ML20246M192

Response to Hastert Committee on Public Works & Transportation Question 2 for 890713 Hearing

ML20246M192
Person / Time
Issue date:	07/13/1989
From:	NRC
To:	Hastert J HOUSE OF REP.
Shared Package
ML20246M176	List: ML20246M170 ML20246M178 ML20246M192 ML20246M199 ML20246M205 ML20246M218 ML20246M243 ML20246M259 ML20246M265 ML20246M274
References
CCS, HASTERT-890713, NUDOCS 8909070115
Download: ML20246M192 (2)

Text

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4. .

. QUESTION 2. Identify anc cescribe the projects.

ANSWER.

The Edgemont uranium mill is located adjacent to and within the town of Edgemont, South Dakota. The facility was purchased by TVA in August 1974 and was never operated by TVA. Under license from NRC, TVA relocated approximately 2.1 million metric tons of tailings, as well as other contaminated debris, to a disposal site located 3.2 kilometers southeast of the original site. The uranium mill tailings were transported by trucks along a purposely constructed haul road.

Under Title 1 of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA), DOE has identified 24 uranium mill processing sitest which DOE is required to remediate under standards promulgated by EPA. NRC has a concurrence role in this cleanup program (UMTRAP). The NRC concurs with the DOE site-specific design in that it must satisfy the provisions of the EPA standards in 40 CFR Part 192, Subparts A, B and C. NRC also concurs with the DOE determination that the remedial action is completed in acccrdance with these EPA standards.

However, the standards are limited to land cleanup, control of radon releases, longevity of containment and ground-water protection. In evaluating whether a uranium mill tailings site can be designed to meet these EPA standards, DOE considers several disposal options which include transportation and relocation of the uranium mill tailings to a location where such standards can be met.

8909670115 PDR ORG 890814 NE EL PDC

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QU'ESTIbN2.(continuId) -At the present time, DOE has or is in the process of relocating uranium mill

-tailings located in Salt Lake City, Utah; Lakeview, Oregon; Riverton, Wyoming; and Durango, Colorado.

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l The Salt Lake City site cleanup action required the transportation by truck hauling and railroad hauling of approximately 3 million metric tons of contaminated material to a site approximately 85 miles to the west of the original site.

The Lakeview site cleanup action required the transportation cf approximately 1 million metric tons of contaminated material by truck hauling, along established lumber hauling roads, to a disposal site approximately 11 kilometers northwest of the original site.

The Riverton, Wyoming uranium mill tailings have been, for the most part, relocated and codisposed at the LNETCO Gas Hills commercial milling facility.

Approximately 2 million metric tons of contaminated materials have been handled by truck to the UMETCO facility located approximately 80 kilometers east of the Riverton site.

The Durango uranium mill facility operated from 1949 to 1963 and generated approximately 2 million metric tons of uranium tailings. The uranium tailings are being hauled by truck to the disposal site located approximately 3.5 kilometers to the south.

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1 Except for the Riverton site, the uranium mill tailings had been located near or within population centers.

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