For the Long-Term Hyd Rolog Ical Mo Ni to Ri Ng - Program Off the Nevada Test Site
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1 ' SECTION 11.7B Operational Area Monitoring Plan for the Long-Term Hyd rolog ical Mo ni to ri ng - Program Off The Nevada Test Site S. C. Black Reynolds Electrical & Engineering, Co. and W. G. Phillips, G. G. Martin, D. J. Chaloud, C. A. Fontana, and 0.G. Easterly Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory U. S. Environmental Protection Agency October 23, 1991 FOREWORD This is one of a series of Operational Area Monitoring Plans that comprise the overall Environmental Monitoring Plan for the DOE Field Office, Nevada (DOEINV) nuclear and non- nuclear testing activities associated with the Nevada Test Site (NTS). These Operational Area Monitoring Plans are prepared by various DOE support contractors, NTS user organizations, and federal or state agencies supporting DOE NTS operations. These plans and the parent Environmental Monitoring Plan are a part of the DOE Environmental Protection Program required by DOE Order 5400.1 and the DOE Orders, executive orders, and state and federal regulatory requirements referenced herein. I7 19A II.7B-ii TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 11.78 Paqe FOREWORD .................................................... 11.7B-ii 1. 0 Introduction .................................................. 11.78-1 2.0 Effluents .................................................... 11.78-2 3.0 Effluent Monitoring Plan ........................................ 11.78-2 4.0 Environmental Surveillance Plan ................................... 11.7B-2 4.1 Rationale for Monitoring ................................... 11.78-2 4.2 Design Criteria .......................................... II .7 8.3 4.2.1 Network Design ................................... 11.78-3 4.2.2 Data Quality Objectives ............................. 11.78-4 4.3 Amchitka Island Projects. Alaska ............................. 11.78-5 4.3.1 Operational Area .................................. 11.78-5 4.3.2 Operational Activities ............................... 11.78-6 4.3.2.1 LONG SHOT Event ......................... 11.78-6 4.3.2.2 MILROW Event ............................ 11.78-6 4.3.2.3 CANNlKlN Event ........................... 11.78-6 4.3.3 Environmental Surveillance ........................... 11.78-7 4.3.3.1 Criteria ................................... 11.78-7 4.3.3.2 Surveillance System Design ................... 11.78-7 4.4 Project RIO BLANC0. Colorado .............................. 11.78-9 4.4.1 Operational Area ....: ........................... i . 11.78-9 4.4.2 Operational Activities ............................... 11.78-9 4.4.3 Environmental Surveillance ........................... 11.78-1 4 4.4.3.1 Criteria .................................. 11.78-14 4.4.3.2 Surveillance System Design .................. 11.7B-15 4.5 Project RULISON. Colorado ................................ 11.78-15 4.5.1 Operational Area ................................. 11.7B-15 4.5.2 Operational Activities .............................. 11.78-1 7 4.5.3 Environmental Surveillance .......................... 11.78-1 7 4.5.3.1 Criteria .................................. 11.7B-17 4.5.3.2 Surveillance System Design .................. 11.7B-18 4.6 Project DRIBBLE. Mississippi ............................... 11.78-1a 4.6.1 Operational Area ................................. 11.78-20 4.6.2 Operational Activities ............................... 11.78-20 4.6.2.1 SALMON Event ........................... 11.78-20 4.6.2.2 STERLING Event ........................... 11.78-20 4.6.3 Environmental Surveillance .......................... 11.78-21 4.6.3.1 Criteria .................................. 11.78-21 4.6.3.2 Surveillance System Design .................. II .7 8.23 4.6.4 Additional Monitoring at Tatum Dome .................. 11.78-23 4.7 Project FAULTLESS. Nevada ............................... 11.76-25 4.7.1 Operational Area ................................. 1 1. 7 8 -25 4.7.2 Operational Activities .............................. 11.78-30 l719A II.7B-iii 4.7.2.1 Criteria .................................. 11.78-30 4.7.2.2 Surveillance System Design .................. 11.78-30 4.8 Project SHOAL, Nevada ................................... ii .78 -32 4.8.1 Operational Area ................................. 11.78-32 4.8.2 Operational Activities .............................. 11.78-32 4.8.3 Environmental Surveillance .......................... 11.78-34 4.8.3.1 Criteria ....................... ’. .......... 11.78-34 4.8.3.2 Surveillance System Design .................. 11.78-34 4.9 Project GASBUGGY, New Mexico ........................... 11.78-35 4.9.1 Operational Area ................................. 11.78-35 4.9.2 Operational Activities .............................. 11.78-35 4.9.3 Environmental Surveillance .......................... 11.78-36 4.9.3.1 Criteria .................................. 1 1 .78-36 4.9.3.2 Surveillance System Design .................. 11.78-37 4.10 Project GNOME. New Mexico ............................. 11.78-37 4.1 0.1 Operational Area ................................ 11.78-37 4.1 0.2 Operational Activities ............................. 11.78-39 4.1 0.3 Environmental Surveillance ......................... 11.7 8.43 4.1 0.3.1 Criteria .................................. 11.7B-43 4.1 0.3.2 Environmental Monitoring ................... 1 1 .7 8-43 ... 5.0 Analytical Procedures ............................ ............. 11.78-44 6.0 Quality Assurance and Quality Control ............................. 11.78-44 7.0 Data Management ............................................ 11.78-46 8.0 Dose Estimation .............................................. 11.78-46 9.0 Reporting ................................................... 11.78-46 10.0 Document Control ............................................ 11.78-46 REFERENCES .................................................. 11.7B-47 17 19A II . 7 B-iv LIST OF EXHIBITS AND TABLES Paae Exhibit 4-3-1 Amchitka Island. Test Sites. and Background Sampling Locations ..... 11.76-8 Exhibit 4-3-2 Water Sampling Locations for Project LONG SHOT .............. 11.78-1 1 Exhibit 4-3-3 Water Sampling Locations for Project MILROW ................. 11.78-1 1 Exhibit 4-3-4 Water Sampling Locations for Project CANNlKlN ................ 11.78-12 Exhibit 4-4-1 Location of RIO BLANC0 and Water Sampling Points ............ 11.78-15 Exhibit 4-5-1 Location of Project RULISON and Water Sampling Locations ....... 11.78-19 Exhibit 4-6-1 Location of the Tatum Dome Test Site ....................... 11.78-21 Exhibit 4-6-2 Map of Tatum Dome Sample Locations ....................... 11.78-26 Exhibit 4-6-3 Hydrologic Monitoring Wells on Tatum Dome ................... 11.78-27 Exhibit 4-6-4 Contaminated Area Around Ground Zero at Tatum Dome .......... 11.78-28 Exhibit 4-6-5 Hydrologic Monitoring Holes Near Ground Zero. Tatum Dome ...... 11.78-29 Exhibit 4-7-1 Project FAULTLESS Site and Initial Sampling Locations ........... 11.78-31 Exhibit 4-8-1 Project SHOAL Site and Initial Sampling Locations .............. 11.78-33 Exhibit 4-9-1 Project GASBUGGY Site and Initial Sampling Locations ........... 11.78-38 Exhibit 4-10-1 GNOME Site and Location of Water Sampling Points ............ 11.78-40 Exhibit 4-10-2 Section Through the GNOME Site .......................... 11.78-41 Exhibit 4-10-3 Radioactive Plume from Venting of the GNOME Explosion ........ 11.76-42 Table 4-3-1 Control Sampling Locations on Amchitka Island ................. 11.78-10 Table 4-3-2 Water Sampling Locations for Project LONG SHOT .............. 11.78-10 Table 4-3-3 Water Sampling Locations for Project MILROW ................. 11.78-13 Table 4-3-4 Water Sampling Locations for Project CANNlKlN ................ 11.78-13 Table 4-4-1 Water Sources Sampled Annually at the RIO BLANC0 Site ........ 11.78-1 5 Table 4-5-1 Water Sources Sampled Annually at the RULISON Site ........... 11.78-18 Table 4-6-1 Aquifers On and Around Tatum Dome ....................... II .7 8.21 Table 4-6-2 Water Sources Sampled Annually at Project Dribble ............. 11.78-24 Table 4-7-1 Water Sources Sampled Annually at Project FAULTLESS ......... 11.78-32 Table 4-8-1 Water Sources Sampled Annually at Project SHOAL ............. 11.76-35 Table 4-9-1 Water Sources Sampled Annually at Project GASBUGGY ......... 11.78-37 Table 4-10-1 List of Water Sources Sampled-at Project GNOME ............. 11.78-44 1719A 11.78-v ., 1.o Introduction The Long-Term Hydrological Monitoring Program (LTHMP) was established by DOUNV in 1972 to determine whether, or not, radioactivity from underground nuclear explosive tests has contaminated the groundwater in the vicinity of the test sites. The locations at which the LTHMP is operative include the NTS and ten sites away from the NTS where underground tests have been conducted. The underground tests were conducted for various purposes, Le., Plowshare tests, Vela Uniform (seismic signal modification) tests, calibrations tests, and weapons tests of various kinds. The PLOWSHARE Program was instituted to develop peaceful uses for nuclear explosives. Some of the proposed uses were excavation (e.g., dredging harbors and digging canals), power production, crushing ore bodies, liquefying oil shale, and fracturing tight rock formations to increase natural gas flow. The purpose of the VELA UNIFORM Program was to improve understanding of the characteristics of seismic waves generated by underground nuclear explosions and improve this country's capability to detect, identify, and locate underground nuclear detonations and differentiate them from other causes of seismic events. This understanding was considered essential