In December 2008, DOE completed excavation of 1.9 million cubic yards of material for the initial disposal cell area, which is the west end of the cell and occupies about 40 acres. The excavation depth was 25 feet below the ground surface. The first shipment of tailings was disposed at the Crescent Junction site on April 21. Tailings are end-dumped from the containers and compacted as they are placed in the cell. In September, the dumping location was moved to the top of the disposal cell where interim cover has been placed over the compacted tailings.
Tailings (red material) are dumped into the disposal cell through an end-gate on the container. |
