5. Lakeview Mill
LAKEVIEW MILL
1.0
SITE SUMMARY
1.1
Site Description and Mission
The Lakeview Mill is the location of a former uranium
milling site that operated from 1958 to 1974. The site
is located on 104 hectares (258 acres) of land in Lake
County, Oregon, about two kilometers (one mile) north
of the city of Lakeview and approximately 26
kilometers (16 miles) north of the California-Oregon
border.
LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
Major Long-Term Stewardship Activities - institutional
controls; groundwater monitoring; deed restrictions
Total Site Area- 104 hectares (258 acres)
Estimated Volume of Residual Contaminants groundwater 4.5 million cubic meters (5.9 million
cubic yards)
Long-Term Stewardship Start-End Years- 2000-in
perpetuity
Average Annual Long-Term Stewardship Cost FY
2000-2006- $47,000
Landlord- U.S. Department of Energy, Grand
Junction Office
As a result of past milling operations, contamination at
the site consisted of uranium mill tailings; radium,
thorium, and uranium in soils; and building debris.
Initially, the tailings pile covered approximately 10
hectares (30 acres) of the 104-hectare (258-acre) site;
six evaporation ponds occupied another 28 hectares (69
acres); and onsite windblown contamination occupied
another 10 hectares (25 acres). Beginning in June 1986, approximately 722,000 cubic meters (944,000 cubic
yards) of the contaminated materials were relocated offsite to the disposal cell at the nearby Lakeview Site. The
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) completed surface remediation activities at the Lakeview Mill in October
1989.
The current mission ofthe Lakeview Mill is performing long-term stewardship activities, including monitoring
the groundwater. The site is subject to Title I of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978
(UMTRCA). As such, DOE is responsible for remediation and performing long-term stewardship activities.
Most of the land is privately owned and used for industrial purposes by the Precision Pine Company. A local
government entity owns one small portion of the land.
The historic mission of the site was to process uranium for the U.S. national defense program. The mill was built
in 1958, and was operated by the Lakeview Mining Company until 1961. In 1968, the Atlantic Richfield
Company acquired the mill and began cleanup in 1974. By 1977, the mill buildings and the surrounding areas
had been decontaminated to meet the state regulations then in effect. The mill was sold in 1978 to the Precision
Pine Company, which used the site as a lumber mill, and a stockpile facility for sawdust and scrap waste. Further
efforts to clean up the site were initiated when UMTRCA designated the Lakeview Mill for remediation by DOE.
1.2
Site Cleanup and Accomplishments
The milling operations at the Lakeview Mill site caused both surface and subsurface (groundwater)
contamination. The principal environmental concern at Lakeview Mill site, as at other uranium mill sites, was
the migration of low-level radioactive materials and other hazardous substances from the residual mill tailings
to the surrounding soil, surface water, and groundwater. Because uranium mill tailings are typically piled without
covers, the toxic heavy metals and radioactive thorium and radium they commonly contain can easily be spread
by wind and water.
Approximately 722,000 cubic meters (944,000 cubic yards) of contaminated materials (uranium mill tailings and
contaminated structures) were relocated to the disposal cell at the Lakeview Site (also known as the Collins
Oregon
3
6. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Long-Term Stewardship Report
Ranch disposal site) 11 kilometers (7 miles) away. Relocation was required because possible seismic and
geothermal activity in the area precluded stabilizing the residual radioactive material in place. The disturbed
areas at the Lakeview Mill were graded and revegetated, and the soil was remediated to applicable U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards.
"
To Lakeview Site
(-5 miles)
To Portland, OR
(-250 miles) <,,
0.25
Miles
Lakeview Mill
Approximately 4.5 million cubic meters (5. 9 million cubic yards) of groundwater are contaminated with materials
generated from processing ores to recover uranium, including molybdenum, radium, arsenic, and net gross alpha.
The groundwater plume covers 4 7 hectares ( 116 acres) and extends within the shallow alluvial/lacustrine aquifer
beneath the former mill site. Adjacent surface water has not been degraded by site contaminants. Beyond the
contaminant plume, groundwater is used for domestic, industrial, and agricultural purposes. However, regional
groundwater is naturally highly mineralized as a result of active hydrothermal processes, and is of generally poor
quality. Therefore, the groundwater exceeds EPA numerical limits without the Lakeview Mill contamination
taken into account. Consequently, EPA approved the application of supplemental standards, as defined in Title
40 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 192.22; no groundwater remediation is required. As a "best
management practice," groundwater monitoring will continue in perpetuity to ensure the protection of human
health and the environment.
2.0
SITE-WIDE LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP
2.1
Long-Term Stewardship Activities
DOE's Grand Junction Office is responsible for long-term surveillance and maintenance activities at the
Lakeview Mill. These activities include groundwater monitoring and ensuring that institutional controls are
Oregon
4
7. Lakeview Mill
maintained. DOE conducts routine sampling of surface water (to ensure groundwater contaminants do not
migrate) and groundwater, and enforces deed restrictions on the use of groundwater.
On August 22, 2000, a proposed groundwater protection strategy was finalized and submitted to the State of
Oregon for signature (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission signature approval will follow). This cooperative
agreement between DOE and the State of Oregon will implement institutional controls for the site's contaminated
groundwater. The groundwater protection strategy will provide for an upgrade to the City of Lakeview's
domestic water line, the implementation of groundwater use restrictions, and long-term monitoring of the area's
groundwater.
DOE maintains and updates the specific records and reports
required to document long-term stewardship activities at the
Lakeview Mill. The site records are kept in permanent
storage at the DOE Grand Junction Office in Colorado. The
types of records maintained include site characterization
data, remedial action design information, the site
completion report, the groundwater compliance plan, annual
inspection reports, and groundwater monitoring results.
2.2
STAKEHOWER INVOLVEMENT
Since the remedial action was completed,
community interaction has been minimal. Copies
of the annual inspection report for the Lakeview
Mill and other sites are distributed to the local
library and to any stakeholders that request them.
The report is also published on the DOE Grand
Junction Office website at www.doegjpo.com.
Specific Long-Term Stewardship Activities
Groundwater
Long-term stewardship activities for groundwater are expected to begin in 2000 to ensure continued protection
of human health and the environment. DOE will conduct groundwater monitoring once every two years through
2013, then once every five years in perpetuity.
2.3
Regulatory Regime
The Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 (UMTRCA) authorized DOE to care for the uranium
mill tailings disposal sites under a general license issued by NRC for the long-term care of residual radioactive
material disposal cells (contained at Title 10 ofthe Code of Federal Regulations, Section 40.27). However, for
the actual processing site where the residual radioactive materials were relocated off the processing site, NRC
will not license the site. Compliance with EPA groundwater standards will require NRC concurrence.
Several regulations govern the long-term stewardship activities at of the Lakeview Mill, including the UMTRCA;
the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended; EPA groundwater protection standards, including Subparts B and
C of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 192- Standards for Cleanup of Land and Buildings
Contaminated with Residual Radioactive Materials from Inactive Uranium Processing Sites; a cooperative
agreement between DOE and the State of Oregon; and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended.
2.4
Assumptions and Uncertainties
EPA approved application of supplemental standards, as defined in Title 40 of the Code ofFederal Regulations
Part 192.22, and therefore, no groundwater remediation is required. DOE assumes that as a "best management
practice," groundwater monitoring will continue in perpetuity to ensure protection of human health and the
environment.
Oregon
5
8. National Defense Authorization Act (NOAA) Long-Term Stewardship Report
3.0
ESTIMATED LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP COSTS
Estimated long-term stewardship costs for the Lakeview Mill are identified in the table below. Cost estimates
are based on the actual costs of long-term stewardship activities at this site. The costs in fiscal year (FY) 2000
include a one-time payment to the State of Oregon for an alternate water supply, in accordance with the
groundwater compliance action plan to restrict the use of groundwater. Costs from FY 2000 through 2013
include groundwater monitoring once every two years; thereafter, costs include groundwater monitoring once
every five years. For purposes of this report, long-term stewardship costs are shown until FY 2070; however,
it is anticipated that long-term stewardship will be required in perpetuity.
Site Long-Term Stewardship Costs (Constant Year 2000 dollars)
Year(s)
Amount
Year(s)
Year(s)
Amount
Amount
FY 2000
$260,000
FY2008
$0
FY 2036-2040
$11,000
FY 2001
$18,000
FY2009
$11,000
FY 2041-2045
$11,000
FY 2002
$14,000
FY 2010
$0
FY 2046-2050
$11,000
FY2003
$14,000
FY 2011-2015
$22,000
FY 2051-2055
$11,000
FY 2004
$11,000
FY 2016-2020
$11,000
FY 2056-2060
$11,000
FY 2005
$11,000
FY 2021-2025
$11,000
FY 2061-2065
$11,000
FY2006
$0
FY 2026-2030
$11,000
FY 2066-2070
$11,000
FY 2007
$11,000
FY 2031-2035
$0
4.0
FUTURE USES
The Lakeview Mill was returned to the owners, Precision Pine Company, for industrial purposes and future use
is assumed to continue to be industrial/commercial.
For more information about the Lakeview Mill, please contact:
Art Kleinrath, Long-Term Surveillance and Maintenance Program Manager
U.S. Department of Energy ,Grand Junction Office
2597 B3/4 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81503
Phone: 970-248-6037
or visit the Internet website at http://www.doegjpo.com
Oregon
6
9. Lakeview Site
LAKEVIEW SITE
1.0
SITE SUMMARY
1.1
Site Description and Mission
The Lakeview Site (also known as Collins Ranch
LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
Disposal site) is the location of a disposal cell built by
the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to retain uranium
Major Long-Term Stewardship Activities - disposal
mill tailings and contaminated building debris and soils
cell monitoring; institutional controls
from former operations at the nearby Lakeview Mill.
Total Site Area- 16 hectares (40 acres)
The disposal site is approximately 11 kilometers (seven
Estimated Volume of Residual Contaminantsdisposal cell 722,000 cubic meters (944,000 cubic
miles) northwest of the town of Lakeview in Lake
yards)
County, Oregon, and 11 kilometers (seven miles) north
Long-Term Stewardship Start-End Years- 1995-in
of the Lakeview Mill. The disposal site is on 16
perpetuity
hectares (40 acres) of land owned by DOE and the
Average Annual Long-Term Stewardship Cost FY
disposal cell occupies 6.5-hectares (16-acres) of the
2000-2006- $111,000
site. Approximately 722,000 cubic meters (944,000
Landlord- U.S. Department of Energy, Grand
cubic yards) of contaminated materials were relocated
Junction Office
from the mill site and vicinity properties, consolidated,
and disposed in the Lakeview disposal cell during 1986
through 1988. DOE completed surface remediation activities in June 1988.
DOE's current mission at the Lakeview Site is performing long-term stewardship activities, including monitoring
and maintenance of the disposal cell. The disposal cell is subject to Title I of the Uranium Mill Tailings
Radiation Control Act of 1978 (UMTRCA). As such, DOE is responsible for any remediation and for performing
long-term stewardship activities at the site, which began in 1995. The Lakeview Site did not have a historic
mission prior to its use as a disposal site beginning in 1986.
1.2
Site Cleanup and Accomplishments
As a result of past milling operations at the Lakeview Mill, contamination at the site consisted of uranium mill
tailings, radium, thorium, and uranium in soils and building debris. The contaminants were relocated and
disposed in the disposal cell at the Lakeview Site. The disposal cell contains 668,000 dry metric tons (736,000
tons) of contaminated material, with a total radioactive activity of 42 curies of radium-226. The disposal cell
was covered with a 46-centimeter ( 18-inch) thick radon barrier and a 30-centimeter (12-inch) thick rock erosion
protection layer to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for longevity, radon control,
and groundwater protection. The up-slope was covered with ten centimeters (four inches) of top soil and planted
with native grasses. DOE received concurrence, in September 1995, from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) that the site conformed to design standards (Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations,
Part 192).
2.0
SITE-WIDE LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP
2.1
Long-Term Stewardship Activities
In September 1995, the long-term care of the disposal site was assigned to DOE's Grand Junction Office. Under
the provisions of the site-specific long-term surveillance plan, DOE conducts annual inspections of the site to
evaluate the condition of surface features; performs site maintenance, as necessary; maintains institutional
controls; and monitors the disposal cell. Annual inspections of the disposal site are conducted to detect
Oregon
7
10. National Defense Authol"ization Act (NDAA) Long-Term Stewardship Report
progressive change caused by slow-acting natural processes and to identify potential problems before extensive
maintenance, repairs, or corrective actions are needed. DOE does not plan to conduct significant maintenance
at the Lakeview Site. However, DOE will perform minor maintenance (e.g., replace signs, fix fence) or repair,
as needed or determined from site inspections. Groundwater monitoring is not required for contamination
purposes, but monitoring is required to measure the disposal cell's initial performance.
To Town of lakeview ( .... 7 mHes)
To Lakeview
Mill (- 7 miles)
®Groundwater Monitoring Well
0
0.25
0.5
Miles
Lakeview Site
The Lakeview Site is surrounded by a wire fence with a locked gate to prevent unauthorized access. Warning
signs are posted on the site perimeter at increments of about 152 meters (500 feet) to inform the public of the
site's function and ownership. In addition, DOE staffs a 24-hour phone line for reporting any site concerns. No
drilling or other intrusive activities are allowed on the property unless authorized by DOE. Because of the remote
location of the disposal site, purposeful intrusion is not expected to be a problem. However, if intrusion,
vandalism, or other factors (e.g., grazing) become a problem, then site security will be re-evaluated.
DOE maintains and updates the specific records and reports required to document long-term stewardship
activities at the Lakeview Site. DOE submits an annual report to the NRC that documents the results of the site's
long-term surveillance plan, as required by NRC regulations in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part
40, Appendix A, Criterion 12. Site records are kept in permanent storage at the DOE Grand Junction Office in
Colorado, and real property records are retained at the DOE Albuquerque Office in New Mexico. Types of
records maintained include site characterization data, remedial action design information, the site completion
report, long-term monitoring plans, annual inspection reports, and current and historic monitoring data.
Oregon
8
11. Lakeview Site
2.2
Specific Long-Term Stewardship Activities
Engineered Units
The site contains one disposal cell which measures
STAKEHOWER INVOLVEMENT
approximately 320 meters (1,050 feet) by 244 meters
(800 feet) and requires long-term surveillance and
Community interaction has been minimal since the
maintenance to ensure continued protection of human
remedial action was completed. Copies of the annual
health and the environment. Long-term stewardship
inspection report for the Lakeview Site and other sites
activities for the disposal cell includes conducting
are distributed to the local library and any stakeholders
annual inspections and performing minor maintenance,
that requests them. Annual inspection reports are also
as needed. To demonstrate the initial performance of
published on the DOE Grand Junction Office website
the disposal cell, annual groundwater monitoring will
at www.doegjpo.com.
occur from 1998 to 2003, after which monitoring will
take place once every five years. However, recent
studies suggest that the rock cover on the disposal cell may disintegrate in 130 to 270 years, which may be less
than the applicable 200 to 1,000 year long-term performance criteria. Therefore, DOE will continue to monitor
the riprap (rock layer) durability and will take appropriate action, as necessary, in consultation with NRC.
2.3
Regulatory Regime
In September 1995, NRC issued a license to the Lakeview Site for custody and long-term care of residual
radioactive material disposal sites (contained at Title 10 of the Code ofFederal Regulations, Section 40.27). The
purpose of the general license is to ensure that such sites will be cared for in a manner that protects human health
and safety and the environment. The general license went into effect when NRC concurred that the site
conformed to cleanup standards and formally accepted the site-specific long-term surveillance plan.
Several other requirements govern the long-term stewardship of the Lakeview Site, including the Uranium Mill
Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978; the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended; Environmental Protection
Agency Groundwater Protection Standards, including Subparts A, B, and C of Title 40 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 192- Standards for Cleanup of Land and Buildings Contaminated with Residual Radioactive
Materials from Inactive Uranium Processing Sites; a cooperative agreement between DOE and the State of
Oregon; and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended.
2.4
ASSUMPTIONS AND UNCERTAINTIES
Because the site has been monitored for several years, the long-term stewardship activities at the site are well
known and are not expected to change dramatically. Sound scope and cost estimates for the long-term
stewardship activities at the site have been developed. DOE assumes that monitoring will continue indefinitely,
until the disposal cell demonstrates infiltration control. However, there is the potential for a one-time significant
"erosion protection activity" for the disposal cell cover.
3.0
ESTIMATED LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP COSTS
Long-term stewardship costs for the Lakeview Site are based on historic costs incurred while conducting actual
surveillance and maintenance activities. Cost estimates reflect the current site agreements and monitoring
frequencies. Contingency costs, such as cap replacement, have not been incorporated into the cost estimate.
Costs from fiscal years (FY) 2000 through 2006 include prorated costs associated with decommissioning
unnecessary monitoring wells at similar sites. For purposes of this report, long-term stewardship costs are shown
until FY 2070; however, it is anticipated that long-term stewardship activities will be required in perpetuity.
Oregon
9
12. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Long-Term Stewardship Repm·t
Site Long-Term Stewardship Costs (Constant Year 2000 Dollars)
Year(s)
Amount
Year(s)
Amount
Year(s)
Amount
FY 2000
$116,000
FY 2008
$32,100
FY 2036-2040
$168,000
FY 2001
$126,000
FY 2009
$32,000
FY 2041-2045
$168,000
FY2002
$131,000
FY 2010
$32,100
FY 2046-2050
$168,000
FY 2003
$118,000
FY 2011-2015
$153,000
FY 2051-2055
$168,000
FY 2004
$130,000
FY 2016-2020
$153,000
FY 2056-2060
$168,000
FY 2005
$71,000
FY 2021-2025
$157,000
FY 2061-2065
$168,000
FY 2006
$83,100
FY 2026-2030
$166,000
FY 2066-2070
$168,000
FY 2007
$32,000
FY 2031-2035
$168,000
4.0
FUTURE USES
Future use of the site will be limited to monitoring and maintaining the disposal cell in perpetuity. Public access
to the disposal site will be restricted indefinitely. Land surrounding the site is privately owned and is sparsely
populated; the predominant land use is grazing. These uses are expected to continue in the future.
For more information about the Lakeview Site, please contact:
Art Kleinrath, Long-Term Surveillance and Maintenance Program Manager
U.S. Department of Energy, Grand Junction Office
2597 B3/4 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81503
Phone: 970-248-6037
or visit the Internet website at http://www.doegjpo.com
Oregon
10
