Effluent and Environmental Monitoring Challenges For an Underground Transuranic Mixed Waste Disposal Site

摘要

The Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) located outside of Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA is a U.S.rnDepartment of Energy (DOE) operating transuranic (TRU) mixed waste disposal facility. The disposal panels arernlocated nearly one-half mile underground in a repository mined in a salt formation. WIPP has been open sincernMarch of 1999 and is regulated primarily by the DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the NewrnMexico Environment Department (NMED), and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Variousrnoversight agencies provide independent technical reviews of the adequacy of waste handling, mining operations,rnand effluent monitoring. The wastes received for emplacement include such matrices as glass, paper, metal,rnplastics, solidified sludges, and debris contaminated primarily with Plutonium and various solvents. Effluentrnmonitoring is performed to validate that no radioactive materials are released into the environment. The objectivernof the paper is to discuss the unique challenges the WIPP site presents for radiological effluent monitoring.