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State-of-the-art for evaluating the potential impact of tectonism and volcanism on a radioactive waste repository

Description: Most estimates of the time required for safe isolation of radioactive wastes from the biosphere range from 100,000 to 1,000,000 years. For such long time spans, it is necessary to assess the potential effects of geologic processes such as volcanism and tectonic activity on the integrity of geologic repositories. Predictions of geologic phenomena can be based on probabilistic models, which assume a random distribution of events. The necessary historic and geologic records are rarely available to… more
Date: July 16, 1980
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Decommissioning of a grout- and waste-filled storage tank in the 200 East Area of the Hanford Site

Description: A self-concentrating waste tank located at the Strontium Semiworks Facility in the 200 East Area of the Hanford Site will be decommissioned following waste removal. During a previous decommissioning phase, the tank, thought to be empty, was filled with grout to prevent it from collapsing over time. Several years later, an agitator rod was pulled from within the tank and found to contain significant amounts of radiation, indicating there was still radioactive waste in the tank. Several alternati… more
Date: January 1, 1991
Creator: Marske, S.G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Relevance of biotic pathways to the long-term regulation of nuclear waste disposal. A report on Tasks 1 and 2 of Phase I. [Shallow land burial]

Description: The purpose of the work reported here was to evaluate the relevance of biotic transport to the assessment of impacts and licensing of low-level waste disposal sites. Available computer models and their recent applications at low-level waste disposal sites are considered. Biotic transport mechanisms and processes for both terrestrial and aquatic systems are presented with examples from existing waste disposal sites. Following a proposed system for ranking radionuclides by their potential for bio… more
Date: July 1, 1982
Creator: McKenzie, D. H.; Cadwell, L. L.; Cushing, C. E. Jr.; Harty, R.; Kennedy, W. E. Jr.; Simmons, M. A. et al.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Energy Program annual report

Description: The national economy is particularly dependent on efficient electrical generation and transportation. Electrical demand continues to grow and will increasingly rely on coal and nuclear fuels. The nuclear power industry still has not found a solution to the problem of disposing of the waste produced by nuclear reactors. Although coal is in ample supply and the infrastructure is in place for its utilization, environmental problems and improved conversion processes remain technical challenges. In … more
Date: February 1, 1988
Creator: Borg, I.Y. (ed.)
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

State-of-the-art for evaluating the potential impact of flooding on a radioactive waste repository

Description: This report is a review of the state-of-the-art for evaluating the potential impact of flooding on a deep radioactive-waste repository, namely, for predicting the future occurrence of catastrophic flooding and for estimating the effect of such flooding on waste containment characteristics. Several detrimental effects are identified: flooding can increase groundwater seepage velocities through a repository within the framework of the existing hydrologic system and thus increase the rate of radio… more
Date: July 16, 1980
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Management of radioactive waste gases from the nuclear fuel cycle. Volume I. Comparison of alternatives

Description: Alternatives were compared for collection and fixation of radioactive waste gases released during normal operation of the nuclear fuel cycle, and for transportation and storage/disposal of the resulting waste forms. The study used a numerical rating scheme to evaluate and compare the alternatives for krypton-85, iodine-129, and carbon-14; whereas a subjective evaluation, based on published reports and engineering judgement, was made for transportation and storage/disposal options. Based on thes… more
Date: December 1, 1980
Creator: Evans, A. G.; Prout, W. E.; Buckner, J. T. & Buckner, M. R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Innovative approach to asbestos removal

Description: The most common asbestos materials used at the Savannah River site include: steam pipe insulation; powerhouse boiler insulation; wallboards; roofing materials; and cement products. Asbestos was also found in a number of other materials: aprons; gaskets; laboratory hot pads; and talcum powder used for gloves. Techniques for removal; personnel training; mechanical ventilation; and personnel isolation techniques are described for completing asbestos removal safely and without boiler downtime. (PSB) more
Date: January 1, 1984
Creator: Kahal, E J
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Preliminary assessment of tree mortality near F- and H-area seepage basins

Description: A preliminary assessment was conducted to evaluate factors that may have been responsible for the vegetation damage that has occurred in groundwater seeps downslope from the F- and H-area seepage basins. The factors that were considered included altered hydrology, toxicity from hazardous chemical constituents associated with seepage basin operation, and toxicity from non-hazardous constituents associated with basin operation. It was concluded that the observed damage was not likely to have resu… more
Date: January 28, 1988
Creator: Loehle, C & Gladden, J
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Studies of nuclear-waste migration in geologic media. Annual report, November 1976--October 1977

Description: The confinement of nuclear wastes in geologic formations is being considered as a method of permanently disposing of the waste. Laboratory experiments (column infiltration, static absorption, and batch partitioning experiments) were performed with nuclides of Cs, Pu, Np, and Am to examine the migratory characteristics of long-lived radionuclides that could be mobilized by groundwaters infiltrating a nuclear waste repository and the surrounding geologic body. In column infiltration experiments, … more
Date: March 1, 1978
Creator: Seitz, M.G.; Rickert, P.G.; Fried, S.M.; Friedman, A.M. & Steindler, M.J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Analytical model for a vertical buoyant jet

Description: An analytical model for a round and two-dimensional turbulent buoyant jet which is discharged vertically into a stagnant ambient is developed. The buoyant jet is considered to have three separate zone models which are matched to form a complete solution. The velocity field is determined for the entire jet and plume regions by the use of an eddy viscosity which varies along the axis of the jet. The centerline decay of buoyancy is determined throughout and the results are compared to existing num… more
Date: October 1, 1980
Creator: Lee, D. W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Decommissioning of commercial shallow-land burial sites

Description: Estimated costs and safety considerations for decommissioning LLW burial grounds have been evaluated. Calculations are based on a generic burial ground assumed to be located at a western and an eastern site. Decommissioning modes include: (1) site stabilization followed by long-term care of the site; and (2) waste relocation. Site stabilization is estimated to cost from $0.4 million to $7.5 million, depending on the site and the stabilization option chosen. Long-term care is estimated to cost a… more
Date: January 1, 1979
Creator: Murphy, E. S. & Holter, G. M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Radiochemical analyses of samples from beneath a solid radioactive waste disposal pit at Los Alamos, New Mexico

Description: Solid radioactive wastes are disposed of by burial in pits excavated in rhyolite tuff at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL). Contaminants in the waste include fission products, uranium, and transuranic elements. In 1976, horizontal core holes were drilled beneath a waste disposal pit that was used from 1963 to 1966. Samples of the core were analyzed for gross alpha, gross beta, total uranium, /sup 90/Sr, /sup 137/Cs, /sup 238/Pu, /sup 239/ /sup 240/Pu, and /sup 241/Am. The measured gro… more
Date: June 1, 1980
Creator: Purtymun, W. D.; Rogers, M. A. & Wheeler, M. L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Rapid seepage of contaminants through the highwall of a uranium mill tailings pit. [MIGRAT]

Description: A computer code (MIGRAT) is used to quantify the migration of moisture and multiple retarded contaminants in the unsaturated zone and assess the impact of open mine disposal of uranium mill tailings. The model is applied to a generic uranium mill tailings. The model is applied to a generic uranium mill tailings pit constructed with a clay-lined bottom and steep unlined sidewalls. The migration of a two contaminant system is modeled assuming that neither contaminant decays and only one contamina… more
Date: January 1, 1984
Creator: Pin, F.G.; Witten, A.J.; Sharp, R.D. & Long, E.C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Tritium storage development. Progress report No. 12, April--June 1977. [In metal hydride; polymer impregnated tritiated concrete]

Description: Laboratory work was continued on hydriding of zirconium sponge and rod under varying conditions of temperature (400 to 900/sup 0/C) and pressure (0-1000 torr) to determine optimum conditions for the formation of hydrides with desirable mechanical properties. Titanium sponge and rod were also hydrided for comparison. Zirconium and titanium samples containing tritium were prepared and initial leach data were obtained. Leach rates for zirconium in distilled water ranged from 1.1 x 10/sup -6/ to 4.… more
Date: January 1, 1976
Creator: Colombo, P
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Evaluation of proposed designs for streamflow monitoring structures at waste disposal sites

Description: Design of small surface water monitoring stations associated with waste sites requires an approach that balances several problems. The monitoring site must have a capacity for a wide range of flows, allow accurate measurements over the full performance range, minimize effects from accumulation of contaminated sediments, and minimize costs of construction and operation. Selecting a station design that takes these factors into consideration can be done systematically through use of formal decisio… more
Date: January 1, 1991
Creator: Clapp, R. B.; Borders, D. M.; Tardiff, M. F. & Huff, D. D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Geothermal power production: accidental fluid releases, waste disposal, and water use

Description: Environmental problems related to the use and disposal of fluids can accompany the operation of geothermal power plants using hot water resources (temperature > 150/sup 0/C). More than 100 kg of fluids must be extracted, processed, and disposed for each kW.h of electricity generated from a facility relying on a geothermal reservoir with fluids of 150/sup 0/C. The low thermal efficiencies of geothermal power plants result in large requirements for cooling water - over 7.4 x 10/sup 4/ m/sup 3//MW… more
Date: June 1, 1980
Creator: Layton, D. W. & Morris, W. F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Environmental Assessment: geothermal direct heat project, Marlin, Texas

Description: The Federal action addressed by this Environmental Assessment (EA) is joint funding the retrofitting of a heating and hot water system in a hospital at Marlin, Texas, with a geothermal preheat system. The project will be located within the existing hospital boiler room. One supply well was drilled in an existing adjacent parking lot. It was necessary to drill the well prior to completion of this environmental assessment in order to confirm the reservoir and to obtain fluids for analysis in orde… more
Date: August 1, 1980
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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State-of-the-art for evaluating the potential effects of erosion and deposition on a radioactive waste repository. Final report

Description: The potential impact of future geologic processes on the integrity of a deep, high-level radioactive-waste repository is evaluated. The following study identifies the potential consequences of surface erosion and deposition on sub-surface repository containment characteristics and assesses the ability to measure and predict quantitatively the rates and corresponding extent of these processes in the long term. Numerous studies of the magnitudes and rates of surficial erosion and deposition that … more
Date: July 16, 1980
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Identifying suitable "piercement" salt domes for nuclear waste storage sites

Description: Piercement salt domes of the northern interior salt basins of the Gulf of Mexico are being considered as permanent storage sites for both nuclear and chemically toxic wastes. The suitable domes are stable and inactive, having reached their final evolutionary configuration at least 30 million years ago. They are buried to depths far below the level to which erosion will penetrate during the prescribed storage period and are not subject to possible future reactivation. The salt cores of these dom… more
Date: August 1, 1980
Creator: Kehle, R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Thermal convection at low Rayleigh number from concentrated sources in porous media

Description: A simple mathematical theory is proposed for the analysis of natural convective motion, at low Rayleigh number, from a concentrated source of heat in a fluid-saturated porous medium. The theory consists of retaining only the leading terms of series expansions of the dependent variables in terms of the Rayleigh number, is thus linear, and is valid only in the limit of small Rayleigh number. Based on fundamental results for a variety of isolated sources, superposition is used to provide solutions… more
Date: January 1, 1980
Creator: Hickox, C. E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Conversion rates in power plant plumes based on filter pack data. Part I. Coal-fired Cumberland plume

Description: The TVA Cumberland Steam Plant plume was monitored during the August 1978 Tennessee Plume Study of Project STATE. Samples were obtained by employing a triple screen high-volume assembly which contained: (1) a quartz filter for collecting particulate SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/, NO/sub 3//sup -/ and NH/sub 4//sup +/, (2) two NaCl-impregnated cellulose filters for collecting gaseous nitrate, and (3) two K/sub 2/CO/sub 3/-impregnated cellulose filters for collecting SO/sub 2/. Formation rates of sulfate an… more
Date: January 1, 1980
Creator: Forrest, J; Garber, R W & Newman, L
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Bibliography of reports by US Geological Survey personnel pertaining to underground nuclear testing and radioactive waste disposal at the Nevada Test Site, and radioactive waste disposal at the WIPP Site, New Mexico, January 1, 1979-December 31, 1979

Description: This bibliography presents reports released to the public between January 1, 1979, and December 31, 1979, by personnel of the US Geological Survey. Reports include information on underground nuclear testing and waste management projects at the NTS (Nevada Test Site) and radioactive waste projects at the WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant) site, New Mexico. Reports on Project Dribble, Tatum Dome, Mississippi, previously prepared as administrative reports and released to the public as 474-series r… more
Date: January 1, 1980
Creator: Glanzman, V.M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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