Environmental assessment of remedial action at the Tuba City uranium mill tailings site, Tuba City, Arizona

Technical Report · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7255552· OSTI ID:7255552

This document assesses and compares the environmental impacts of various alternatives for remedial action at the Tuba City uranium mill tailings site located approximately six miles east of Tuba City, Arizona. The site covers 105 acres and contains 25 acres of tailings and some of the original mill structures. The Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 (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 the remedial actions (40 CFR Part 192). Remedial actions 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 control 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 a more remote location. The no action alternative is also assessed in this document.

• Research Organization: USDOE Albuquerque Operations Office. Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project Office. Albuquerque, NM (US)
• OSTI ID: 7255552
• Report Number(s): DOE/EA-0317; ON: DE87002840
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052001 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Processing
053000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects
054000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ARIZONA
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FEDERAL REGION IX
MILL TAILINGS
NORTH AMERICA
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOLID WASTES
STABILIZATION
TAILINGS
USA
WASTES