Efficient, Cost Effective Waste Site Characterization Utilizing Complementary Non-Intrusive Geophysical Techniques: A Case Study Of 2-D And 3-D Ground Penetrating Radar And Magnetometer Surveys

The Savannah River Site (SRS) has implemented a comprehensive environmental program to mitigate<br>impacts to the environment while maintaining compliance with environmental regulations. An element of<br>the environmental program is the investigation of over 100 waste sites - some of which include buried<br>hazardous waste materials. The SRS has effectively conducted subsurface field investigations at waste sites<br>suspected of containing buried wastes by utilizing non-intrusive geophysical techniques as opposed to<br>traditional intrusive techniques. Depending on the site specific conditions and objectives of the<br>investigation, multiple geophysical techniques often yield a more comprehensive conceptual model of the<br>site versus a single geophysical survey. Although multiple surveys are seemingly cost prohibitive early in<br>a waste site characterization history, the information obtained usually leads to a more efficient and cost<br>effective characterization or remediation design. In addition, the complementary data increases the level of<br>confidence in the investigating team, helps reduce the anxiety associated with contamination exposure, and<br>contributes to client and regulatory approvals.<br>Two and three-dimensional ground-penetrating radar and magnetometer surveys were conducted at the D-Area<br>Oil Seepage Basin, a waste site “suspected” of containing buried drums. The data from the integrated<br>geophysical investigations complemented one another, successfully delineating the lateral and vertical<br>dimensions of the waste site and detecting buried metal objects. This extended abstract compares the<br>application, results, and advantages of the individual geophysical techniques used at the waste site.