WSRC-IM-2004-00008 Rev. 1 DSA SUPPORT DOCUMENT – Site Characteristics and Program Descriptions UNCLASSIFIED Formerly the DOES NOT CONTAIN GENERIC SAFETY ANALYSIS REPORT UNCLASSIFIED CONTROLLED NUCLEAR INFORMATION ADC and Reviewing Official: Date: CHAPTER 1 SITE CHARACTERISTICS June 2007 Washington Savannah River Company Aiken, SC 29808 PREPARED FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY UNDER CONTRACT NO. DE-AC09-96SR18500 WSRC-IM-2004-00008 Rev. 1 DISCLAIMER This document was prepared by Washington Safety Management Solutions LLC (WSMS) under contract with Washington Savannah River Company (WSRC), subject to the warranty and other obligations of that contract and in furtherance of WSRC’s contract with the United States Department of Energy (DOE). Release to and Use by Third Parties. As it pertains to releases of this document to third parties, and the use of or reference to this document by such third parties in whole or in part, neither WSMS, WSRC, DOE, nor their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, consultants or personal services contractors (i) make any warranty, expressed or implied, (ii) assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness, of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed herein or (iii) represent that use of the same will not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trademark, name, manufacture or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring of the same by WSMS, WSRC, DOE or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, consultants or personal services contractors. The views and opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. This document has been prepared with the most current information available during development. Due to the dynamics of the updating of site program manuals and policies if a conflict or inconsistency is encountered with this document then the user will default to the Site Program Manuals. WSRC-IM-2004-00008 Rev. 1 CONTENTS Page 1.0 SAVANNAH RIVER SITE CHARACTERISTICS……………………….……… 1.1-1 1.1 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………. 1.1-1 1.1.1 Objective…………………………………………………………… 1.1-1 1.1.2 Scope…………………………………………………….................. 1.1-1 1.2 REQUIREMENTS………………………………...……………………….. 1.2-1 1.2.1 Standards/Requirements Identification Documents………………... 1.2-1 1.2.2 Washington Savannah River Company Procedure Manuals………. 1.2-1 1.3 SITE DESCRIPTION ……………………………………………………... 1.3-1 1.3.1 Geography………………………………………………………….. 1.3-1 1.3.2 Demography………………………….…………………………… 1.3-7 1.4 ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION…………………………….……… 1.4-1 1.4.1 Meteorology………………………………………………………... 1.4-1 1.4.2 Hydrology…………………………...……………………………... 1.4-7 1.4.3 Geology……………………………………………………………. 1.4-17 1.4.3.1 Regional Geology (320 km [200 mile] Radius)……........ 1.4-17 1.4.3.2 Tectonic Features……………………………………….. 1.4-19 1.4.4 Seismology…………………………...…………………………… 1.4-20 1.4.4.1 Earthquake History of the General Site Region………… 1.4-20 1.4.4.2 Development of Design Basis Earthquake……………... 1.4-25 1.4.4.3 Ground Motion Prediction Methodologies…………….. 1.4-31 1.4.4.4 Current Design Response……………………………….. 1.4-35 1-i WSRC-IM-2004-00008 Rev. 1 CONTENTS (continued) Page 1.4.5 Stability of Subsurface Materials……………..…………………... 1.4-35 1.4.5.1 Excavation and Backfill………………………………… 1.4-36 1.4.5.2 Foundation Settlement………………………………….. 1.4-37 1.4.5.3 Liquefaction Susceptibility……………………………... 1.4-37 1.4.5.4 Evaluation of Soft Zones………………………...……... 1.4-39 1.5 NATURAL PHENOMENA THREATS………………………………….. 1.5-1 1.5.1 Floods………………………………………...…………………… 1.5-1 1.5.1.1 Flood History…………………………………………… 1.5-1 1.5.1.2 Flood Design Considerations…………………………… 1.5-2 1.5.1.3 Effects of Local Intense Precipitation…………………... 1.5-3 1.5.1.4 Probable Maximum Flood on Streams and Rivers……………………...……………………….. 1.5-3 1.5.1.5 Potential Dam Failures (Seismically Induced)…………. 1.5-5 1.5.1.6 Probable Maximum Surge and Seiche Flooding……….. 1.5-5 1.5.1.7 Ice Flooding…………………………………..………… 1.5-5 1.5.1.8 Water Canals and Reservoirs…………………………… 1.5-6 1.5.1.9 Channel Diversions………………………...…………… 1.5-6 1.5.1.10 Flooding Protection Requirements………………........... 1.5-6 1.5.1.11 Low Water Considerations……………………………... 1.5-6 1.5.1.12 Future Control…………………………………………... 1.5-8 1.5.2 Earthquakes………………………………….……………………. 1.5-8 1.5.3 Tornadoes………………………………………………………… 1.5-8 1-ii WSRC-IM-2004-00008 Rev. 1 CONTENTS (continued) Page 1.6 EXTERNAL MAN-MADE THREATS…………..………………. ……... 1.6-1 1.6.1 Transportation………………………..…………………………… 1.6-1 1.6.1.1 Roads and Highways………………………..………….. 1.6-1 1.6.1.2 Electrical Grid………………………..…………………. 1.6-2 1.6.1.3 Railroads……………...………………………...………. 1.6-2 1.6.1.4 Airports and Air Traffic………………………………… 1.6-3 1.6.1.5 Airspace Restrictions…….……………………………... 1.6-4 1.6.1.6 Waterborne Transportation…………………………..…. 1.6-4 1.6.2 Missiles and Blast Effects………………………………………….1.6-4 1.7 NEARBY FACILITIES……………………………………………..…….. 1.7-1 1.7.1 Offsite Industrial and Military Facilities………………………….. 1.7-1 1.7.1.1 Non-SRS Nuclear Facilities…………………………….. 1.7-1 1.7.1.2 Non-SRS, Non-Nuclear Facilities………………………. 1.7-2 1.7.1.3 SRS Nuclear Facilities………………………………….. 1.7-2 1.8 VALIDITY OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS………..... 1.8-1 1.9 REFERENCES……………………………………………………………. 1.9-1 1.10 TABLES…………………………………………………………………... 1.10-1 1.11 FIGURES………………………………………………………………….. 1.11-1 1-iii WSRC-IM-2004-00008 Rev. 1 TABLES Page 1.4-1 Monthly Average and Extreme Temperatures for SRS……………..……………... 1.10-1 1.4-2 Average Relative and Absolute Humidity at SRS…………………………………. 1.10-2 1.4-3 Average and Extreme Precipitation at SRS (Water Equivalent), in Inches……...... 1.10-3 1.4-4 Average; Number of Thunderstorm Days, Augusta, Georgia, 1951-1995……....... 1.10-4 1.4-5 Estimated Ice Accumulation for Various Recurrence Intervals for the Gulf Coast States………………………………………………………………….…….. 1.10-5 1.4-6 Extreme Total Rainfall for SRS Region (August 1948 - December 1995)………... 1.10-6 1.4-7 Extreme Precipitation Recurrence Estimates by Accumulation Period…………… 1.10-7 1.4-8 Number of Tornadoes Reported Between 1951 and 1996 by Month and F Scale in a Two Degree Square Centered at SRS………………………………… 1.10-8 1.4-9 Fujita Scale for Damaging Tornado Winds………………………………………... 1.10-9 1.4-10 Estimated Maximum Three Second Wind Speeds for Tornadoes and “Straight Line” Winds……………………………………………………………………….. 1.10-10 1.4-11 Total Occurrences of Hurricanes in South Carolina by Month, 1700 – 1992……... 1.10-11 1.4-12 Observed Annual Fastest 1 Minute Wind Speeds for SRS………………………... 1.10-12 1.4-13 Percent Occurrence of Atmospheric Stability Class for SRS Meteorological Towers………………………………………………………………….………….. 1.10-13 1.4-14 Flow Summary for the Savannah River and Savannah River Site Streams……….. 1.10-14 1.4-15 Significant Earthquakes Within 200 Miles of SRS (Intensity > 4 or Magnitude > 3)………………………………………………………………………...………. 1.10-15 1.4-16 Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale of 1931………………………………………… 1.10-22 1.4-17 Historic Earthquakes Recorded Within 50 Miles of SRS (through December 1999)…………………………………………………………...………. 1.10-23 1.4-18 Blume (1982) Estimated Site Motions for Postulated Maximum Events……......... 1.10-24 1.4-19 Geomatrix Estimated Site Motions for Postulated Maximum Events…………….. 1.10-25 1-iv WSRC-IM-2004-00008 Rev. 1 FIGURES Page 1.3-1 Savannah River Site Map……………………….…………………………………. 1.11-1 1.3-2 50-Mile Vicinity of SRS…………………………………………….………........... 1.11-3 1.3-3 Map Showing 15-Mile Radius from SRS Center………………………………….. 1.11-4 1.3-4 SRS Map Showing Key Facilities……………………………………....…............. 1.11-5 1.4-1 Locations of SRS Meteorological Monitoring Towers……………………………. 1.11-6 1.4-2 Wind Rose Plots A-, C-, D-, F-, H-, K-, L-, and P- Areas, 1992-1996………......... 1.11-7 1.4-3 Wind Rose Plots by Stability Class- A-Area Tower, 1992-1996…..…………….... 1.11-9 1.4-4 Wind Rose Plots by Stability Class- C-Area Tower, 1992-1996….…………..…... 1.11-11 1.4-5 Wind Rose Plots by Stability Class- D-Area Tower, 1992-1996…...………….….. 1.11-13 1.4-6 Wind Rose Plots by Stability Class- F-Area Tower, 1992-1996………………….. 1.11-15 1.4-7 Wind Rose Plots by Stability Class- H-Area Tower, 1992-1996……...…………... 1.11-17 1.4-8 Wind Rose Plots by Stability Class- K-Area Tower, 1992-1996………………….. 1.11-19 1.4-9 Wind Rose Plots by Stability Class- L-Area, 1992-1996………………..………… 1.11-21 1.4-10 Wind Rose Plots by Stability Class-P Area, 1992-1996…………………………... 1.11-23 1.4-11 Physiography of the SRS Area…………………………………….…………......... 1.11-25 1.4-12 Savannah River Basin…………………………………………………………… 1.11-26 1.4-13 Savannah River Basin Dams Upstream of SRS…………………………………… 1.11-27 1.4-14 Geologic Map of the SRS…………………………………………….……..……... 1.11-28 1-v WSRC-IM-2004-00008 Rev. 1 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ALARA As Low As Reasonably Achievable ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials BSRI Bechtel Savannah River Incorporated CFR Code of Federal Regulations cfs cubic feet per second CIF Consolidated Incineration Facility CNSI Chem Nuclear Systems, Incorporated CSX CSX Transportation Incorporated CTF Chemical Transfer Facility DBE Design Basis Earthquake DETF Dilute Effluent Treatment Facility DOE Department of Energy DRB Deep Rock Borings DSA Documented Safety Analysis DWPF Defense Waste Processing Facility EA Environmental Assessment EBE Evaluation Basis Earthquake EDE Effective Dose Equivalent EG&G Edgerton, Germeshausen, and Grier, Incorporated EID Environmental Information Document EIS Environmental Impact Statement EPA Environmental Protection Agency EPRI Electric Power Research Institute EPZ Emergency Planning Zone ETF Effluent Treatment Facility ETS Environmental Technology Section g/cm3 grams per cubic centimeter GSA General Services Administration gpm gallons per minute LLNL Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory LETF Liquid Effluent Treatment Facility MCE Maximum Credible Earthquake mgd million gallons per day mrem milli roentgen equivalent, man msl mean sea level NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System 1-vi WSRC-IM-2004-00008 Rev.