Hydrology of the National Reactor Testing Station, Idaho, 1966

Barraclough, J.T.; Teasdale, Warren E.; Robertson, J.B.; Jensen, R.G.

doi:10.3133/ofr6712

Cited by 32 publications

(43 citation statements)

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“…Figure 51 shows a cumulative graph of tritium discharged using the same pre-1961 estimates, with decay losses deducted. The 14·,000 Ci total agrees reasonably well with the amount of waste tritium that appears to be present in the ground water, according to an estimated materials balance on tritium (Barraclough, Teasdale, Robertson, and Jensen, 1967). The behavior and distribution of tritium and other waste products in the groundwater is discussed in detail in the next section of this report.…”

Section: Volume and Radioactive Componentssupporting

confidence: 73%

“…Indirect estimates of general flow rates were made by assuming certain properties of the aquifer. Studies at the NRTS (Barraclough, Teasdale, Robertson, and Jensen, 1967 and data presented later in this report) indicate the effective (water-transmitting) porosity of the aquifer is in the range of 5 to 10%. If a value of 8% is assumed together with an effective aquifer thickness of 2,000 feet, an average flow rate can be calculated.…”

Section: Snake River Plain Aquifermentioning

confidence: 68%

“…Continuous data on the complete waste composition of effluents are not available. For example, tritium, in the form of tritiated water, is the principal radioactive component in the ICPP waste, but was not discovered and monitored until1961 (Barraclough, Teasdale, Robertson, and Jensen, 1967), although it had been a significant waste product since 1952. With these types of limitations, it is not possible to list a complete and accurate description of the quantities and characteristics of all ICPP waste products which have been discharged to the subsurface.…”

Section: Icpp Liquid Waste Disposalmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been estimated that 10,000 to 20,000 Ci of tritium were discharged' at the ICPP between 1952 and December 1961 (Barraclough, Teasdale, Robertson, and Jensen, 1967;Hawkins and Schmalz. 1965 of tritium over the period of record, including the pre-1961 estimates of Barraclough, Teasdale, Robertson, and Jensen (1967). Figure 51 shows a cumulative graph of tritium discharged using the same pre-1961 estimates, with decay losses deducted.…”

Section: Volume and Radioactive Componentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The influence of liquid waste disposal on the geochemistry of water at the National Reactor Testing Station, Idaho, 1952-1970

Robertson¹,

Schoen²,

Barraclough³

1974

Open-File Report

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This report describes studies at the National Reactor Testing Station (NR TS), Idaho by the U. S. Geological Survey, which were sponsored by the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission. It presents a summarized evaluation of the geology, hydrology, and water geochemistry of the NR TS and the associated influences of subsurface liquid-waste prod1,1cts discharged from the NRTS facilities. The progressive buildup, distribution, and changes of both radioactive and chemical wastes are analyzed for the total disposal period--1952-70. Of principal concern is the fate of wastes discharged from the NR TS in the Snakt;, River Plain aquifer, an extremely lai·ge and productive groundwater system underlying the voast eastern Snake River Plain.A review of the available evidence for the geologic formation and structure of the plain indicates that it is most likely a large graben structure with several thousand feet of displacement, filled with a thick sequence of basalt flows and interbedded sediments. In some areas (Twin and Big Southern Buttes) silicic volcanism has been important. The formation of the plain and associated volcanism began about 7 million years ago (Pliocene time) and has continued to recent time, no more than 1,600 years ago. These conclusions are supported by new geochemical data gathered from thermal springs around the fringes of the plain.Runoff from the mountainous fringes of the plain (such as the Big Lost River) recharges groundwater in the Snake River Plain aquifer, which flows southwestward toward the American Falls and Hagerman Valley areas of discharge into the Snake River. Groundwater beneath the NR TS is of exceptionally good quality with low dissolved solids (generally about 250 milligrams per liter) due to the abundant precipitative recharge in surrounding mountains, the high permeability of the aquifer and short residence time of most groundwater, the .relative inertness of the basaltic matrix, and the mildly alkaline composition of recharge to the aquifer. The composition of the groundwater generally reflects the composition .of rocks in the surrounding mountains and valleys rather than the composition of Snake River Plain basalts. Deep groundwater beneath the NR TS contains appreciably greater amounts of sodium, fluoride, and silica than shallow groundwater and is inferred to reflect the presence of silicic volcanic rock beneath the basalts and sediments of the Plain as well as longer groundwater residence periods. Irrigation recharge water can be readily distinguished from ordinary groundwater by its higher content of dissolved solids, higher nitrate, and wanner temperature. Due to the near-saturation of groundwater beneath the NRTS with calcite and dolomite, care must be used in its utilization to avoid precipitation of solids.Since 1952, the NRTS facilities (primarily the Test Reactor Area--TRA, Idaho Chemical Processing Plant --ICPP, and the Naval Reactor Facility --NRF) have discharged ll 1.6 X 1010 gallons of liquid waste containing 7 X 104 curies of radioactivity and about l X 108 poun...

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Section: Volume and Radioactive Componentssupporting

confidence: 73%

Section: Snake River Plain Aquifermentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Icpp Liquid Waste Disposalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Volume and Radioactive Componentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The influence of liquid waste disposal on the geochemistry of water at the National Reactor Testing Station, Idaho, 1952-1970

Robertson¹,

Schoen²,

Barraclough³

1974

Open-File Report

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show abstract

“…Bennett (1990, p. 45) estimated discharge at the Lincoln Boulevard bridge from unpublished records prior to 1984 and from published records during 1984-94. Large discharges occurred during 1965, 1967, 1969-71, 1974, 1975, and 1982-86. No flow took place during 1977-79 and during 1988 Instantaneous losses from the Big Lost River channel between Arco and the Big Lost River sinks ( fig.…”

Section: Recharge From the Big Lost Rivermentioning

confidence: 99%

A Transient Numerical Simulation of Perched Ground-Water Flow at the Test Reactor Area, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho, 1952-94

Orr¹

1999

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Preferential flow, diffuse flow, and perching in an interbedded fractured-rock unsaturated zone

et al. 2016

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Hydrology of the National Reactor Testing Station, Idaho, 1966

Cited by 32 publications

References 0 publications

The influence of liquid waste disposal on the geochemistry of water at the National Reactor Testing Station, Idaho, 1952-1970

The influence of liquid waste disposal on the geochemistry of water at the National Reactor Testing Station, Idaho, 1952-1970

A Transient Numerical Simulation of Perched Ground-Water Flow at the Test Reactor Area, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho, 1952-94

Preferential flow, diffuse flow, and perching in an interbedded fractured-rock unsaturated zone

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