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<br /> <br />cost of stabilizing and monitoring waste disposal and mill <br />tal lings sites. Before the seriousness of the problem was <br />rea II zed thousands of tons of red I aaet I ve wastes were <br />abandoned at dozens of locations. "In the intervening years <br />large quantities of radioactive mi II tai lings were used In <br />construction of homes, schools, offices, Industrial <br />buildings, and roads. In many cases costly removal of the <br />ta 111 n9s and rapa i r work has been done. More than $7 mill ion <br />has been spent In the Grand Junction area alone to protect <br />occupants of bui [dings from radiation from radioactive mill <br />tall ings used In their construction. In the Denver area <br />several former uranium and radium processing sites, now being <br />used for other purposes, are being evaluated for radiation <br />levels and their significance to health. Oevelopment of <br />radioactive ground water whl Ie being unaware of its natural <br />contaminatIon, has been a problem In the Pueblo area. The <br />contamination of good water with radioactive materials from <br />mineral processing or disposal operations also has affected <br />some areas. <br /> <br />Mitigation <br /> <br />Conta i nment of rad I oact I ve wastes and avo i dance of <br />construction in the areas of concentrated radiation are <br />methods of In I t i gat I on. Areas of higher than norma I rad i at i on <br />sometimes can be used if proper stabl I Izatlon, shielding and <br />other measures are undertaken to decrease their potential <br />effect on human and other II fe I n an area. Areas of ta i lings <br />Impoundments are being stabilized and reclaimed for limited <br />use. The Co I orado State Department of Hea I th, In cooperat i on <br />with other federal, state, and local agencies, oversees <br />radiation health matters In the state. <br /> <br />Land Use <br /> <br />Although all rocks in Colorado contain some radioactive <br />mater I a Is, natura 11 y occurr i n9 rad i oact I ve concentrat ions <br />ordlnarI I yare not sufficient to warrant land-use <br />restrictions. In areas where natural radioactive materials <br />are known to exIst in concentrated levels, radiation surveys <br />should be completed prior to development to determine the <br />possible significance to human health. Land use controls must <br />be very str i ct I n areas with manmade concentrat ions of <br />radioactive substances to protect public health. <br /> <br />Livestock ut II I zing rad I oact I ve water and p I ants grown In <br />radioactive soils can absorb some radiation Into their <br />tissues. Thus graz I ng and other agr i cu I tura I use of <br />reclaimed radioactive lands Is not always advisable. <br /> <br />Case History <br /> <br />One of the results of uranium mining and mill ing Is the <br />creat I on of great vo I urnes of I ow-I eva I rad I oact i va wastes. <br />The unwanted leftovers from milling (mill tailings) are often <br />tempting for use as a source of fine aggregate or fi I I in <br />construction. Unfortunately, the tai I ings are radioactive <br />and their continuing decay produces hermful radiation and <br />radioactive gases. <br /> <br />In the mid 1960's. publ ic health officials became concerned <br />about large amounts of tail ings being used in land fill and <br />construction. in the Grand Junction area, particularly, the <br />ta i I i n9s were used for concrete in bu II ding foundat Ions, <br />floors, pavements, patios, and as fi II around foundations, in <br />ut I I i ty trenches, and even Inch i I dren I s sand boxes. A door <br />to door survey turned up their use at 6,000 iocations In <br />houses, offices, schools, factories, gardens, lawns, and <br />playgrounds, as state, local, and federal officials acted to <br />determine the extent and seriousness of the situation. <br /> <br />Congress in 1972 moved to provide federal funds for remedial <br />measures. To date. more than $7 million of the $12.5 million <br />authorized to minimize or al imlnate the radiation exposure <br />has been spent on about 350 of the 600 homes, schools, and <br />businesses Identified as having potentially dangerous levels <br />of radiation. <br /> <br />Costs of remedial measures for Industrial and commercial <br />estab Ii shments are expected to average more than $40,000 each <br />and several wi II cost more than double that amount. In <br />February, 1979, a progress report to Congress was made on the <br />Grand Junction Remedial Action Program. It will be several <br />years before the project Is completed. <br /> <br />49 <br />