Programmatic Environmental Report for remedial actions at UMTRA (Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action) Project vicinity properties
This Environmental Report (ER) examines the environmental consequences of implementing a remedial action that would remove radioactive uranium mill tailings and associated contaminated materials from 394 vicinity properties near 14 inactive uranium processing sites included in the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project pursuant to Public Law 95--604, the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) of 1978. Vicinity properties are those properties in the vicinity of the UMTRA Project inactive mill sites, either public or private, that are believed to be contaminated by residual radioactive material originating from one of the 14 inactive uranium processing sites, and which have been designated under Section 102(a)(1) of UMTRCA. The principal hazard associated with the contaminated properties results from the production of radon, a radioactive decay product of the radium contained in the tailings. Radon, a radioactive gas, can diffuse through the contaminated material and be released into the atmosphere where it and its radioactive decay products may be inhaled by humans. A second radiation exposure pathway results from the emission of gamma radiation from uranium decay products contained in the tailings. Gamma radiation emitted from contaminated material delivers an external exposure to the whole body. If the concentration of radon and its decay products is high enough and the exposure time long enough, or if the exposure to direct gamma radiation is long enough, cancers (i.e., excess health effects) may develop in persons living and working at the vicinity properties. 3 refs., 7 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- USDOE Albuquerque Operations Office, NM (USA). Uranium Mill Tailings Project Office
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/NE
- OSTI ID:
- 6302430
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/UMTRA-150327; ON: DE91005813; TRN: 91-002740
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABANDONED SITES
REMEDIAL ACTION
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
RADIATION HAZARDS
MILL TAILINGS
RADON 222
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
AERIAL MONITORING
ARIZONA
COLORADO
CONTAMINATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
GAMMA RADIATION
IDAHO
NORTH DAKOTA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
OREGON
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
TEXAS
URANIUM
UTAH
WYOMING
ACTINIDES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DOSES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION VI
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FEDERAL REGION X
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
METALS
MONITORING
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADON ISOTOPES
SOLID WASTES
TAILINGS
USA
WASTES
054000* - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety
560161 - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Man
540130 - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540230 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540330 - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)