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Improving Operations and Long-Term Safety of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Interim Report (2000) / Chapter Skim
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Baseline Radiogenic Analysis of Subsurface Fluids
Pages 7-12

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From page 7...
... Fincdinq: There has been extensive monitoring of radioactivity in the air, soils, fluvial sediments, surface water, and shallow groundwater in the area surrounding WIPP.3 However, the committee has determined that radiological baseline information is not available for subsurface brines and hydrocarbons near the WIPP site. This baseline information is important for environmental monitoring in the operational and postoperational phases of WIPP.
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From page 8...
... An example of the need to obtain adequate NORM background data already has been observed with occurrences of natural surface contamination on the exterior of truck transportation packages while en route to WIPP during the first three months of operation. "Human intrusion scenarios" involving hydrocarbon exploration and production are now considered processes through which radionuclides might be released from WIPP (Kirkes, 1998~.
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From page 9...
... 241. Interim Report 9
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From page 10...
... The legend shows various shadings corresponding to various ranges of dose rates measured in microrems per hour (,urem/h)
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From page 11...
... no major hydrocarbon-producing basin in Texas is exempt from high levels of radioactivity." The major hydrocarbon-producing basins in Texas described by Fisher include the Delaware Basin, which contain producing formations near the WIPP site, and the adjacent Central Basin Platform (Hill, 1996,p.26~. In response to committee requests for information, DOE has answered that no data have been collected on "naturally occurring radionuclides in the underground brines and hydrocarbons near WIPP by DOE.
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From page 12...
... For the reasons given above, the committee supports the cofIecfion of NORM data on deep subsurface fluids, even though the isotopic signatures of NORM and TRU waste radioactivity are expected to differ and therefore to be readily distinguishable. In the committee's view, DOE would be better served to possess these NORM data prior to any reportecl discovery of significant raclioactivity in the region; hence, in its recommenclation the committee proposes that this survey to sample deep subsurface fluids be conducted in the near term.
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Key Terms

  • tru waste
  • subsurface fluids
  • hydrocarbon production
  • tru inventory
  • hydrocarbons near

  • producing formations
  • solids associated
  • petroleum resources
  • waste emplaced
  • deep subsurface

  • near wipp
  • dose rates
  • human intrusion
  • norm deposits
  • norm data

  • norm background
  • sampling plan
  • contains fission
  • contain norm
  • central basin

  • waste include
  • surface soil
  • waste contents
  • obtain adequate
  • inventory destined

  • requires shielding
  • geological survey
  • site include
  • committee proposes
  • include isotopes


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
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