Department Of Energy Environmental Management Research Articles

Review of Waste Management Symposium 2007, Tucson, AZ, USA

Review of Waste Management Symposium 2007, Tucson, AZ, USA

Long-Term Verification of Cover Systems Using Perfluorocarbon Tracers

The expanded use of caps and cover systems is an important aspect of the U.S. Department of Energy Environmental Management’s strategy for restoration and long-term stewardship of sites throughout the complex. However, very little is available in terms of long-term monitoring of covers other than downstream groundwater or surface water monitoring. A novel methodology for verifying and monitoring subsurface barriers and cover systems has been developed. Gaseous perfluorocarbon tracers (PFTs) are injected on one side of the barrier and searched for on the opposite side of the barrier. The capability for leak detection in subsurface barriers using PFTs has been proven at multiple demonstrations. Adaptation of this concept to covers is a necessary step prior to full-scale demonstration. This paper discusses the PFT technology and a successful proof-of-principle test of the PFT technology as a leak detection tool for cover verification and monitoring.

Consensus Seeking Versus Truth Seeking

Postmodernists have long argued that giving an egalitarian voice to all citizens by seeking consensus decisions with cooperation improves social welfare more effectively than the competition traditionally used with common sense and scientific evidence as part of truth seeking in a democracy. In a recent evaluation of its policy on consensus, the Department of Energy Environmental Management (DOE-EM) encouraged its Citizen Site Specific Advisory Boards “to work toward consensus” in order to be “fair,” thereby improving American democracy, according to the lead evaluator. But no empirical evidence has been collected from the field by the Evaluation Team to validate the DOE’s policy. In contrast, the literature and field data contradict the Team: consensus seeking retards cleanup; the coercion necessary to seek consensus reduces trust; and consensus-seeking favors risk perception rather than scientifically determined risk. In contrast, the competition of ideas driven by truth seeking significantly accelerate...

Cone-based geophysical imaging: A proposed solution to a challenging problem

There are many locations throughout the world where subsurface contamination impacts the natural environment, with potentially serious consequences for the quality of our water and for human heath. At U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sites alone there are estimated to be “about 6.4 billion cubic meters of contaminated soil, groundwater and other environmental media” (DOE Environmental Management Science Program announcement 02–03). One of the initial steps in dealing with a contaminated site is that referred to as site characterization. During site characterization, measurements are made that allow for the development of an accurate model of the physical, chemical, biological, and hydrogeological properties of the subsurface. Such a model is required to design an appropriate plan for remediation of a contaminated site and can also be used, and continually updated, for short-term or long-term monitoring of the site. Site characterization can involve locating and identifying a known or suspected contaminant, and can also involve determining the properties of the subsurface controlling the fate and transport of the contaminant. The challenging problem we face, at many sites, is identifying an approach to site characterization that provides the required information about the subsurface while minimizing the risks associated with contacting the contaminated region. The most common approach to site characterization involves drilling and directly sampling the near surface (top ∼100 m) of the earth. Boreholes are used to extract samples for laboratory analyses, for borehole logging, and to conduct on-site testing. Examples of on-site testing include water sampling for the direct detection of contaminants and pump tests, slugs tests, and tracer tests to estimate hydraulic conductivity. While the borehole-based methods can provide direct and accurate measurement of subsurface properties of interest, they are limited in terms of the spatial density of the sampling (dictated by the number of boreholes) and the volume of …

7.1.3 Radioactive Material Transportation Requirements for the Department of Energy

AbstractThe Department of Energy (DOE) created the National Transportation Program (NTP) whose goal is to ensure the availability of safe, efficient, and timely transportation of DOE materials. The Integration and Planning Group of the NTP, assisted by Global Technologies Incorporated (GTI), was tasked to identify requirements associated with the transport of DOE Environmental Management (EM) radiological waste/material. A systems engineering approach was used to identify source documents, extract requirements, perform a functional analysis, and set up a transportation requirements management database in RDD‐100. Functions and requirements for transporting the following DOE radioactive waste/material are contained in the database: high level radioactive waste (HLW), low‐level radioactive waste (LLW), mixed low‐level radioactive waste (MLLW), nuclear materials (NM), spent nuclear fuel (SNF), and transuranic waste (TRU waste). The requirements will be used in the development of standard transportation protocols for DOE shipping. The protocols will then be combined into a DOE Transportation Program Management Guide, which will be used to standardize DOE transportation processes.

Department of Energy Environmental Management Complex‐Wide Integration Using System Engineering

ABSTRACTA systems engineering approach was successfully used to recommend changes to environmental management activities across the DOE Complex. A team of technical experts and systems engineers developed alternatives that could save tax payers billions of dollars if the barriers are removed to allow complete implementation. The alternatives are technically‐based and defensible, and are being worked through the stakeholder review process. The integration process and implementing project structure are both discussed.