ANL/EAD/TM-108 Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Management Program: Data Compilation for the Portsmouth Site in Support of Site-Specific NEPA Requirements for Continued Cylinder Storage, Cylinder Preparation, Conversion, and Long-Term Storage Activities Environmental Assessment Division Argonne National Laboratory Operated by The University of Chicago, under Contract W-31-109-Eng-38, for the United States Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Argonne National Laboratory, with facilities in the states of Illinois and Idaho, is owned by the United States Government and operated by The University of Chicago under the provisions of a contract with the Department of Energy. This technical memorandum is a product of Argonne’s Environmental Assessment Division (EAD). For information on the division's scientific and engineering activities, contact: Director, Environmental Assessment Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, Illinois 60439-4832 Telephone (630) 252-3107 Presented in this technical memorandum are preliminary results of ongoing work or work that is more limited in scope and depth than that described in formal reports issued by the EAD. Publishing support services were provided by Argonne’s Information and Publishing Division (for more information, see IPD’s home page: http://www.ipd.anl.gov/). Disclaimer This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor The University of Chicago, nor any of their employees or officers, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of document authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof, Argonne National Laboratory, or The University of Chicago. Available electronically at http://www.doe.gov/bridge Available for a processing fee to U.S. Department of Energy and its contractors, in paper, from: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information P.O. Box 62 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0062 phone: (865) 576-8401 fax: (865) 576-5728 email: [email protected] ANL/EAD/TM-108 Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Management Program: Data Compilation for the Portsmouth Site in Support of Site-Specific NEPA Requirements for Continued Cylinder Storage, Cylinder Preparation, Conversion, and Long-Term Storage Activities Compiled by H.M. Hartmann Environmental Assessment Division Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439 August 1999 Work sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, Office of Depleted UF6 Management This report is printed on recycled paper. Contents Portsmouth Site CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................... xxi NOTATION............................................................... xxiii ABSTRACT............................................................... 1-1 1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND .................................... 1-1 2 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT............................................. 2-1 2.1 Cylinder Yards ..................................................... 2-3 2.2 Site Infrastructure................................................... 2-3 2.3 Ambient Air Quality and Airborne Emissions ............................. 2-5 2.4 Geology and Soil.................................................... 2-7 2.4.1 Topography, Structure, and Seismic Risk ........................... 2-7 2.4.2 Soil ........................................................ 2-7 2.5 Water Resources.................................................... 2-8 2.5.1 Surface Water ................................................ 2-8 2.5.2 Groundwater ................................................. 2-10 2.6 Biotic Resources ................................................... 2-10 2.6.1 Vegetation ................................................... 2-10 2.6.2 Wildlife ..................................................... 2-12 2.6.3 Wetlands .................................................... 2-12 2.6.4 Threatened and Endangered Species ............................... 2-12 2.7 Public and Occupational Health and Safety............................... 2-13 2.7.1 Radiation Environment ......................................... 2-13 2.7.2 Chemical Environment ......................................... 2-13 2.8 Socioeconomics .................................................... 2-13 2.8.1 Regional Economic Activity ..................................... 2-16 2.8.2 Population ................................................... 2-16 2.8.3 Housing ..................................................... 2-16 2.8.4 Public Finance ................................................ 2-17 2.9 Waste Management.................................................. 2-17 2.9.1 Wastewater .................................................. 2-17 2.9.2 Solid Nonhazardous, Nonradioactive Waste ........................ 2-18 2.9.3 Nonradioactive Hazardous and Toxic Waste ........................ 2-19 2.9.4 Low-Level Waste ............................................. 2-20 2.9.5 Low-Level Mixed Waste ....................................... 2-20 2.10 Cultural Resources .................................................. 2-21 2.11 Minority and Low-Income Populations .................................. 2-21 3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF CONTINUED CYLINDER STORAGE AT THE PORTSMOUTH SITE ............................................ 3-1 3.1 Summary of Continued Cylinder Storage Impacts.......................... 3-5 iii Contents Portsmouth Site CONTENTS (Cont.) 3.2 Potential Impacts of Continued Cylinder Storage for the No Action Alternative................................................ 3-14 3.2.1 Human Health — Normal Operations ............................. 3-15 3.2.1.1 Radiological Impacts ................................... 3-15 3.2.1.2 Chemical Impacts ...................................... 3-18 3.2.2 Human Health — Accident Conditions ............................ 3-19 3.2.2.1 Radiological Impacts ................................... 3-20 3.2.2.2 Chemical Impacts ...................................... 3-24 3.2.2.3 Physical Hazards ...................................... 3-27 3.2.3 Air Quality .................................................. 3-28 3.2.4 Water and Soil ................................................ 3-29 3.2.4.1 Surface Water ......................................... 3-30 3.2.4.2 Groundwater ......................................... 3-30 3.2.4.3 Soil ................................................. 3-31 3.2.5 Socioeconomics .............................................. 3-32 3.2.6 Ecology ..................................................... 3-34 3.2.7 Waste Management ............................................ 3-35 3.2.8 Resource Requirements ........................................ 3-36 3.2.9 Land Use .................................................... 3-37 3.2.10 Cultural Resources ............................................ 3-37 3.2.11 Environmental Justice .......................................... 3-37 3.2.12 Other Impacts Considered But Not Analyzed in Detail ................ 3-38 3.3 Potential Impacts of Continued Cylinder Storage Based on Uncertainties in Corrosion Control ................................... 3-39 3.4 Potential Impacts of Continued Cylinder Storage for the Action Alternatives.................................................. 3-39 3.4.1 Human Health — Normal Operations ............................. 3-41 3.4.1.1 Radiological Impacts ................................... 3-41 3.4.1.2 Chemical Impacts ...................................... 3-41 3.4.2 Human Health — Accident Conditions ............................ 3-41 3.4.2.1 Radiological Impacts ................................... 3-44 3.4.2.2 Chemical Impacts ...................................... 3-44 3.4.2.3 Physical Hazards ...................................... 3-44 3.4.3 Air Quality .................................................. 3-45 3.4.4 Water and Soil ................................................ 3-46 3.4.4.1 Surface Water ......................................... 3-46 3.4.4.2 Groundwater ......................................... 3-46 3.4.4.3 Soil ................................................. 3-47 3.4.5 Socioeconomics .............................................. 3-48 3.4.6 Ecology ..................................................... 3-48 3.4.7 Waste Management ............................................ 3-49 3.4.8 Resource Requirements ........................................ 3-49 3.4.9 Land Use .................................................... 3-50 3.4.10 Cultural Resources ............................................ 3-50 3.4.11 Environmental Justice .......................................... 3-51 iv Contents Portsmouth Site CONTENTS (Cont.) 3.5 Potential Environmental Impacts Associated with Continued Storage of the Entire Portsmouth Site Cylinder Inventory...........................3-51 3.5.1 Approach