Research in Support of Remediation Activities at the Savannah River Site
J.
C. Seaman1, B. B. Looney2, and M. K. Harris2
1Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, The University of Georgia,
Aiken, SC 29802, USA
2Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken SC 29808
Abstract
The
USDOE Savannah River Site (SRS), an 803-km2 (310-mile2)
facility located south of Aiken, SC on the upper Atlantic Coastal Plain
and bounded to the west by the Savannah River, was established in the
1950s for the production and refinement of nuclear materials. To fulfill
this mission during the past 50 years SRS has operated five nuclear reactors,
two large chemical separation areas, waste disposal facilities (landfills,
waste ponds, waste tanks, and waste stabilization), and a large number
of research and logistics support facilities. Contaminants of concern
(COC) resulting from site operations include chlorinated solvents, radionuclides,
metals, and metalloids, often found as complex mixtures that greatly complicate
remediation efforts when compared with civilian industries. The objective
of this article is to provide a description of the lithology and hydrostatigraphy
of the SRS, as well as a brief history of site operations and research
activities as a preface to the current special section of Vadose Zone
Journal (VZJ) dedicated to SRS, focusing mainly on issues that are
unique to the USDOE complex. Contributions to the special section reflect
a diverse range of topics, from hydrologic tracer experiments conducted
both within the vadose and
saturated zones to studies specifically aimed at identifying geochemical
processes controlling the migration and partitioning of specific contaminants
(e.g., TCE, 137Cs, U, and Pu) in SRS subsurface environments.
Addressing the diverse environmental challenges of the SRS provides a
unique opportunity to conduct both fundamental and applied research across
a range of experimental scales. Hence, the SRS has been a pioneering force
in several areas of environmental research and remediation, often through
active interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers from other USDOE
facilities, academic and federal institutions,
and commercial entities.
SREL Reprint #3038
Seaman, J.
C., B. B. Looney, and M. K. Harris 2007. Research in Support of Remediation
Activities at the Savannah River Site. Vadose Zone Journal 6:316-326.
