Phase II, Title I engineering assessment of inactive uranium mill tailings, Phillips/United Nuclear Site, Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico
An engineering assessment was performed of the problems resulting from the existence of radioactive uranium mill tailings at the Phillips/United Nuclear site at Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico. Services included the preparation of topographic maps, the performance of core drillings sufficient to determine areas and volumes of tailings, and radiometric measurements to determine radium-contaminated materials, the evaluation of resulting radiation exposures of individuals and nearby populations, the investigation of site hydrology and meteorology, and the evaluation and costing of alternative corrective actions. Radon gas release from the 2.6 million tons of tailings at the Phillips/United Nuclear site constitutes the most significant environmental impact, although windblown tailings and external gamma radiation are also factors. The estimated radiological health effects to the general population are considered to be minimal. The two alternative actions presented are: dike stabilization, fencing, and maintenance; and adding 2 ft of stabilization cover material. Both options include remedial action at off-site structures and on-site decontamination around the tailings pile. Cost estimates for the two options are $920,000 and $2,230,000, respectively.
- Research Organization:
- Ford, Bacon and Davis Utah, Inc., Salt Lake City (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-13-1658
- OSTI ID:
- 5160893
- Report Number(s):
- GJT-13; TRN: 78-006170
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
MILL TAILINGS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
STABILIZATION
RADIUM
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
RADIATION MONITORING
RADON
URANIUM MINERALS
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
HYDROLOGY
LAND POLLUTION ABATEMENT
LAND RECLAMATION
METEOROLOGY
NEW MEXICO
PHYSICAL PROTECTION DEVICES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
TOPOGRAPHY
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
MINERALS
MONITORING
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POPULATIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE MINERALS
RARE GASES
SOLID WASTES
USA
WASTES
510300* - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
500300 - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects