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Radionuclides in ground water at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho

Open-File Report 88-731
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr88731

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Abstract

Sampling for radionuclides in groundwater was conducted at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory during September to November 5 1987. Water samples from 80 wells that obtain water from the Snake River Plain aquifer and 1 well that obtains water from a shallow, discontinuous perched-water body at the Radioactive Waste Management Complex were collected and analyzed for tritium, strontium-90, plutonium-238, plutonium-239, -240 (undivided), americium-241, cesium-137, cobalt-60, and potassium-40--a naturally occurring radionuclide. The groundwater samples were analyzed at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory in Idaho. Tritium and strontium-90 concentrations ranged from below the reporting level to 80.6 +/-0.000005 and 193 +/-5x10 to the minus eight micrograms Ci/ml, respectively. Water from a disposal well at Test Area North--which has not been used to dispose of waste water since September 1972--contained 122 +/-9x10 to the minus eleven micrograms Ci/ml of plutonium-238, 500 +/-20x10 to the minus eleven of plutonium-239, -240 (undivided), 21 +/-4x10 to the minus eleven micrograms Ci/ml of americium-241, and 750 +/-20x10 to the minus eight micrograms Ci/ml cesium-137; the presence of these radionuclides was verified by resampling and reanalysis. The disposal well had 8.9 +/-0.0000009 micrograms Ci/ml of cobalt-60 on October 28, 1987, but cobalt-60 was not detected when the well was resampled on January 11, 1988. Potassium-40 concentrations were less than the reporting level in all wells. (USGS)

Suggested Citation

Knobel, L.L., Mann, L.J., 1988, Radionuclides in ground water at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 88-731, iv, 37 p. ill., maps ;28 cm., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr88731.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Radionuclides in ground water at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 88-731
DOI 10.3133/ofr88731
Year Published 1988
Language ENGLISH
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey,
Description iv, 37 p. ill., maps ;28 cm.
Additional publication details