Engineering assessment of inactive uranium mill tailings, Gunnison Site, Gunnison, Colorado: summary
Abstract
Ford, Bacon and Davis Utah Inc. has reevaluated the Gunnison site in order to revise the November 1977 engineering assessment of the problems resulting from the existence of radioactive uranium mill tailings at Gunnison, Colorado. This evaluation has included the preparation of topographic maps, the performance of core drillings and radiometric measurements sufficient to determine areas and volumes of tailings and radiation exposures of individuals and nearby populations, the ivnvestigations of site hydrology and meteorology, and the evaluation and costing of alternative remedial actions. Radon gas released from the combined 540,000 dry tons of tailings and the 435,400 tons of contaminated waste at the Gunnison site constitutes the most significant environmental impact, although windblown tailings and external gamma radiation also are factors. The 10 alternative actions presented in this engineering assessment range from stabilization of the site in its present location with the addition of 3 m of stabilization cover material (Option I), to removal of the tailings to disposal sites along with decontamination of the Gunnison site (Options II through X). Cost estimates for the 10 options range from about $8,900,000 for stabilization in-place, to about $14,000,000 for disposal in the North Alkali Creek area at a distance ofmore »
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Ford, Bacon and Davis Utah, Inc., Salt Lake City (USA)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5839237
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/UMT-0107S; FBDU-360-12S
ON: DE82003212; TRN: 82-000278
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76GJ01658
- Resource Type:
- Technical Report
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; 01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; COLORADO; LAND RECLAMATION; MONITORING; FEED MATERIALS PLANTS; MILL TAILINGS; COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; STABILIZATION; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING; RADON; HUMAN POPULATIONS; HYDROLOGY; TOPOGRAPHY; URANIUM ORES; ELEMENTS; FLUIDS; GASES; INDUSTRIAL PLANTS; MANAGEMENT; NONMETALS; NORTH AMERICA; NUCLEAR FACILITIES; ORES; POPULATIONS; PROCESSING; RARE GASES; ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION; SOLID WASTES; TAILINGS; USA; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTE PROCESSING; WASTES; 053000* - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects; 054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety; 010500 - Coal, Lignite, & Peat- Products & By-Products; 052000 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Management
Citation Formats
. Engineering assessment of inactive uranium mill tailings, Gunnison Site, Gunnison, Colorado: summary. United States: N. p., 1981.
Web. doi:10.2172/5839237.
. Engineering assessment of inactive uranium mill tailings, Gunnison Site, Gunnison, Colorado: summary. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/5839237
. 1981.
"Engineering assessment of inactive uranium mill tailings, Gunnison Site, Gunnison, Colorado: summary". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/5839237. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5839237.
@article{osti_5839237,
title = {Engineering assessment of inactive uranium mill tailings, Gunnison Site, Gunnison, Colorado: summary},
author = {},
abstractNote = {Ford, Bacon and Davis Utah Inc. has reevaluated the Gunnison site in order to revise the November 1977 engineering assessment of the problems resulting from the existence of radioactive uranium mill tailings at Gunnison, Colorado. This evaluation has included the preparation of topographic maps, the performance of core drillings and radiometric measurements sufficient to determine areas and volumes of tailings and radiation exposures of individuals and nearby populations, the ivnvestigations of site hydrology and meteorology, and the evaluation and costing of alternative remedial actions. Radon gas released from the combined 540,000 dry tons of tailings and the 435,400 tons of contaminated waste at the Gunnison site constitutes the most significant environmental impact, although windblown tailings and external gamma radiation also are factors. The 10 alternative actions presented in this engineering assessment range from stabilization of the site in its present location with the addition of 3 m of stabilization cover material (Option I), to removal of the tailings to disposal sites along with decontamination of the Gunnison site (Options II through X). Cost estimates for the 10 options range from about $8,900,000 for stabilization in-place, to about $14,000,000 for disposal in the North Alkali Creek area at a distance of about 18 mi. Truck haulage would be used to transport the tailings and contaminated materials from the Gunnison site to the selected disposal site. Three principal alternatives for the reprocessing of the Gunnison tailings were examined: heap leaching; treatment at an existing mill; and reprocessing at a new conventional mill constructed for tailings reprocesssing. The cost of the uranium recovered would be about $250 and $230/lb of U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ by heap leach and conventional plant processes, respectively. The spot market price for uranium was $25/lb early in 1981.},
doi = {10.2172/5839237},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5839237},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981},
month = {Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981}
}