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Title: Evaluation of Mineral Deposits Along the Little Wind River, Riverton, WY, Processing Site

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1258486· OSTI ID:1258486
 [1];  [2]
  1. Navarro Research and Engineering, Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. US Department of Energy, Washington, DC (United States). Office of Legacy Management

In 2012, the U.S.Department of Energy (DOE) began reassessing the former Riverton, Wyoming, Processing Site area for potential contaminant sources impacting groundwater. A flood in 2010 along the Little Wind River resulted in increases in groundwater contamination (DOE 2013).This investigation is a small part of continued efforts by DOE and other stakeholders to update human health and ecological risk assessments, to make a comprehensive examination of all exposure pathways to ensure that the site remains protective through established institutional controls. During field inspections at the Riverton Site in 2013, a white evaporitic mineral deposit was identified along the bank of the Little Wind River within the discharge zone of the groundwater contamination plume. In December 2013, Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) personnel collected a sample for analysis by X-ray fluorescence (Figure 1 shows the type of material sampled). The sample had a uranium concentration of approximately 64 to 73 parts per million. Although the uranium in this mineral deposit is within the expected range for evaporatic minerals in the western United States (SRNL 2014), DOE determined that additional assessment of the mineral deposit was warranted. In response to the initial collection and analysis of a sample of the mineral deposit, DOE developed a work plan (Work Plan to Sample Mineral Deposits Along the Little Wind River, Riverton, Wyoming, Processing Site [DOE 2014]) to further define the extent of these mineral deposits and the concentration of the associated contaminants (Appendix A). The work plan addressed field reconnaissance, mapping, sampling, and the assessment of risk associated with the mineral deposits adjacent to the Little Wind River.

Research Organization:
US Department of Energy (USDOE), Washington DC (United States). Office of Legacy Management (LM)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Legacy Management (LM), Office of Field Operations
DOE Contract Number:
LM0000415
OSTI ID:
1258486
Report Number(s):
LMS/RVT/S-12020; TRN: US1601512
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English