52. 



After about a year and a half there was some breakthrough of 

 ruthenium and nitrates to the surface and into a small stream at a 

 distance of 500 feet. This was detected by the monitoring program 

 which included an occasional scanning of the ground surface and the 

 vegetation. Only ruthenium activity was found in any of the wells or 

 seeps despite the fact that cesium and small amounts of other radio- 

 isotopes were present in the waste. During a very dry period when 

 the stream was being fed solely by ground water seepage, 15,000 

 parts per million of nitrates were found in the creek. During that 

 summer of 1954 turtles were found dead or in distress in this creek 

 apparently affected by the nitrates. It was known from, the beginning 

 that investigations of the problems of sanitation would have to include 

 studies of both the radioactive constituents and the chemical constitu- 

 ents because the wastes are salted and the nitrates, and perhaps other 

 chemicals, maybe toxic. 



The construction costs was about $15,000 per million gallons 

 of pit capacity, including the monitoring wells. This does not include 

 the expense of the special studies, the time of the health physicists, 

 the monitoring program, the collection of samples, and the analytical 

 cost. The monitoring cost is a continuing expense not related to the 

 cost of construction. It has been estimated conservatively that the 

 discontinuance of the evaporator and the other economies, made pos- 

 sible by the use of pits, have saved the laboratory approximately 

 $63,000 a year. The contribution of waste fluids to the natural drain- 

 age has not caused local hazards nor an appreciable increase in the 

 content of radioactive material in the river. 



DR. KOHMAN: What is the size of the pit? 



MR. MORTON: Each pit is approximately 200 feet long, 100 

 feet wide, and 15 feet deep, with a slope from the outside edges to 

 the bottom. 



QUESTION: They will be above the water level? 



MR. MORTON: For the most part they are above the water 

 table which varies in depth with the location and may fluctuate 5 or 6 

 feet. In dry seasons the water level is below the pit but the bottom 

 of the pit may be in the water some of the time. The surcharge up 

 to 15 feet of liquid in the pit has to be considered, of course, because 

 of its effect upon the water level. 



