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Title: Uranium recovery research sponsored by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission at Pacific Northwest Laboratory. Quarterly progress report, January-March 1982. Interim report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5463042· OSTI ID:5463042

Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) has in progress several discrete investigations for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) concerned with process wastes during the active life of uranium mills and during an extended period following their shutdown. The overall objective of this research is to provide NRC and their licensees with technical guidance on several issues related to management of wastes from uranium mills and in situ recovery operations. Principal issues addressed in these studies are designs and performance of radon-suppression covers, the incentives, and constraints in using rock covers (riprap) as well as their design for armoring tailings pile covers, shorter term stabilization options for controlling windblown particles, leachate movement in soil, tailings dewatering, disposal deliberately below the water table, neutralization incentives, contamination control and restoration in in situ uranium recovery and effluent and environmental measurements, instrumentation and protocols. It is expected that many results of these studies will be used in developing regulatory guides and better evaluation of environmental impacts during and following the active life of a uranium recovery facility. Progress on each of several separately identified areas is reported. The information reported is preliminary and conclusions should be regarded as tentative. About 20 topical reports are scheduled during the year to provide detailed description of phases of the work and conclusions therefrom.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
5463042
Report Number(s):
PNL-4105-2; ON: DE82014548
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English