Skip to main content

Science and Technology for Environmental Cleanup at Hanford (2001) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

7 Groundwater Technical Element
Pages 100-107

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 100...
... These hydraulic mounds have generally accelerated flow rates and, in some cases, have reversed flow directions from natural conditions. Groundwater tends to follow nearly horizontal flow paths in the sediments underlying the Hanford Site.
Read the entire page →
From page 101...
... Vertical components of flow may be substantial where contaminants enter the groundwater from disposal areas in the vadose zone. Vertical gradients influence the distribution and transport of contaminants (Figure 7.1 )
Read the entire page →
From page 102...
... Scaling of geochemical properties remains to be developecl, but in general, Groundwater transport of contaminants is easier both to measure and to model than is vadose zone transport. SCOPE OF THE GROUNDWATER TECHNICAL ELEMENT The main sources of information used in this assessment are the Integration Project Roadmap (DOE, 2000a)
Read the entire page →
From page 103...
... This activity includes three projects (GW-14 through GW-16) to develop approaches for implementing three-dimensional transport models that can be run at multiple scales and three projects to develop methods for incorporating heterogeneity and uncertainty in these models for groundwater under a boiling waste tank (GW-17)
Read the entire page →
From page 104...
... dollars) Groundwater- 4 Obtain an improved 2001-2003 2,100 0 vadose zone understanding of the interface relationships between study contaminant transport through the vadose zone and plume formation in groundwater Biogeochemical 3 Obtain an improved 2001-2004 7,800 0 reactive understanding of redox transport conditions, the role of complexants in transport, and the location and characteristics of DNAPL contamination Hydrogeological 5 Develop an improved 2001-2003 3,000 0 charactenz- understanding and ation study characterization of subsurface heterogeneity on contaminant transport Regional plume 1 Obtain an improved 2001 2,100 0 geometry understanding of the three-dimensional geometry of contaminant plumes in Groundwater Multiscale three- 6 Obtain an improved 2001-2003 1,300 0 dimensional understanding of model heterogeneity and development uncertainty that can be incorporated into multiscale models Groundwater 1 Obtain an improved In ob 0 discharge understanding of progress study contaminant release locations and fluxes to the Columbia River NOTE: EMSP = Environmental Management Science Program The Integration Project intends to seek funding from national S&T programs (e.g., DOE Headquarters)
Read the entire page →
From page 105...
... Task GW-12, which has the same general objective for a high-level waste tank site, has a 24month time line. The expected outcomes of GW-1 1 and GW-12 include providing estimates of small-scale hydrogeological property variability and spatial correlation in a form amenable for use in numerical models, investigating the scale dependence of hydraulic measurements, and investigating important scales of physical and hydrogeological heterogeneity characterization.
Read the entire page →
From page 106...
... Does the planned work address the important issues? The broad tasks outlined in the Groundwater Technical Element address the core issues that have to be resolved with respect to contaminant fate and transport in groundwater at the Hanford Site.
Read the entire page →
From page 107...
... Although the documentation of detailed research plans is sparse, the planned S&T activities in the Groundwater Technical Element appear to identify a set of projects and investigations that can add confidence to the assessment of contaminant migration in Groundwater at Hanford. Because Groundwater modeling has progressed to a greater degree than many other S&T issues discussed in this report, the committee agrees with the Integration Project's decision to assign a lower priority to the Groundwater Technical Element relative to the other technical elements.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • groundwater technical
  • vadose zone
  • integration project
  • hanford site
  • columbia river

  • project roadmap
  • activity includes
  • contaminant transport
  • contaminant plumes
  • saturated zone

  • planned work
  • groundwater flow
  • groundwater transport
  • work planned
  • planned funding

  • waste tank
  • contaminant fate
  • dilute waste
  • lower priority
  • waste tanks

  • includes five
  • spatial correlation
  • potential receptors
  • highly mobile
  • committee offers

  • tasks outlined
  • central plateau
  • boiling waste
  • primary pathway
  • technical elements


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.