Environmental factors affecting long-term stabilization of radon suppression covers for uranium mill tailings

Technical Report · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5361854· OSTI ID:5361854

Young, J K; Long, L W; Reis, J W

Pacific Northwest Laboratory is investigating the use of a rock armoring blanket (riprap) to mitigate wind and water erosion of an earthen radon suppression cover applied to uranium mill tailings. To help determine design stresses for the tailings piles, environmental parameters are characterized for the five active uranium-producing regions on a site-specific basis. Only conventional uranium mills that are currently operating or that are scheduled to open in the mid 1980s are considered. Available data indicate that flooding has the most potential for disrupting a tailings pile. The arid regions of the Wyoming Basins and the Colorado Plateau are subject to brief storms of high intensity. The Texas Gulf Coast has the highest potential for extreme precipitation from hurricane-related storms. Wind data indicate average wind speeds from 3 to 6 m/sec for the sites, but extremes of 40 m/sec can be expected. Tornado risks range from low to moderate. The Colorado Plateau has the highest seismic potential, with maximum acceleration caused by earthquakes ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 g. Any direct effect from volcanic eruption is negligible, as all mills are located 90 km or more from an igneous or hydrothermal system.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 5361854
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-2564; PNL-4193; ON: DE82013948
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050400 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Feed Processing
052000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Management
053000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
COLORADO
COVERINGS
DISASTERS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION VI
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FEED MATERIALS PLANTS
FLOODS
FLUIDS
GASES
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MATERIALS
MILL TAILINGS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
RADON
RARE GASES
ROCKS
SEALING MATERIALS
SEISMIC EFFECTS
SOLID WASTES
STABILIZATION
STORMS
TAILINGS
TEXAS
USA
WASTES
WYOMING