Results of Tritium Tracking and Groundwater Monitoring at the Hanford Site 200 Area State-Approved Land Disposal Site--Fiscal Year 2001

The Hanford Site 200 Area Effluent Treatment Facility (ETF) processes contaminated liquids derived from Hanford Site facilities. The clean water generated by these processes is occasionally enriched in tritium, and is discharged to the 200 Area State Approved Land Disposal Site (SALDS). Groundwater monitoring for tritium and other constituents is required by the state-issued permit at 22 wells surrounding the facility. During FY 2001, tritium activities in the SALDS proximal well 699-48-77A increased (maximum 670,000 pCi/L) as a result of the resumption of tritium disposal in September 2000, following a 16-month hiatus in significant tritium discharges. Well 699-48-77C, where tritium results reached a maximum value of 980,000 pCi/L, is reflecting the result of the delayed penetration of effluent deeper into the aquifer from 1999 SALDS tritium discharges. Speculation in FY 2000 (Barnett 2000b) that tritium may have reached two wells due south of the facility is probably premature. FY 2001 results indicate no departures from historical levels of tritium in these wells