Approach to the Calculation of Dose Commitment Arising from Different Methods for the Long-Term Management of Uranium Mill Tailings. Summary Report

摘要

This report describes the development and use of a diagnostic model designed to improve our understanding of the release of radionuclides to the natural environment from uranium mill tailings management areas. The study first developed the characteristics of a hypothetical tailings management area such that a variety of management alternatives could be studied using simulation modelling techniques. Factors describing climate and the surrounding environment were fixed and the simulation model was run to predict releases from the tailings site over time periods of thousands of years. Simulation runs were carried out for a series of six major management alternatives ranging from old abandoned practices through currently accepted practices to as yet to be proven management techniques. This summary report describes the major aspects of the diagnostic model and the findings obtained through its use. The report does not attempt to predict doses or radionuclide dispersal patterns for any specific site, existing or planned. A more complete technical discussion of the model may be found in the two technical appendices associated with this report INFO--0097 (app.A.) and INFO--0097. (Atomindex citation 16:045586)