Handling Low Level Wastes 
Low level wastes make up a large percentage of the total 
volume of the Savannah River Plant wastes. 
Wastes of activity levels below those which are sent 
to the General Purpose Evaporators are to be discharged to large 
earthen basins. In these basins the wastes are dissipated by 
seepage through the soil, and to a lesser extent, by evaporation. 
The activity of low level wastes sent to the basins is limited 
to Tie curies per milliliter. These basins are also underlaid 
by clay, so a large decontamination factor is anticipated before 
any radioisotopes reach the water table. 
It is the policy of the Savannah River Plant to limit 
the discharge of radioactivity to the environment to the lowest 
amount practicable; to keep the levels that are discharged to 
the river at a minimum; and to contain the high level wastes in 
such fashion as to have definite and permanent control over them. 
Handling Costs for Higher Level Wastes 
The cost of storage including the tank farm piping and 
appurtenances is approximately $1.60 per gallon. There are also 
smaller additional costs for evaporation, neutralization and 
handling of the waste at the separations facilities. 
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