodium--calcium--bicarbonate--sulfate--chloride-type. Age-dating results for these water samples lead to the conclusions that waters from the confined aquifers were entrapped 15,000 to 23,000 years ago

Basalt Waste Isolation Project. Quarterly report, July 1, 1979-September 30, 1979

Progress in various areas of the Basalt Waste Isolation Project during the last quarter is reported. Systems integration, licensing, geologic activities, hydrology, borehole studies, geophysical logging, engineered barriers, test facilities, testing of canisters, and selection process for architect-engineer services for repository conceptual design are discussed. (DC

Basalt Waste Isolation Project. Quarterly report, January 1-March 31, 1980

This report addresses the technical progress for the Basalt Waste Isolation Project for the second quarter of fiscal year 1980. Seismic design values were developed for preliminary repository design purposes; 0.25 g horizontal and 0.125 g vertical maximum accelerations for surface, zero-period conditions. Preliminary seismic data indicate broad, smooth areas exist in the bedrock surface in the western portion of the Cold Creek syncline and a gently undulating bedrock surface in the eastern portion. Test results indicate hydraulic property values fall within the range previously reported for sedimentary and interflow zones in basalt formations at the Hanford Site. Preliminary results of available hydrochemical data obtained from several borehole sites indicate that little, if any, vertical mixing of groundwaters is taking place across this stratigraphic boundary. Multiple barrier studies indicate that the primary candidate canister/overpack alloys are TiCode-12, Inconel 625, Incoloy 825, and Zircaloy 2. Low-carbon steel and cast iron are among the list of secondary candidate canister alloys. Laboratory tests of borehole plug designs have shown that it is feasible to design a composite plug system that will satisfactorily seal a nuclear waste repository in Columbia River basalt. The National Lead Industries, Inc., NLI-1/2 Universal Spent Fuel Shipping Cask was selected for use in Phase II operations. Creep test results of samples of Umtanum basalt from borehole DC-6 were plotted and show the day-to-day variation in deformation versus time. The concept selection phase of repository conceptual design was completed in March 1980. A test plan for the Exploratory Shaft Test Facility was developed and is scheduled for submittal to the US Department of Energy in May 1980

Status report on studies to assess the feasibility of storing nuclear waste in Columbia plateau basalts

Basalts, such as the Columbia Plateau basalts, which underlie a large portion of the Pacific Northwest and the Hanford Site, were selected for initial geologic reconnaissance. Geologic exploration of Columbia Plateau basalts was needed to determine the feasibility of utilizing those formations as a site for terminal storage of commercial nuclear waste. The Basalt Waste Isolation Program within Rockwell Hanford Operations has been chartered with the responsibility of conducting these investigations. This program is divided into systems integration, geology, hydrology, engineered barriers studies, engineering testing, and the construction of a near-surface test facility

Status report on studies to assess the feasibility of storing nuclear waste in Columbia Plateau basalts

The Basalt Waste Isolation Project, is part of the National Waste Terminal Storage Program. The program, as presently structured, is aimed at assessing the feasibility and providing the technology needed to design and construct a repository for storage of commercial radioactive waste in the extensive basalts beneath the Hanford Site of the United States Department of Energy. The program is presently in the research and development phase to assess feasibility. Geologic site selection studies are to be completed in September 1981, to allow a feasibility decision at that time, where-upon if feasibility is proven and the United States Department of Energy goes forward with the project, we would move into the licensing phase of the project. Ultimately, it would be up to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission to grant a construction license and, later on, an operating license. During the research and development phase, the program includes seven areas of study; namely, geosciences, hydrology multiple engineered barriers, test facility design and construction, engineering testing, systems integration, and preliminary repository engineering design. The progress made to date in each of these areas is detailed