DEVELOPMENT OF SCREENING PROTOCOLS FOR WASTE DUMPS ASSOCIATED WITH LEGACY URANIUM MINING ON BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM) ADMINISTERED LANDS IN UTAH

About 17,000 to 20,000 abandoned mines with their associated wastes dumps exist in the state of Utah, many of which are on federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). A significant proportion of these features, particularly in southeastern Utah were associated with legacy uranium (U) exploration and mining. Site assessments were performed to identify if an abandoned mine features poses a physical safety hazard, a potential chemical/environmental hazard or both. In order to accommodate all partners working on BLM administered lands in Utah, BLM Utah has developed an abandoned mine site screening protocol utilizing x-ray fluorescence (XRF), solid phase sampling, surface water sampling (when necessary) and gamma and alpha measurements. Based on the results of the screening activities a number of options for the feature are considered: (1) recommended for reclamation/mitigation of physical safety hazards using BLM’s authority under the Federal Land Policy Management Act (FLPMA); (2) completion of additional geochemical characterization using BLM’s Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) authority; or (3) no additional activities are necessary. Data collected to date, consistently indicate two geochemical concerns on BLM managed lands: (1) waste dump radionuclide and trace-element data at some abandoned mine sites are above local background conditions and (2) selected waste dumps show offsite migration of contaminants via ephemeral channels (i.e. erosion). This data is critical to the decision of the authority that will be used to clean-up a site, options for closing a particular opening and personal protective equipment to be worn during construction of the closure. The development of the screening protocol and use of this protocol will be presented.