Use of a sensitivity study to identify risk assessment modeling data gaps at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory's subsurface disposal area

摘要

A common question in the CERCLA remedial investigation (RI) process is 'What are the data gaps that must be filled in order to perform a risk assessment for a given site.' Often a method that can be used to identify and rank data gaps is needed to help allocate scarce remedial investigation funds, and to help prepare for a CERCLA site's baseline risk assessment (BRA). A CERCLA Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) is underway at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory's (INEL) Subsurface Disposal Area (SDA). The SDA is a radioactive waste disposal site where transuranic (TRU) waste, mixed waste (MW), and low-level waste (LLW) has been buried in pits, trenches, and soil vaults since 1952. The procedures described in this paper have been developed for the identification of risk assessment data gaps at the SDA.