United Nuclear Corporation Facilities and Cleanup

The United Nuclear Corporation had a significant presence in the nuclear industry, but its facilities have also faced environmental concerns.

The corporation operated several nuclear facilities, including the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

The facility was used for research and development, as well as the production of nuclear materials.

Cleanup efforts at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory have been ongoing, with a focus on remediating contaminated soil and groundwater.

The corporation also operated the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky, which produced uranium for nuclear reactors.

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United Nuclear Corporation had a presence in various locations across the United States, operating facilities in North Carolina, New York, Missouri, and New Mexico.

The UNC Fuels Recovery Plant in North Carolina was opened in 1964 and was the site of a criticality incident in July of the same year, resulting in the death of one employee. No other fatalities occurred, but the incident led to 14 violations of nuclear safety regulations.

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In Pawling, New York, United Nuclear Corporation inherited a facility that had a laboratory experimenting with bomb-grade uranium and plutonium. A glovebox chemical explosion occurred in 1972, spreading plutonium across a nearby lake. The company also owned and operated the Hematite, Missouri reactor fuel production plant between 1961 and 1971, where they buried small quantities of uranium without recording the location, size, or makeup of the burials.

The Ambrosia Lake Uranium Mill in New Mexico was built in 1957 and operated by Phillips Petroleum Company until it was purchased by UNC in 1963. The Church Rock uranium mine and mill in New Mexico was operational from 1977 to 1982, but a significant breach occurred in 1979, releasing radioactive waste into a nearby river.

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The UNC Fuels Recovery Plant was a nuclear fuel recycling plant opened in April 1964, but its operation was marred by a criticality incident on 24 July 1964, resulting in the death of a production operator from acute radiation syndrome.

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The plant was shut down for decontamination and reopened in 1965, remaining in operation until its decommissioning in 1980. A 1979 aerial survey found radiation exposure rates in the area to be consistent with natural background radiation, except directly over the UNC facility.

United Nuclear Corporation had a facility in Pawling, New York, that inherited a laboratory from Nuclear Development Associates, which experimented with bomb-grade uranium and plutonium. The facility was the site of a glovebox chemical explosion in 1972, that spread plutonium across the lake.

The Hematite, Missouri reactor fuel production plant was owned and operated by UNC between 1961 and 1971, and during its tenure, the company buried small quantities of uranium on the property without recording or disclosing specific information about the location, size, or makeup of the burials.

Combustion Engineering repurposed the Hematite site into an enriched uranium fuel production plant for the U.S Navy after purchasing it in 1974, but their proposal to decommission the site in 1979 was rejected due to a lack of decontamination and disposal activities.

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The Ambrosia Lake uranium mill was built in 1957 and operated by the Phillips Petroleum Company until it was purchased by UNC in 1963.

UNC ceased milling operations at the Ambrosia Lake site shortly after purchasing it, but they retained ownership of the property.

The Church Rock uranium mill, located in McKinley County, New Mexico, first began exploration in 1968 to expand operations and meet demand.

The Church Rock uranium mill was operational from June 1977 to May 1982, releasing radioactive waste into the environment during that time.

A 20ft breach in the south cell of the facility's uranium mill tailings pond released 1,000 tonnes of solid radioactive mill waste and 93 million US gallons acidic, radioactive tailings solution into Pipeline Arroyo on July 16, 1979.

The Church Rock site was added to the Environmental Protection Agency's National Priorities List in 1983, following investigations and minor cleanup efforts.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission fined UNC $100,000 in 1997 for failing to set aside funds for the decommission of the Church Rock site after it was purchased by General Electric.

A five-year plan for the cleanup of contaminated uranium sites on the Navajo reservation, including the Church Rock site, was authorized in 2008.

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Activity limitations are in place at this site to reduce exposure to contamination. Institutional controls, such as zoning restrictions, prevent land uses that are not consistent with the level of cleanup.

The 1988 Record of Decision did not formally establish any institutional controls, but certain enforcement documents and governmental controls are in place. One such document, UAO, Docket No. CERCLA 6-11-89, requires groundwater remediation.

Groundwater remediation is required to prevent contaminant exposure. The UNC Site Source Materials License No. SUA-1475 remains in effect, requiring that the site be managed to prevent contaminant exposure.

Restrictions on the use of on-site groundwater will continue after the license is terminated. However, there are currently no institutional controls restricting the use of seepage-impacted groundwater that has advanced beyond the licensed site boundary.

Informational controls, such as signs, are found near the Tailings Disposal Area. Barbed-wire fences with "No Trespassing" signs surround the UNC Site.

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United Nuclear Corporation (UNC) had a significant presence in the uranium industry, with operations that spanned several decades. The company's involvement in uranium milling began in the 1950s.

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In 1957, UNC purchased the Ambrosia Lake uranium mine and mill from Phillips Petroleum Company. This marked a significant milestone in UNC's expansion into the uranium industry.

The Ambrosia Lake uranium mill was operational for several years, but UNC ceased milling operations at the site shortly after purchasing it in 1963. The company retained ownership of the property.

UNC's involvement in uranium milling continued with the Church Rock uranium mine and mill, which was operational from June 1977 to May 1982. During this time, the mill processed uranium ore and produced radioactive waste.

A major environmental disaster occurred at the Church Rock site on July 16, 1979, when a 20-foot breach opened in the mill's tailings pond, releasing radioactive waste into the Puerco River. This incident had significant environmental and health impacts on the surrounding area.

The Church Rock site was added to the National Priorities List in 1983, following investigations and minor cleanup efforts. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission fined UNC $100,000 in 1997 for failing to set aside funds for the site's decommissioning.

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The United Nuclear Corporation, or UNC, has a complex history that spans several decades. The company was formed in 1961 to oversee nuclear projects and profit from the growing nuclear market during the Cold War.

UNC's first nuclear accident occurred in 1964, when a recycling plant worker was killed by a criticality incident. This incident was a precursor to the company's larger environmental issues.

UNC's operations continued to expand throughout the 1970s, with the company opening its Church Rock uranium mill in 1977 and entering the coal mining industry with the purchase of Plateau Mining in 1971. The company's growth was marked by a series of nuclear incidents, including a dam break at the Church Rock mine in 1979 that leaked radioactive waste into a tributary of the Puerco River.

The cleanup efforts at the UNC site are ongoing, with the EPA dividing the site into two areas for cleanup: groundwater (OU01) and surface soil (OU02). The groundwater remedial activities are being conducted by UNC in accordance with an EPA Unilateral Administrative Order under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

Here is a summary of the cleanup activities at the UNC site:

The United Nuclear Corporation, or UNC, has a complex and fascinating history that spans several decades. In 1961, the company was formed to oversee the founding partner's existing nuclear projects and profit from the growing nuclear market during the cold war.

One of the company's earliest achievements was the development of the Health Physics Research Reactor, a nuclear "fast burst reactor" designed for use in research contexts, which was completed in 1963. This reactor was a significant departure from traditional unalloyed uranium metal assemblies.

A criticality incident at one of the company's recycling plants in 1964 resulted in the death of a worker, marking the company's first nuclear accident. This incident highlights the risks and challenges associated with nuclear energy.

UNC experienced significant growth in the 1970s, expanding into coal mining with the purchase of Plateau Mining in 1971 and opening its Church Rock uranium mill in 1977. The company's operations during this period also led to a second nuclear incident, when a dam at their Church Rock mine broke in 1979, leaking radioactive waste into a tributary of the Puerco River.

By 1978, UNC had become the nation's largest independent producer of uranium, a testament to the company's strategic expansion and investment in the nuclear industry.

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The United Nuclear Corporation, or UNC, was formed in 1961 to oversee nuclear projects and profit from the growing nuclear market during the Cold War.

The company's first uranium mill, Ambrosia Lake, was purchased in 1963.

UNC experienced its first nuclear accident in 1964 when a recycling plant worker was killed by a criticality incident.

UNC won a contract from the Atomic Energy Commission in 1965 to operate the reactor and fuel fabrication facilities at the AEC's plant.

The company was publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1968.

In 1971, UNC expanded into coal mining with the purchase of Plateau Mining.

The Church Rock uranium mill, located in McKinley County, New Mexico, first began exploration in 1968.

The mill was operational from June 1977 to May 1982.

A 20ft breach opened in the south cell of the facility's uranium mill tailings pond on July 16, 1979, releasing radioactive waste into Pipeline Arroyo.

The site was added to the Environmental Protection Agency's National Priorities List in 1983.

A five-year plan for the cleanup of contaminated uranium sites on the Navajo reservation was authorized in 2008.

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The site cleanup actions taken at the UNC Church Rock Superfund site are a result of federal, state, and responsible party actions. The United Nuclear Corporation (UNC) has worked under the direction of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to stabilize the mill tailings and protect the Rio Puerco from contamination spills.

The OU0 remedy involved removing mine waste from the nearby Northeast Church Rock mine and placing it on the tailings repository at the site. This action was taken between 1988 and 1996.

The OU01 remedy primarily focused on removing contaminants from ground water, with UNC personnel conducting quarterly sampling to monitor the site. No human exposure to ground water is currently allowed, except for sampling, and no ground water supply wells are permitted on UNC property.

Ground water remedial activities are being conducted by UNC in accordance with an EPA Unilateral Administrative Order. The activities are designed to control tailings seepage in three shallow ground-water zones at the site.

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The remedy at OU02 is also protective of human health and the environment. Remedial design activities have been completed to address all exposure pathways that could result in unacceptable risks in these areas.

EPA has conducted several five-year reviews of the site's remedy, ensuring that the remedies put in place protect public health and the environment.

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The United Nuclear Corporation site has been divided into two operable units for cleanup: groundwater (OU01) and surface soil (OU02).

EPA is working with the United Nuclear Corporation to clean up the groundwater. This involves controlling tailings seepage in three shallow ground-water zones.

The groundwater remedial activities are being conducted in accordance with an EPA Unilateral Administrative Order under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

Currently, groundwater is only being pumped from Zone 3 into the evaporation ponds, and the Zone 3 groundwater plume is decreasing in areal size and thickness as the groundwater is removed.

The United Nuclear Corporation, a subsidiary of General Electric, has applied for an amendment to their Source Material License. This license authorizes them to possess byproduct material in the form of uranium waste tailings and other byproduct wastes.

The license in question is Number SUA-1475, Docket Number 04008907. It was issued for operations located at 1051 State Highway 566, Gallup, New Mexico 87305. The licensee has requested changes to the license that have been approved in previous Safety Evaluation Reports.

The licensee wants to extend the projected dates for several tasks related to their past milling operations. They want to move the date for emplacement of the final radon barrier from 2019 to 2038.

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