Land acquisition study at Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant site using MODFLOWT modeling

In 2006, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to undertake a study of the potential purchase of property or options to purchase property located above the plumes of contaminated groundwater (Trichloroethene and Technitium 99) near the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) in Paducah, Kentucky. The objective of the study was to evaluate adequate protection of human health and environment from exposure to contaminated groundwater and consider whether such purchase, when taking into account the cost of remediation, long-term surveillance, and maintenance, is in the best interest of taxpayers. In response to this directive, the Kentucky Water Resource Research Institute was contracted to perform a study and develop a report for subsequent submission to Congress. The subsequent study involved the application of MODFLOWT and ArcGIS as well as an economic analysis to determine the potential economic benefit of different institutional controls and associated remediation actions. This paper will summarize the associated modeling of that study.