Plans and Practices for Groundwater Protection at the Los Alamos National Laboratory

Plans and Practices for Groundwater Protection at the Los Alamos National Laboratory

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2007-10-18

Total Pages: 104

ISBN-13: 0309106192

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The world's first nuclear bomb was a developed in 1954 at a site near the town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. Designated as the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in 1981, the 40-square-mile site is today operated by Log Alamos National Security LLC under contract to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Like other sites in the nation's nuclear weapons complex, the LANL site harbors a legacy of radioactive waste and environmental contamination. Radioactive materials and chemical contaminants have been detected in some portions of the groundwater beneath the site. Under authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the State of New Mexico regulates protection of its water resources through the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). In 1995 NMED found LANL's groundwater monitoring program to be inadequate. Consequently LANL conducted a detailed workplan to characterize the site's hydrogeology in order to develop an effective monitoring program. The study described in Plans and Practices for Groundwater Protection at the Los Alamos National Laboratory: Final Report was initially requested by NNSA, which turned to the National Academies for technical advice and recommendations regarding several aspects of LANL's groundwater protection program. The DOE Office of Environmental Management funded the study. The study came approximately at the juncture between completion of LANL's hydrogeologic workplan and initial development of a sitewide monitoring plan.


Bioaugmentation for Groundwater Remediation

Bioaugmentation for Groundwater Remediation

Author: Hans F. Stroo

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-10-02

Total Pages: 421

ISBN-13: 1461441153

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​This volume provides a review of the past 10 to 15 years of intensive research, development and demonstrations that have been on the forefront of developing bioaugmentation into a viable remedial technology. This volume provides both a primer on the basic microbial processes involved in bioaugmentation, as well as a thorough summary of the methodology for implementing the technology. This reference volume will serve as a valuable resource for environmental remediation professionals who seek to understand, evaluate, and implement bioaugmentation.


Assessment of the Performance of Engineered Waste Containment Barriers

Assessment of the Performance of Engineered Waste Containment Barriers

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2007-09-22

Total Pages: 135

ISBN-13: 0309108098

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President Carter's 1980 declaration of a state of emergency at Love Canal, New York, recognized that residents' health had been affected by nearby chemical waste sites. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, enacted in 1976, ushered in a new era of waste management disposal designed to protect the public from harm. It required that modern waste containment systems use "engineered" barriers designed to isolate hazardous and toxic wastes and prevent them from seeping into the environment. These containment systems are now employed at thousands of waste sites around the United States, and their effectiveness must be continually monitored. Assessment of the Performance of Engineered Waste Containment Barriers assesses the performance of waste containment barriers to date. Existing data suggest that waste containment systems with liners and covers, when constructed and maintained in accordance with current regulations, are performing well thus far. However, they have not been in existence long enough to assess long-term (postclosure) performance, which may extend for hundreds of years. The book makes recommendations on how to improve future assessments and increase confidence in predictions of barrier system performance which will be of interest to policy makers, environmental interest groups, industrial waste producers, and industrial waste management industry.


Groundwater Monitoring Handbook for Coal and Oil Shale Development

Groundwater Monitoring Handbook for Coal and Oil Shale Development

Author: L.G. Everett

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 1985-07-01

Total Pages: 327

ISBN-13: 0080870155

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Standing alone as the main authority on the subject, this handbook is the result of a multi-million dollar investigation into groundwater monitoring strategies at energy extraction sites. It gives a detailed, step-by-step description of a proven groundwater monitoring methodology which can be used at all potential pollution sites. This methodology, developed by the author and a ``blue ribbon'' team of hydrologists and hydrogeologists from all over the United States, is endorsed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as ``establishing the state-of-the-art used by industry today''.Although site-specific data are provided, the handbook is developed for general application to coal and oil shale development. All sources of potential groundwater contamination from these two energy extraction types are identified as part of the overall monitoring strategy. Sampling methods are presented, including well design, monitor well placement, sample collection methods, sampling frequency, sample preservation and handling, selection and preservation of constituents for monitoring, sample analysis, and interpretation of water quality data. A complete review is provided of drill stem steps, dual packer tests, long term pump tests, and single packer tests. In addition, hydraulic methods, the application of geophysical techniques including temperature, caliper, gamma ray, spinner, radioactive tracer, velocity, sonic, density, electric, and seisviewer logs are presented. The use of a chronological series of steps, each being fully developed and extensively referenced, means that it is particularly easy to follow for the reader wishing to establish a groundwater monitoring program at a coal or oil shale site. One of the great advantages of the handbook is that it is very detailed, with actual data provided.The handbook is a must for consulting engineers, coal and oil development companies, government and private environmental groups, institutes and universities involved in pollution studies. It will also undoubtedly be used to good advantage by teachers and students for many different types of courses including geological engineering, coal and oil shale mining, environmental geology, sanitary engineering, hydrogeology, etc.