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The Prototype Surface Barrier project is managed by the Hydrology Group, which is part of the Environmental Technology Directorate, at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), located in Richland, Washington (see locator map). PNNL is operated for the U.S. Department of Energy by Battelle.

The main function of a surface barrier is to ensure that buried wastes are contained and protected from environmental and biotic forces. Surface barriers have been identified as a critical component in management of buried wastes and other sources of subsurface contamination. Barrier technology, particularly for long-term deployment, remains largely unproven at the field scale. For this reason, the single greatest research and development need related to the use of surface barrier technology in managing hazardous wastes is to document field performance and case histories.

A barrier development program was initiated at the Hanford Site in the mid-1980’s as a result of recommendations from the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Disposal of Hanford Defense High-Level, Transuranic, and Tank Wastes. The barrier program was organized to develop the technology for permanent, long-term containment of near-surface radioactive waste. After nearly 10 years of research, a multi-layered earthen barrier was developed and a prototype barrier was constructed in 1994 over an existing waste site (crib B-57 in the 200 BP1-Operable Unit in 200 E Area near the BY tank Farm). Testing for complete water balance, including accurately measured drainage from cover and sideslopes was started in October 1994 and has been ongoing since that time.

For more detailed information about the Surface Barriers project, please see the Project Summary section of this site.