Project Summary

The overall objective of the Hanford Barrier design is to provide a highly protective surface barrier system to isolate wastes for an extended period of time using natural materials. The Hanford Barrier was developed to provide long-term protection (1,000 years) of certain types of waste in semiarid environments and exceed RCRA cover design requirements, including life expectancy and hydraulic conductivity. The surface barrier consists of a variety of natural materials placed in engineered layers. Natural stable construction materials were selected to optimize barrier performance and longevity. The primary function of a surface barrier is to contain waste in place by minimizing (1) the infiltration of precipitation into contaminated soil or debris, thereby minimizing the driving force for downward migration of contaminants; (2) the migration of windblown dust originating from contaminated surface soils; and (3) the intrusion potential for direct exposure to contamination. Key performance objectives for the Hanford Barrier include the following:

• Function in a arid to subhumid climate
• A design life of 1,000 years
• Limit drainage through the silt to less than 0.5 mm yr. -1
• Limit runoff
• Be maintenance free
• Minimize biotic intrusion
• Minimize erosion
• Meet or exceed RCRA performance criteria.

View more information by following the links below.

• General barrier design
• Side slope design
• Treatability Tests