Locating Buried Trenches Using An Integrated Geophysical Study At The Parks Shallow Land Disposal Area

At the Parks site, Western Pennsylvania, a geophysical survey was undertaken to<br>determine the size and location of buried trenches containing radiological waste. Several<br>geophysical techniques were used to non-intrusively locate the trench boundaries. The<br>trenches outlines could be mapped from surface conductivity profiles. Magnetometer<br>surveys identified much of the ferrous material buried within the trenches, and further<br>defined the location of the trenches.<br>Several vintages of ground penetrating radar were used, with the need for low frequency<br>antenna demonstrated by testing. A 50 MHz GPR antenna was elected for a series of<br>profiles across the trenches. By integrating interpretations from the total magnetic field,<br>magnetic gradients, conductivity data and radar profiles it was possible to provide an<br>accurate map of the trenches verified by subsequent drilling. Seismic and microgravity<br>techniques were not able to verify the location of mine workings beneath the area of<br>investigation.