DOE/EIS-0355D; Remediation of the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings,
Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah, Draft Environmental Impact Statement (11/2004)
Executive Summary
Cover
Cover Sheet
Table of Contents
Acronyms
Summary
Summary Cont'
Volume I
Cover
Cover Sheet
Table of Contents
Acronyms
Measurements and Conversions
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Description of Proposed Alternative Actions
Section 2.1: On-Site Disposal Alternative
Section 2.2: Off-Site Disposal Alternative
Section 2.1.1: Construction and Operations at the Moab Site
Section 2.2.2: Characterization and Remediation of Vicinity Properties
Section 2.2.3: Construction and Operations at Borrow Areas
Section 2.2.4: Transportation of Tailings Pile and Other Contaminated Materials
Section 2.2.5: Construction and Operations at the Off-Site Disposal Locations
Section 2.2.6: Monitoring and Maintenance
Section 2.2.7: Resource Requirements
Section 2.3: Ground Water at the Moab Site
Section 2.3.1: Background
Section 2.3.2: Proposed Ground Water Action
Section 2.3.3: Uncertainties
Section 2.4: No Action Alternative
Section 2.5: Alternatives Considered But Not Analyzed
Section 2.6: Description and Comparison of Environmental Consequences
Section 2.7: Other Decision-Making Factors
Chapter 3: Affected Environment
Section 3.1.1: Geology
Section 3.1.2: Soils
Section 3.1.3: Description of Contaminated Materials at the Moab Site
Section 3.1.4: Air Quality
Section 3.1.5: Climate and Meteorology
Section 3.1.6: Ground Water
Section 3.1.7: Surface Water
Section 3.1.8: Floodplains
Section 3.1.9: Wetlands
Section 3.1.10: Aquatic Ecology
Section 3.1.11: Terrestrial Vegetation and Wildlife
Section 3.1.12: Land Use
Section 3.1.13: Cultural Resources
Section 3.1.14: Noise and Vibration
Section 3.1.15: Visual Resources
Section 3.1.16: Infrastructure
Section 3.1.17: Transportation
Section 3.1.18: Socioeconomics
Section 3.1.19: Human Health
Section 3.1.20: Environmental Justice
Chapter 3.2: Klondike Flats Site
Chapter 3.3: Crescent Junction Site
Chapter 3.4: White Mesa Mill Site
Chapter 3.5: Borrow Areas
Chapter 3.6: References
Chapter 4: Environmental Consequences
Chapter 4-1: On-Site Disposal (Moab Site)
Chapter 4-2: Off-Site Disposal (Moab Site)
Chapter 4-3: On-Site Disposal (Crescent Junction Site)
Chapter 4-4: Off-Site Disposal (White Mesa Mill Site)
Chapter 4-5: Borrow Areas
Chapter 4-6: No Action Alternative
Chapter 4-7: Mitigation Measures
Chapter 4-8: References
Chapter 5: Cumulative Impacts
Chapter 6: Unavoidable Impacts, short-Term Uses and Long Term Productivity, and Irreversible or Irretrievable Commitment of Resources
Chapter 7: Regulatory Requirements
Chapter 8: List of Preparers and Disclosure Statements
Chapter 9: List of Agencies, Organizations, and Individuals Receiving Copies of this EIS
Chapter 10: Glossary
Chapter 11: Index
Volume II
Table of Contents
Appendix A: Biological Assessment/Screening Level Risk Assessment/Biological Opinion
Appendix A-1: Biological Assessment
Appendix A1-2: Species Evaluated
Appendix A1-3: Consultation to Date
Appendix A1-4: Description of the Proposed Action
Appendix A1-5: Description of the Project Area
Appendix A1-6: Borrow Areas
Appendix A1-7: Analysis for Aquatic Species
Appendix A1-8: Analysis for Terrestrial Species
Appendix A1-9: Determinations and Conclusions
Appendix A1-10: List of Contributors, Preparers, and Contacts
Appendix B: Assumed Disposal Cell Cover Conceptual Design and Construction
Appendix C: Slurry Pipeline Routes Map
Appendix C: Slurry Pipeline Routes Map Cont'
Appendix D: Human Health
Appendix E: Evaluation of Disposal of Moab Tailings in Salt Caverns Withing the Paradox Formation
Appendix F: Floodplains and Wetlands Assessment for Remedial Action at the Moab Site
Appendix G: White Mesa Mill Operations
Appendix H: Transportation Impact Analysis
Tables and Figures
Table S-1 Consequences of Uncertainty
Table 2-19 Average Annual Equipment - Truck Transportation Mode
Table 2-20 Average Annual Equipment Requirements-Rail Transportation Mode
Table 2-32 Summary and Comparison of Impacts
Table 2-33 Consequences of Uncertainty
Table 3-12 Sensitive Plant That May Occur in the Vicinity of the Moab Site
Table 3-13 State-Listed Wildlife Species that May Occur in the Vicinity of the Moab Site
Table 3-23 Soil Types and Properties at the Klondike Flats Site
Table 3-24 Characteristics of Potential Vegetation on the Various Soil Types at the Klondike Flats Site
Table 3-26 Sensitive Plan Species Potentially Occuring in the Klondike Flats Site Area
Table 3-27 State-Listed Animal Species that may Occur in the Vicinity of the Klondike Flats Site Area
Table 3-30 Soil Types and Properties at the Crescent Junction Site
Table 3-31 Vegetation Characteristics on the Various Soil Types at the Crescent Junction Site
Table 3-32 Federally Listed Threatened or Endangered Species Potentially Occuring in the Vicinity of the Crescent Junction Site
Table 3-33 Sensitive Plant Species Potentially Occurring in the Vicinity of the Crescent Junction Site
Table 3-34 State-Listed Animals Species That May Occur in the Vicinity of the Crescent Junction Site
Table 3-35 Sensitive Bird Species Protected Under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Table 3-37 Soil Types and Properties at the White Mesa Mill Site
Table 3-41 Monitoring Results for Surface Water Samples Collected from Cottonwood Creek
Table 3-45 Sensitive Plan Specials Potentially Occurring in the Water Mesa Mill Site
Table 3-46 Sate-Listed Wildlife Species That My Occur In the Vicinity of the White Mesa Site
Table 3-49 White Mesas Mill Site - Summary of Cultural Sites by Time Period
Table 3-52 Sensitive Plant Species Potentially Occurring in Vicinity of the Pipeline Corridor
Table 3-53 State-Listed Animal Species That May Occur in the Vicinity of the Pipeline Corridor
Table 3-54 Sensitive Bird Species Protected Under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
Figure S-1 Location of the Moab Site in Grand County, Utah
Figure S-2 Location of Moab Site in Relation to the City of Moab
Figure S-6 Maximum Number of Potentially Affected Cultural Resources
Figure S-7 Maximum Number of Potentially Affected Traditional Cultural Properties
Figure S-8 Power Requirements
Figure S-9 Total Fuel Consumption
Figure S-10 Daily Potable Water Consumption
Figure S-11 Total Nonpotable Water Consumption
Figure S-12 Sanitary Waste Generation
Figure S-13 Annual Generation of RRM and Solid Waste
Figure S-14 Annual Costs and Benefits
Figure S-15 Generation of New Direct and Indirect Jobs
Figure S-16 Latent Cancer Fatalities Among Workers
Figure S-17 Public Latent Cancer Fatalities (Excluding Vicinity Property Exposure)
Figure S-19 Nonradiological Transportation Fatalities
Figure S-20 Increase in Truck Traffic in Downtown Moab
Figure S-21 Increase in Truck Traffic on US-191
Figure S-22 Increase in Moab Traffic from commuters
Figure S-23 Borrow Areas
Figure 1-1 Location of the Moab site in Grand County, Utah
Figure 1-2 Location of the Moab Site in Relation to the City of Moab
Figure 2-1 Schedule of Activities for On-Site and Off-Site Disposal
Figure 2-2 Disposal Site Alternative Locations
Figure 2-3 Moab Site Plan, On-Site Disposal Alternative
Figure 2-5 Location of Temporary Moab Site Construction Facilities, On-Site Disposal Alternative
Figure 2-6 Typical Cross-Section on the Disposal Cell
Figure 2-7 Vicinity Property Inclusion Survey Area
Figure 2-8 Borrow Area
Figure 2-9 Site Location Map
Figure 2-10 Truck Haul Off-Site Disposal Alternative, Surface Remediation Activity Schedule
Figure 2-11 Rail Haul Off-site Disposal Alterative, Surface Remediation Activity Schedule
Figure 2-13 Location of Temporary Moab Site Facilities, Processing (Drying) Areas
Figure 2-14 Truck and Rail Transportation Routes
Figure 2-15 Slurry Line Transportation Routes
Figure 2-16 Reference Disposal Cell
Figure 2-17 Moab Site Temporary Construction Facilities, Off-Site Disposal Alternative
Figure 2-18 Klondike Flats site Truck Route Map
Figure 2-19 Crescent Junction Site Truck Route Map
Figure 2-20 White Mesa Mill Site Temporary Construction Facilities
Figure 2-21 Moab Site Rail Transportation Infrastructure, Off-Site Disposal Alternative
Figure 2-22 Klondike Flats Site Railroad Transportation Mode
Figure 2-24 Crescent Junction Site Railroad Transportation Mode
Figure 2-25 Klondike Flats Site Slurry Line Transportation Mode
Figure 2-26 Crescent Junction Site Slurry Line Transportation Mode
Figure 2-27 White Mesa Mill Site Slurry Pipeline Transportation Mode
Figure 2-28 Locations of Proposed Slurry Pipeline Facilities at the Moab Site
Figure 2-31 Slurry Preparation Plant Process Flow Diagram
Figure 2-32 Disposal Cell Filling Sequence Profile
Figure 2-33 Disposal Cell, Typical Section
Figure 2-34 Reference Disposal Cell Cover Construction
Figure 2-35 Reference Disposal Cell-Typical Cover Section
Figure 2-36 White Mesa Mill Disposal Cell Plan
Figure 2-37 White Mesa Mill Disposal Cell Cross-Section
Figure 2-38 White Mesa Mill Wet Cell Liner Design
Figure 2-39 White Mesa Mill Typical Reclamation cover
Figure 2-40 PEIS Compliance Strategy Selection Process
Figure 2-48 Maximum Number of Potentially Affected Cultural Resources
Figure 2-49 Minimum number of Potentially Affected Traditional Cultural Properties
Figure 2-50 Power Requirements
Figure 2-51 Total Fuel Consumption
Figure 2-52 Daily Potable Water Consumption
Figure 2-53 Total Nonpotable Water Consumption
Figure 2-54 Sanitary Waste Generation
Figure 2-55 Annual Generation of RRM and Solid Waste
Figure 2-56 Annual Costs and Benefits
Figure 2-57 Generation of New Direct and Indirect Jobs
Figure 2-58 Latent Cancer Fatalities Among Workers
Figure 2-59 Public Latent Cancer Fatalities
Figure 2-61 Nonradiological Transportation Fatalities
Figure 2-62 Increase in Truck Traffic in Downtown Moab
Figure 2-63 Increase in Truck Traffic on US-191
Figure 2-64 Increase in Moab Traffic from Commuters
Figure 3-1 Physiographic and Structural Features in the Moab
Figure 3-2 Stratigraphic Column of Geologic Structures in the Area from Moab Site
Figure 3-3 Geologic Structures in the Area from Moab Site to Crescent Junction Site
Figure 3-4 Prevailing Wind Direction at the Moab Site
Figure 3-5 Wind Velocity in the Moab Area
Figure 3-6 Water-Bearing Characteristics of Major Stratigraphic Units
Figure 3-9 Cross-Sectional View of TDS Concentrations in Moab
Figure 3-10 Uranium Concentrations Interpolated at the Ground Water Surface
Figure 3-11 Ammonia Concentrations Interpolated at the Ground Water Surface (DOE 2003)
Figure 3-12 Cross-Sectional View of Ammonia Concentrations
Figure 3-13 Mapped Colorado River Features Near and Moab Site
Figure 3-14 Uranium Concentrations in Surface Water Samples
Figure 3-15 Ammonia Concentrations in Surface Water Samples
Figure 3-16 Colorado River Floodplain Area for the Moab site
Figure 3-17 Locations of Preferred habitat for Young-of-the-Year Aquatic Species
Figure 3-18 Land Use in the Moab to Crescent Junction Area
Figure 3-21 Transportation Routes and Selected Roads in the Moab
Figure 3-22 Population Within 50 Miles of the Moab Site
Figure 3-23 Minority Population Distribution Within a 50-Mile Radius of Moab, Utah
Figure 3-24 Household Income Distribution Within a 50-Mile Radius of Moab, Utah
Figure 3-26 Prevailing Wind Direction at Klondike Flats Site
Figure 3-27 Wind Speed at Klondike Flats Site
Figure 3-28 Location of Domestic Wells in the Klondike Flats Area
Figure 3-30 Population Within 50 Miles of the Klondike Flats Site
Figure 3-31 Minority Population Distribution Within a 50-Mile Radius
Figure 3-32 Household Income Distribution Within 50-Miles Radius
Figure 3-34 Population Within 50 Miles of the Crescent Junction Site
Figure 3-35 Minority Population Distribution Within a 50-Mile Radius
Figure 3-36 Household Income Distribution Within a 50-Mile Radius
Figure 3-38 Land Use in the Moab to White Mesa Mill Site Area
Figure 3-40 Transportation Routes from Moab to the White Mesa Mill Site
Figure 3-41 Census Population Within 50 Miles of the White Mesa Mill Site
Figure 3-42 Minority Population Distribution Within a 50-Mile Radius
Figure 3-43 Household Income Distribution Within a 50-Mile Radius
Figure 3-44 View North of Proposed Pipeline Crossing at Kane Springs Canyon
Figure 3-45 View Southeast of Proposed Pipeline Crossing at Kane Springs Canyon
Figure 4-7 Predicted Ammonia Concentrations in Ground Water
Figure 4-8 Predicted Ammonia Concentrations in Alluvial Ground Water
Figure 4-10 Klondike Flats Site Visibility Analysis Map (Section 35 Location)
Figure 4-11 Klondike Flats Site Visibility Analysis Map (Section 25 Location)
Appendix A1, Figure A1-3 Location of Alternative Disposal Sites and Borrow Areas
Appendix A1, Figure A1-6 Klondike Flats Alternative Disposal Site
Appendix A1, Figure A1-7 Crescent Junction Alternative Disposal Site
Appendix A1, Figure A1-8 White Mesa Mill Alternative Disposal Site
Appendix E, Attachment 1, Figure 1/a> Location Map of three Geological Potential Sites
Appendix E, Attachment 1, Figure 2 Property Ownership and Location of the Geologic Cross Section for the Moab Millsite
Appendix E, Attachment 1, Figure 3 Geologic Cross Section for the Moab Millsite
Appendix E, Attachment 1, Figure 4 Property Ownership and Location of the Geologic Cross Section for the Potash Site
Appendix E, Attachment 1, Figure 5 Geologic Cross Section for the Potash Site
Appendix E, Attachment 1, Figure 6 Property Ownership and Location of the Geologic Cross Section for the Sevenmile Canyon Site
Appendix E, Attachment 1, Figure 7 Geologic Cross Section for the Sevenmile Canyon Site
Appendix F, Figure 1 Colorado River, Floodplains, and Potential Wetlands at the Moab Site
Appendix F, Figure 2 Klondike Flats Site and Location of Spring Near the Blue Hills Road Borrow Area
Appendix F, Figure 3 Drainages That May Contain Riparian Vegetation and Possible Wetlands Near the White Mesa Mill Borrow Area
Appendix F, Figure 4 Potential Wetland Near the Floy Wash Borrow Area
Appendix F, Figure 5 Location of Wash Near the Tenmile Borrow Area