Title 1 of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) of 1978, Public Law (PL) 95-604, authorized the US Department of Energy (DOE) to perform remedial action at the inactive Naturita, Colorado, uranium processing site to reduce the potential health effects from the radioactive materials at the site and at vicinity properties associated with the site. Title 2 of the UMTRCA authorized the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) or agreement state to regulate the operation and eventual reclamation of active uranium processing sites. The uranium mill tailings at the site were removed and reprocessed from 1977 to 1979. The contaminated areas include the former tailings area, the mill yard, the former ore storage area, and adjacent areas that were contaminated by uranium processing activities and wind and water erosion. The Naturita remedial action would result in the loss of 133 acres (ac) of contaminated soils at the processing site. If supplemental standards are approved by the NRC and the state of Colorado, approximately 112 ac of steeply sloped contaminated soils adjacent to the processing site would not be cleaned up. Cleanup of this contamination would have adverse environmental consequences and would be potentially hazardous to remedial action workers.

This report contains calculations for: hydraulic gradients for Alluvial Aquifer and Salt Wash Aquifer; slug test analysis to determine hydraulic conductivity for Alluvial Aquifer and Salt Wash Aquifer; average linear groundwater velocity for Alluvial Aquifer and Salt Wash Aquifer; statistical analysis of the extent of existing groundwater contamination; hydraulic gradients for Dakota/Burro Canyon Formation and Salt Wash Aquifer; slug test analysis to determine hydraulic conductivity for Dakota/Burro Canyon Formation and Perched Salt Wash Aquifer; determination of hydraulic conductivity of the Dakota/Burro Canyon Formation from Packer Tests; average linear groundwater velocity for Dakota/Burro Canyon and Salt Wash Aquifer; chemical and mineralogical characterization of core samples from the Dry Flats Disposal Site; and demonstration of low groundwater yield from Uppermost Aquifer.

Attachment 3 Groundwater Hydrology Report describes the hydrogeology, water quality, and water resources at the processing site and Dry Flats disposal site. The Hydrological Services calculations contained in Appendix A of Attachment 3, are presented in a separate report. Attachment 4 Water Resources Protection Strategy describes how the remedial action will be in compliance with the proposed EPA groundwater standards.

The uranium processing site near Naturita, Colorado, is one of 24 inactive uranium mill sites designated to be cleaned up by the US Department of Energy (DOE) under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 (UMTRCA), 42 USC {section} 7901 et seq. Part of the UMTRCA requires that the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) concur with the DOE`s remedial action plan (RAP) and certify that the remedial action conducted at the site complies with the standards promulgated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Included in the RAP is this Remedial Action Selection Report (RAS), which describes the proposed remedial action for the Naturita site. An extensive amount of data and supporting information has been generated and evaluated for this remedial action. These data and supporting information are not incorporated into this single document but are included or referenced in the supporting documents. The RAP consists of this RAS and four supporting documents or attachments. This Attachment 2, Geology Report describes the details of geologic, geomorphic, and seismic conditions at the Dry Flats disposal site.

The proposed remedial action for the Naturita processing site is relocation of the contaminated materials and debris to the Dry Flats disposal site, 6 road miles (mi) [10 kilometers (km)] to the southeast. At the disposal site, the contaminated materials would be stabilized and covered with layers of earth and rock. The proposed disposal site is on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and used primarily for livestock grazing. The final disposal site would cover approximately 57 ac (23 ha), which would be permanently transferred from the BLM to the DOE and restricted from future uses. The remedial action activities would be conducted by the DOE`s Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project. The proposed remedial action would result in the loss of approximately 162 ac (66 ha) of soils at the processing and disposal sites; however, 133 ac (55 ha) of these soils at and adjacent to the processing site are contaminated and cannot be used for other purposes. If supplemental standards are approved by the NRC and state of Colorado, approximately 112 ac (45 ha) of contaminated soils adjacent to the processing site would not be cleaned up. This area is steeply sloped. The cleanup …

The proposed remedial action for the Naturita processing site is relocation of the contaminated materials and debris to the Dry Flats disposal sits, 6 road miles (mi) [10 kilometers (km)) to the southeast. At the disposal site, the contaminated materials would be stabilized and covered with layers of earth and rock. The proposed disposal site is on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and used primarily for livestock grazing. The final disposal sits would cover approximately 57 ac (23 ha), which would be permanently transferred from the BLM to the DOE and restricted from future uses. The remedial action activities would be conducted by the DOE`s Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project. The proposed remedial action would result in the loss of approximately 162 ac (66 ha) of soils at the processing and disposal sites; however, 133 ac (55 ha) of these soils at and adjacent to the processing site are contaminated and cannot be used for other purposes. If supplemental standards are approved by the NRC and state of Colorado, approximately 112 ac (45 ha) of contaminated soils adjacent to the processing site would not be cleaned up. This area is steeply sloped. The cleanup …

A report regarding uranium deposits of the Urvan Mineral belt.

Summarizing the data on the uranium-vanadium deposits of the Bull Canyon area in Montrose and San Miguel Counties, Colorado.

The following document contains the 17 figures in relation to the report, Environment of Uranium Deposition in the Bull Canyon Area, Southwestern Colorado.

The following report covers a chemical study that was made of the Salt Wash member of the Morrison formation of Jurassic age in the Jo Dandy area, Montrose County, Colorado in 1954. The chemical study was made to investigate the distribution of elements in the host rocks with emphasis on the pattern of variation as related to the position of known ore bodies, and to determine average concentrations of some of the elements in the major rock types.

A study made of the joint patterns in four different formations exposed in Bull Canyon, and of favorable and unfavorable ground in the upper ore-bearing sandstone unit of the Salt Was member of the Jurassic Morrison formation.

From introduction: This report summarizes some of the results of U. S. Geological Survey investigations in the Club Mesa area and presents a compilation of available geologic data that would be helpful in future exploration. Detailed geologic logs of U. S. Geological Survey holes drilled in the Club Mesa area on public land that is no longer withdrawn from mineral entry are on open file for public inspection in the U. S. Geological Survey office, Grand Junction, Colorado.

This report sumarizes the results of the US geological survey exploration in the Bull Canyon district from October 1955 to April 1956

A report pertaining to an exploration by the U.S. Geologic Survey in the southern part of the Uravan district for uranium-vanadium deposits. The explored area is in Montrose County, Colorado. The rocks exposed in the area are gently dripping marine and terrestial formations ranging in age from late Paleozoic to late Mesozoic.

"Between April 21, 1949, and August 20, 1955, the U.S. Geological Survey explored the southern part of the Uravan district for uranium-vanadium deposits and to appraise the uranium-vanadium reserves in the area."

From introduction: This report details mineral and chemical relations in two uranium-vanadium ores of the Colorado Plateau.

The following report analyzes channel samples from two mines (Mineral Joe No. 1 and Virgin No. 3) on the Colorado Plateau that have been studied in detail both mineralogically and chemically.

A report about a new quadrivalent vanadium oxide from the Peanut mine named Duttonite which has the formula VO(OH)2. The mineral occurs as crusts and coatings of pale-brown transparent platy crystals.

A preliminary report discussing a diamond-drill exploration in the southern part of the Uravan District.

A preliminary statement discussing Reserve Blocks K and L, Long Park Area

Abstract: San Miguel bench includes about 4 square miles in the southern part of T. 48 N., R. 17 W., New Mexico principal meridian, Montrose County, Colorado. Production of carnotite ore from the area has been about 15, 000 short tons having an estimated average graderof 0. 31 percent U3O8,and 1. 6 percent V2 05 Nearly all of the carnotite deposits occur in a single-continuous sandstone bed near the top of the Salt Wash member of the Jurassic Morrison formation. These deposits consist chiefly of sandstone impregnated with uranium- and vanadium-bearing minerals. They are irregular tabular-shaped masses ranging in size from a few short tons to 30, 000 short tons or more of minable carnotite ore. During the period November 27, 1951, to April 17, 1953, the U. S. Geological Survey drilled 309 holes totaling 92, 194 feet on the San Miguel bench. Reserves total about 43, 000 short tons of material 1 foot or more thick and contain 0,.10 percent or more U30 or 1. 0 percent or more V205. Of these reserves 3, 300 short tons occur in private land. These reserves are in ten deposits found by Geological Survey drilling. Potential reserves (reserves based on geologic evidence …

Report discussing the San Miguel bench and the production of carnotite from deposits consisting of sandstone with uranium- and vanadium-bearing minerals.

Introduction: Detailed geologic mine mapping and sampling of the J.J. mine in the Jo dandy area, Montrose County, Colo., were undertaken to study a vanadium-uranium ore body in terms of the physical relationships of ore to host rock, the paragenetic sequence of ore minerals, and the sequential development of an oxidized suite of ore minerals from unoxidized ore.

A report vanadium-uranium ore in the J. J. mine in Montrose County, Colorado.