ML19274D631
| ML19274D631 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/01/1979 |
| From: | Scarano R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Cunningham R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| REF-PROJ-M-21 NUDOCS 7902210081 | |
| Download: ML19274D631 (2) | |
Text
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4 UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION h
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FEB 01 1979 Project M-21
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w MEMORANDUM FOR:
Richard E. Cunningham, Director Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety FROM:
Ross A. Scarano, Section Leader Uranium Mill Licensing Section Fuel Processing & Fabrication Branch Steve Manger Uranium Mill Licensing Section Fuel Processing & Fabrication Branch
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF SITE VISIT TO MINERALS EXPLORATION COMPANY'S ANDERSON URANIUM PROJECT, ARI70NA
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Purpose A visit to the Anderson Project site, conducted as a part of the NRC review of the Mirerals Exploration proposal, at the request of the State of Arizona.
Place and-Date Anderson Mill Site, 100 miles NW of Phoenix, in Yavapai County, Arizona, January 23, 1979.
Attendees Union Oil Corporation - R. Salisbury Minerals Exploration Company - F. Buchella, Jr., T. Larson, C. Hill, and J. Dome Arizona AEC - D. Warren ana R. Roenmich NRC - R. Scarano and S. Manger CSU - J. Nelson and T. Shepard 79022100si 4 $m $i h # h E <-w " M%
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o Richard E. Cunningham Scarano and Manger arrived in Phoenix on January 22, 1979, and met with Warren and Roemmich of Arizona AEC to discuss the scope of the NRC reviews in Agreement States and other general mill licensing topics.
On January 23 a.m., all attendees met in Wickenburg, Arizona, for a brief infonnal meeting, the proceeded to the site. The site tour began at a promontory oterlooking the " dry lake" which is to be the mine site.
Surface deposits of uranium were mined from this site in the 1950's, and the floor of the valley is highly disturbed.
The project proposal calls for strip mining the, adjacent hillsides following an ore body which downdips to the S.W., removing the clayey overburden for lining the more permeable areas of the pit, and disposing of the tailings in the mined pit in an impoundment configuration which has not as yet been decided. Through staged development of the mines, it is believed to be possible to dispose of all tailings within the mine area.
Those areas in which groundwater is intercepted during mining will be backfilled and lined prior to tailings disposal. Because water is scarce in this region, water conservation methods will be employed including recycle of slurry water and utilization of mine waters where available.
The reclamation of the site will consist of evaporating excess moisture, placement of a clay cap, replacing overburden and stabilizing. The full reclamation scheme has not been disclosed but will be requested.
At the completion of the site visit, it was concluded that there are no obvious insurmountable problem areas, 'aut that clarification and elaboration are needed on the following points:
1.
The proposed configuration and depth of the tailings impoundment, including dam placement and overburden dumps; 2.
The methods to be used in sealing, backfilling, and capping the impoundment area; and 3.
The stabilization and reclamation proposal (i.e., rip rap, vegetation, etc.).
W/
&;; p Ross A. Scarano, Section Leader Steve Manger Uranium Mill Licensing Section Uranium Mill Licensing Section Fuel Processing and Fabrication Fuel Processing and Fabrication Branch Branch
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