Jackpiles Uranium Mines: US Department of Interior

Michael H. Momeni, PhD

ANL/Es-131 document was produced in support of the United States, Bureau of Land Management.Analyses of Environmental Impacts of Jack Pile Uranium Mine, Reclamation Project.

Radiation doses, and the input parameters for the analysis of risks, and the projected health effects are included on (pages 199 to 212)in the following document :

Final environmental impact statement for the Jackpile-Paguate Uranium Mine Reclamation Project: Laguna Indian Reservation, Cibola County, New Mexico, Volume 1

United States. Bureau of Land Management. Rio Puerco Resource Area United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Albuquerque Area Office

- January 1, 1986

Potential pathways of radiation exposure and radiation-induced genetic and somatic effects from materials at the mine complex under five alternatives of decommissioning were analyzed using UDAD and PRIM computer codes. The principal pathways of exposure included in the analysis were inhalation of airborne radionuclides, ingestion of food and water containing radionuclides, and extended exposure to gamma and beta radiation from either airborne or ground-deposited radionuclides. The alternatives of decommissioning include (A) No Action (site will be fenced, otherwise left as it is), (B) No Future Use (site will be fenced and all disturbed area will be covered with 30 cm of soil, no grazing on the site); (C1) Grazing Land Use as developed by Anaconda Company (proto-ore , waste piles, and open pits covered with 120 cm of soil, the remainder of the disturbed areas covered with 30 cm of soil, pits backfilled 90 cm above the equilibrium groundwater recovery level, no human habitation or farming allowed on the mine site, but grazing would be allowed); (C2) Grazing Land Use as developed by US Department of the Interior (similar to Alternative C1, but the pits covered with 300 cm of soil above the groundwater recovery level); and (D) Maximum Future Use (similar to Alternative C2, except construction of commercial and industrial facilities, storage, recreation, and further mining would be allowed). Radiation doses from atmospheric transport and ingestion of radionuclides were calculated, and somatic and genetic effects in individuals living within 80 km from the mine complex were predicted. Hydrological flow patterns in the mine area were analyzed to determine the potential for future contamination of surface water and groundwater and to determine the groundwater recovery level after reclamation, thus permitting incorporation of corrective actions into the reclamation procedures.

This is an abridged version of ANL/ES-131, TechnicalReport “Radiological impacts of Jackpile-Paguate uranium mines: an analysisof alternatives of decommissioning”. This abridged report contains radiation exposures and the potential radiation-induced effects. The radiation-induced health effects were calculated using PRIM code.

Jackpile uranium mine impacts:

Introduction:

jackpile Intro.pdf

Pathways of Exposure:

jackpilepathways.pdf

Please note: post publication comments and deletion to the Chapter 4 of the ANL/ES-131 included in the following section, the

Radiation-Induced Health Effects:

Health Effects.pdf

The author with reservation had included the relative-risk model in PRIM code. The relative-risk model was eliminated in the later versions of PRIM code; the revised code was renamed PRIEM code. The technical bases of PRIEM code are detailed in Potential Radiation-Induced Biological Effects (PRIEM) Computer Code.

Please note:

pages 199 to 212:

Appendix B: radiation

Appendix C: Author Comments on ANL/ES-131

A list of the input parameters and values for analyses of risks are included in the appendix C.

Final environmental impact statement for the Jackpile-Paguate ..., Volume 2, By United States. Bureau of Land Management. Rio Puerco Resource Area, United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Albuquerque Area Office.