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Geology and Ground-Water Characteristics of the Hanford Reservation of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington

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Geology and Ground-Water Characteristics of the Hanford Reservation of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington Geology and Ground-Water Characteristics of the Hanford Reservation of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 717 Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Geology and Ground-Water Characteristics of the Hanford Reservation of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission,Washington By R. C. NEWCOMB, J. R. STRAND, and F. J. FRANK GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 717 Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1972 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY V. E. McKelvey, Director Library of Congress catalog-card No. 72-600205 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 Stock Number 2401-00241 CONTENTS Page Page Abstract...................................................................................... 1 Geology Continued Introduction............................................................................... 2 Physiography..................................................................... 23 Purpose............................................................................... 2 Mountain slopes................................................ 23 Previous investigations..................................... ........... 2 Plateaus................................... .............................. 23 Scope and methods of investigation............................. 2 Terraces...................................................................... 24 Drilling of observation wells................................. 2 Alluvial plains............... ......................................... 24 Geologic work............................................................ 2 Declivities and landslides........................................ 24 Mapping.............................................................. 2 Hydrology general ground-water conditions.................. 25 Petrographic studies........................................ 2 Unconfined ground water............................................... 25 Stratigraphic investigations............ ............ 2 Shape of the water table......................................... 25 Ground-water information ....................... 4 Water-bearing materials......................................... 26 Well data.................................................................................... 4 Changes in the level of the water table............... 26 Personnel . .... .. ............................................ 4 Recharge and discharge.......................................... 28 Geographic features of the reservation............................. 4 Local bodies of confined ground water......................... 31 Geology....................................................................................... 5 Artesian water associated with the unconfined General description of the geologic units........... .. 5 ground water........................................................ 31 Bedrock . ... 5 Artesian aquifers isolated from the regional Sedimentary deposits............................................... 6 unconfined ground water.................................... 32 Ringold Formation........................................... 6 Local perching of ground water artificially re­ Glaciofluviatile and fluviatile deposits......... 6 charged.... ....................................................................... 32 Alluvium............................................................. 7 Changes in ground-water regimen.............. .............. 32 Colluvium. .................................................... 7 Artificially recharged mounds............................... 32 Stratigraphic characteristics of the geologic units... 8 Growth of the large mounds beneath the high Basalt of the Columbia River Group... 8 terraces.................................................................. 32 Layered structure............................................. 8 Direction of movement .................................................. 35 Vertical subdivision of the basalt. ....... 8 Rate of ground-water movement................................... 35 Ringold Formation................................................... 10 Porosity. ............................................................ 35 Character and extent of the strata in the Gradients. ........................................................ 35 type locality .. .. 10 Hydraulic coefficients of the water-bearing Character and extent of the strata beyond materials. 36 the type locality...............................^............ 13 Ground disposal of radioactive wastes. .. 39 Distinctive lithologic zones... 13 History of disposal 39 Extensions of the Ringold Formation near Early procedures.. ........................................... 39 the reservation.............................................. 15 Later developments.................................................. 40 Relations of the Ringold Formation to the Types of wastes disposed. ........................................ 41 deformation of the basalt bedrock........... 15 Reactor areas............................................................ 41 End of Ringold deposition.............................. 15 Chemical-separation plants... 42 Glaciofluviatile and fluviatile deposits.. .... 16 Means of waste disposal and management................. 42 History................................................................ 16 Retention basins............... ..................................... 42 Lithologic features... ................................. 18 Pits and trenches...................................................... 42 Differences between the Ringold Forma­ Cribs and tile fields.... ..................................... 42 tion and the glaciofluviatile and fluvia­ Burial grounds and vaults .. .. 42 tile deposits.................................................... 19 Tank farms ................................................... 42 Holocene deposits..-........ ........................................ 19 Injection wells........................................................... 43 Swamp areas............................................................. 43 Tectonic structure of the rocks. ............................. 20 Unplanned disposal.. 43 General regional setting......................................... 20 Location of disposed wastes........................................... 43 Altitude of the bedrock beneath the reserva­ Special geologic situations that affect operations of an tion.......................................................................... 20 industrial plant ............................ ..................... 46 Deformation in the basalt...................................... 21 Terrain, foundations, and building material. .. .. 46 Shape of the deformed units......................... 21 Storage space for fluids and gases. .. 46 Folding and faulting ................................ 21 Disposal of radioactive wastes....................................... 46 Synclinal structures......................................... 22 Disposal beneath the high terraces. 47 Pattern of structural displacements .. 22 Disposal beneath the low terraces. 47 Effect of tectonic structures on the occurrence The possibility of disposal in the basalt 48 of ground water.......... ............................... 22 Water supply... .... - 48 Basalt of the Columbia River Group 22 Geologic hazards of the reservation... 48 Ringold Formation........................................... 23 References cited............. - 49 ill IV CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS Page PLATE 1. Geohydrologic map of the Hanford Reservation of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington......In pocket 2. Map showing configuration of the water table beneath a main part of the Hanford Reservation, November 1948 and May 16-20, 1953..................................--..............................................................-.......-.. ............In pocket 3. Map showing configuration of the water table beneath a main part of the Hanford Reservation, June 26- 30, 1961.. -. ..... .. -. .......... ......-. -. ..... .. ^ pocket FIGURE 1. Map showing location of the Hanford Reservation and the area covered by plate 1................ ..................... 3 2. Diagram showing well-numbering system................. .......... ......................................................................... 5 3-9. Hydrographs showing: 3. Water levels in four wells in the northern part of the reservation compared with the water level of the Columbia River......................................................................................................................................... 26 4. Water levels in three wells in the southeastern part of the reservation compared with the water level of the Columbia River....................... .......................................................................................... 27 5. Water levels in wells where there is little or no natural recharge............................................................ 29 6. Water levels in two wells that tap unconfined ground water in the basalt and in the overlying Ringold Formation.......................................... .............................................................................................. 30 7. Rise of water levels in wells at and near the western large recharge mound.......................................
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