Blueprint for Environmental Remediation:

The SRNL Approach to Reducing Environmental Risk October 2012

Introduction
Reducing Environmental Risk
The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is the United States Department of Energys lead laboratory for environmental management and the only national laboratory dedicated to applied science. With experience spanning six decades (and counting) as well as expertise spanning all radiological and chemical disciplines, SRNL has an extensive record of defining and developing technologies for deployment to meet identified needs. SRNL recognizes that effectively evaluating and addressing each unique environmental remediation situation requires experienced and knowledgeable personnel and broad technical capabilities. However, SRNL also has recognized that a single comprehensive approach may facilitate evaluating and addressing any environmental clean-up. Drawing upon its long experience as technology innovator and integrator, SRNL has synthesized the complex process of dealing conclusively with nuclear waste and materials into a uniform framework for efficiently selecting strategies, technologies, and resources appropriate to site-specific conditions and desired end states. An interlinked network of zones representing an environmental remediation site provides a tool for approaching complex clean-up problems. The definition of typical characteristics, end-state objectives, strategic considerations, and types of technologies of those zones expedites characterization of any site, prioritization of any clean-up effort, alignment of resources with risk reduction, technical and project management, and communication with stakeholders. SRNL has successfully applied the SRNL Blueprint to large nuclear facility decommissioning, nuclear materials disposition, radiological waste disposition, and soil and groundwater remediation. The SRNL Blueprint enables expeditious definition of environmental remediation solutions that are economically and technically practicable and acceptable to stakeholders. For more information on this approach and its applications, please contact Andrew Fellinger at a.fellinger@srnl.doe.gov.

Zones of a physical plume extending outward from the source of radiation/waste/ contamination to areas of lesser risk Source Zone

Impact Zone

Transition Zone

Disturbed Zone

Source Zone Engineered system containing or releasing radiological or other hazardous materials or wastes Engineered system is complex and possibly impaired Typical Characteristics Conditions

Disturbed Zone Patchy hot spots of contamination outside the source zone

Impact Zone Contamination dispersed over a moderate to large area

Transition Zone Large total volume of contaminated media (water, soil, air, etc.)

Configuration

Proximity to source zone may mean manmade structures hinder access to hot spots and deployment of clean-up technologies

The size and shape of the dispersal area is determined by the physical and chemical nature of the waste and the flow rate and migration pattern of the dispersal fluid May pose human and environmental risk if not remediated

Contaminated media slowly attenuate toward normal

Risk

Key risks to workers from potential radiological/ chemical dose/ contamination and possible structural deterioration Prevent radiation uptake, radiological/ chemical contamination, and injury to workers; prevent radiation/ contaminant release outside source zone Radiological or other hazardous materials safely removed; wastes safely removed, stabilized, and/or fixed in place Removed radiological/ chemical materials and wastes converted to usable or disposable forms

Immediate risks to workers; may pose broader human and environmental risk if not cleaned up Prevent radiation uptake, radiological/ chemical contamination, and injury to workers; eliminate contamination from disturbed zone Contaminated media safely removed

Diffuse contaminants pose lower human and environmental risk but may require response to reduce risks to as low as reasonably achievable Reduce contaminant mobility, toxicity, or solubility

Reduce contaminant mobility, toxicity, or solubility

Risk

End-State Objectives Zone Area

Contaminated media stabilized and attenuated

Contaminated media isolated or stabilized and monitored

Waste/ Contaminated Media

Removed contaminated media converted to usable or disposable forms

Reduced concentration allows contaminated media to safely revert to natural state

Contaminated media returns to natural conditions and unrestricted use

Source Zone Engineered system well understood, but structural damage or deterioration must be factored in to clean-up solution

Disturbed Zone Technology matching process benefits from knowledge of facility history, site-specific conditions and waste characteristics to help focus on the likely hot spots Innovative characterization to refine the limits of contaminated materials can significantly improve efficiency Because unit costs are typically $/m,3 limiting the volume of material to be treated reduces clean-up cost Access tools such a direct push or cone penetrometer; Immobilization methods such as encapsulation or precipitation; Capping and other barrier technologies

Impact Zone Technology matching process benefits from knowledge of sitespecific conditions that control the dispersal of the contamination, such as meteorology, hydrogeology, and biogeochemistry Innovative characterization may help refine preferential flow paths to help target remedial actions

Transition Zone Aim is to facilitate natural attenuation mechanisms

Zone Area

Strategic Considerations Approach

Decontamination and decommissioning of facilities generally well understood so that technology solutions can be tailored to sitespecific challenges Path to closure essential to achieve end-state safely and efficiently

Identify enhancement technologies to support natural attenuation and reduce risk

Return on Investment

Plan for expeditious transition out of active clean-up phase to enhanced or passive attenuation phase to control costs Computer simulation of contaminant dispersal; Mechanical (barrier, funnel, trap) systems; Methods to decontaminate buildings, roads and public spaces

Plan for expeditious transition from enhanced natural attenuation phase to long-term monitoring to control costs Computer simulation of contaminant dispersal; Mechanical (barrier, trap) systems; Barometric, solar or tidal pumping

Equipment cutting, penetration and deconstruction tools; Robotics for remote inspection, characterization, stabilization; Fixatives, peels, thermal spray vitrification for hazardous constituents on surfaces Characterization tools; Material handling systems; Waste removal methods; Packaging; Transportation Performance Assessment; Sensor system; Remote monitoring and communications system; Surveillance, including destructive and nondestructive examination; Waste forms, including glass and cementitious materials; Waste repositories; Reuse, such as plutonium to MOX

Zone Area

Characterization tools; Material handling systems; Waste removal methods; Packaging; Transportation Monitoring tools; Waste forms, including glass and cementitious materials; Waste repositories

Characterization tools Active attenuation, e.g., geochemical stabilization methods

Characterization tools Enhanced natural attenuation, e.g., treatment systems

Waste/ Contaminated Media Types of Technologies

Monitoring tools

Monitoring tools

End-State

About Savannah River National Laboratory Services

SRNL is managed and operated for the U.S. Department of Energy by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC