DOE restricts access to the radiological control area of the site where the mill tailings and the highest concentrations of soil contamination exist. This area is fenced and signs are posted in accordance with the requirements of Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 835 and relevant DOE guidelines. Staff are on site 7 days per week and perform security, maintenance activities, erosion control measures, tailings excavation and conditioning, storm water prevention activities, and health and safety oversight of the field activities.

Excavation of the northwestern section of the tailings pile continues. Excavated tailings material is being laid on top of the pile and “conditioned” to reach the desired moisture content for shipping to the disposal cell at Crescent Junction. Conditioning consists of spreading the tailings on the pile and turning the material over several times using a harrow-type farm implement; it also may include blending wetter slimes with drier sands.

The Moab Project is currently shipping two trains a day Monday through Friday. The length of each train is up to 22 railcars, each holding four containers. As of the end of October, about 430,000 tons of tailings had been shipped to Crescent Junction for disposal.

Aerial view of the tailings pile excavation and conditioning. The light gray area
in the center is the exposed tailings. The surrounding “plots” are drying beds.