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Colorado River Protection Activities on the Moab UMTRA Project

Colorado River Protection Activities on the Moab UMTRA Project. CMU Upper Colorado River Basin Water Forum October 31, 2011. Ken Pill, Hydrogeologist Technical Assistance Contractor. Site Setting. Moab. Matheson Wetlands Preserve. Well Field. Colorado River. Evaporation Pond.

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Colorado River Protection Activities on the Moab UMTRA Project

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  1. Colorado River Protection Activities on the Moab UMTRA Project • CMU Upper Colorado River Basin Water Forum • October 31, 2011 Ken Pill, HydrogeologistTechnical Assistance Contractor

  2. Site Setting Moab Matheson Wetlands Preserve Well Field Colorado River Evaporation Pond Tailings Pile Moab Wash 2

  3. Site Background and Scope • Former uranium ore-processing facility 1956 to 1984 • 480-acre site, 130 acres covered by mill tailings pile • Toe of pile is 750 ft from west bank of Colorado River • Relocate 16 million tons of uranium mill tailings to engineered disposal cell • Actively remediate ground water at Moab site • Endangered fish species habitat protection 1984 3

  4. Ground Water Conditions 4

  5. Ammonia Plume • June 2011 data • Ammonia toxicity pH and temperature dependent • Toxicity increases at higher pH values 5

  6. Ground Water Remediation • Currently extracting ground water closer to the toe of the tailings pile • All extracted ground water pumped to a lined evaporation pond located on the top of the tailings pile • Capability to inject diverted Colorado River water into 34 injection wells along the riverbank Evap Pond Toe of Tailings Pile Ground Water Extraction Fresh Water Injection 6

  7. Mass removal rates have increased over the past 5 years Evaporators used to replace pile sprinkler system Ground Water Remediation (continued) • As of October 2011 have removed • 699,000 lbs of ammonia • 3,200 lbs of uranium 7

  8. Evaluating Long-Term Treatment Options • Treatability study • Russ Walker, CMU Dept of Physical and Environmental Sciences • Prepared conceptual design for chemical ground water treatment system • Golder and Assoc • pH adjustment with lime for U ppt • Shallow settling ponds with aeration at pH = 10.5 for NH3 removal 8

  9. Impacts of River Stage on Water Chemistry • Base flow conditions • Gaining river • Stiff diagrams illustrate differences between water chemistry Flow ~3,700 cfs 9

  10. Impacts of River Stage (continued) • Peak runoff conditions • Losing river • Fresh water lens migrated ~40 ft bgs and 150 ft laterally Flow ~35,900 cfs 10

  11. Fresh Water Injection After fresh water lens developed due to runoff, supplemented with injection Operating consistently since 2010 Have injected 9 million gallons through October 2011 Oct 2011 Ammonia (mg/L) 11

  12. Suitable Habitat Potential Closed upstream, open downstream After spring runoff peak through September 30 Side Channels Base Flow Conditions (~3,250 cfs) 12

  13. Habitat Potential (continued) 13

  14. 2011 Flooding • Worked with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to rescue native fish from ponded water after river receded June 9, 2011 48,500 cfs 14

  15. Moab Project Information Webcam view of Moab site gjem.energy.gov/moab 15

  16. Questions? 16

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