DOE produced this report in 1984. This document assesses and compares the environmental impacts of various alternatives for remedial action at the Gunnison uranium mill tailings site located 0.5 miles south of Gunnison, Colorado. The site covers 56 acres and contains 35 acres of tailings, 2 of the original mill buildings, and a water tower.
The Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act af 1978 (UMTRCA), Public Law 95-604, authorized the U.S. 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 [vicinity] properties off the site. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency promogated standards for the remedial actions (40 CFR 192). Remedial actions must be performed in accordance with these shndards and with the concurrence of the Nuclear Regulatory Comission.
Four alternatives have been addressed in this document. The first alternative is consolidate the tailings and associated contaminated soils into a recontoured pile on the southern portion of the existing site. A radon barrier of silty clay would be constructed over the pile and various erosion control
measures would be taken to assure the long-term integrity of the pile.
Two other alternatives which involve moving the tailings to new locations are assessed in this document. These alternatives generally involve greater
short-term impacts and are more costly but would result in the tailings being stabilized in a location farther from the city of Gunnison. The no-action
alternative was also assessed.
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