Publications Details
Remediation of a Classified Waste Landfill at Sandia National Laboratories, NM
The Sandia National Laboratory es/New Mexico (SNLiNM) Environmental Restoration Project is currently excavating the Classified Waste Landfill in Technical Area II (TA-H), which consists of disposal pits and trenches with discrete disposal cells. TA-11 is a secure, controlled assess, research facility managed by SNIJNM for the US Department of Energy (DOE). The 45-acre facility was established in 1948 for the assembly and maintenance of nuclear weapons. The assembly of weapons was discontinued in 1954. Since that time, TA-11 has been used primarily for explosive research and testing. Beginning is 1984, the DOE Er,vironmental Restoration Program conducted several environmental investigations across TA-11 and SNMNM. These investigations identified sites requiring firther study and possible corrective action. The majority of these sites were grouped into operable units (OUS). The TA-11 OU included 13 sites, one of which is identified as the Classified Waste Landfill (CWLF). The CWLF covers about 2.5 acres and was operated from approximately 1947 through 1987. It was the site for disposal of classified weapon components, s ome of which are potentially explosive, hazardous, ardor radioactively contarninatod. Until about 1958, no records were maintained for material disposed of in the CWLF. Information on the CWLF has been assembled horn interview notes, delivery to reckmation records and other sources. Items disposed of included security containers, hoppers, skids, missiles, wooden boxes, deactivated heat sources, tntium boosters, scintillation cocktails, weapons cases, shells, lasers, radar equipment and accountable mata-ials. Potential contaminants include tritium, thorium, cesium-137, strontium-90, uraniun, plutonium, beryllium, cadmium, lithium, chloroform, toluene, benzene ad other solvents.