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THE DOE COMPLEX-WIDE VADOSE ZONE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP: CHARACTERIZATION MODELING AND SIMULATION OF SUBSURFACE CONTAMINANT FATE AND TRANSPORT
Citation:
Kowall, S. J., D. B. Stephens, D. Ellis, C G. Enfield*, L. Everett, M. T. Van Genuchten, F. Parker, C. Vogel, E. Weeks, AND J. Wilson. THE DOE COMPLEX-WIDE VADOSE ZONE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP: CHARACTERIZATION MODELING AND SIMULATION OF SUBSURFACE CONTAMINANT FATE AND TRANSPORT. Presented at DOE TIE Conf, Special Panel Session "Vadose Zone Science", Augusta, GA, 11/14-16/00.
Description:
The Idaho National Engineering & Environmental Lab (INEEL) was charged by DOE EM to develop a complex-wide science and technology roadmap for the characterization, modeling and simulation of the fate and transport of contamination in the vadose zone. Various types of hazardous, radioactive and mixed waste contamination affect sites throughout the Dept of Energy Complex. This has mostly resulted from weapons production and wste management activities that have resulted in contamination of millions of cubic meters of subsurface media at 132 sites. Much of the risk associated with long-term activities and stewardship responsibilities at these sites resides in the vadose zone. It is a formidable task to characterize and model such contamination and sites and quantify the fate and transport of those contaminants in complex hydrogeologic systems. Increasing our understanding of vadose zone contaminant fate and transport through better science, characterization, modeling, and correct technology application is critical for the continued operation and cleanup, and, final disposition of DOE facilities. A Science Integration and Technical Basis document was developed to provide a framework to establish a research strategy to close or eliminate gaps in our scientific understanding. During two Workshops, Work Groups identified means of accomplishing advances in vadose zone science in an integrated framework. The DOE Complex-Wide Vadose Zone Science and Technology Roadmap is an important step in rationalizing the Science Program necessary to develop and coordinate long-term interdisciplinary research into the processes that affect fluid movement, contaminant transport and chemical transformation processes in the vadose zone.