Environmental Assessment of remedial action at the Ambrosia Lake uranium mill tailings site, Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico

Technical Report · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6430697· OSTI ID:6430697

This document assesses and compares the environmental impacts of various alternatives for remedial action at the Ambrosia Lake uranium mill tailings site located near Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico. The designated site covers 196 acres and contains 111 acres of tailings and some of the original mill structures. The Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA), Public Law 95-604, authorizes the US Department of Energy to clean up the site to reduce the potential health impacts associated with the residual radioactive materials remaining at the site and at associated properties off the site. The US Environmental Protection Agency promulgated standards for th remedial action (40 CFR Part 192). Remedial action must be performed in accordance with these standards and with the concurrence of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The proposed action is to stabilize the tailings at their present location by consolidating the tailings and associated contaminated materials into a recontoured pile. A radon barrier would be constructed over the pile and various erosion protection measures would be taken to assure the long-term stability of the pile. Another alternative which would involve moving the tailings to a new location is also assessed in this document. This alternative would generally involve greater short-term impacts and costs but would result in stabilization of the tailings at an undeveloped location. The no action alternative is also assessed in this document.

• Research Organization: USDOE Albuquerque Operations Office, NM. Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project Office
• OSTI ID: 6430697
• Report Number(s): DOE/EA-0322; ON: DE87011997
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

053000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects
054000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EVALUATION
FEDERAL REGION VI
FEED MATERIALS PLANTS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MILL TAILINGS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
REMEDIAL ACTION
REMOVAL
SOLID WASTES
STABILIZATION
TAILINGS
USA
WASTES