Model evaluation of seepage from uranium tailings disposal above and below the water table

Technical Report · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6219299· OSTI ID:6219299

Nelson, R W; Meyer, P R; Oberlander, P L; Sneider, S C; Mayer, D W; Reisenauer, A E

Model simulations identify the rate and amount of leachate released to the environment if disposed uranium mill tailings come into contact with ground water or if seepage from tailings reaches ground water. In this study, simulations of disposal above and below the water table, with various methods of leachate control, were compared. Three leachate control methods were used in the comparisons: clay bottom liners; stub-sidewall clay liners; and tailings drains with sumps, with the effluent pumped back from the sumps. The best leachate control for both above and below the water table is a combination of the three methods. The combined methods intercept up to 80% of the leachate volume in pits above the water table and intercept essentially all of the leachate in pits below the water table. Effluent pumping, however, requires continuous energy costs and an alternative method of disposal for the leachate that cannot be reused as makeup water in the mill process. Without the drains or effluent pumping, the clay bottom liners have little advantage in terms of the total volume of leachate lost. The clay liners do reduce the rate of leachate flow to the ground water, but the flow continues for a longer time. The buffering, sorption, and chemical reactions of the leachate passing directly through the liner are also advantages of the liner.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6219299
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-3078; PNL-4461; ON: DE83010168
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LEACHATES
LEACHING
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MILL TAILINGS
MIXTURES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIMULATION
SOLID WASTES
SOLUTIONS
TAILINGS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER
WATER TABLES