M008 Durango, CO uranium mill tailings removal collection
Collection Summary
| Title | Durango, CO uranium mill tailings removal collection |
| Dates (Inclusive) | 1960-1990 |
| Dates (Bulk) | 1978-1989 |
| Creator | Harold Steinhoff |
| Abstract | This collection contains the printed materials pertaining to the U.S. Department of Energy's cleanup of radioactive uranium waste at the site of a former uranium mill in Durango, Colorado. |
| Unique ID | M008 |
| Quantity | 2.2 linear shelf feet, 5 document cases |
Historical Note
The Durango site of the former Vanadium Corporation of America uranium mill was one of twenty-four selected for cleanup
in 10 states and various Indian reservations, and was among the first such federal projects completed. UMTRA (Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action) cleanup costs exceeded $500 million. Congress passed PL95-604, the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, after a determination that uranium mill tailings may pose a radiation health hazard to
the public. The Act charged the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the DOE (Department of Energy) with setting
standards to reduce radiation emissions at the most dangerous mill tailings sites in the U.S. (Deborah Uroda, Congress
says tailings dangerous, Durango Herald, 12 Dec. 1984, page 10A) The Act directed "that every reasonable effort be made
to provide for the stabilization, disposal, and control of the tailings in a safe and environmentally sound manner. The
DOE was given the responsibility for carrying out the program." (UMTRA brochure, undated, in Box 1, folder 1)
According to a DOE brochure, "much of the uranium ore mined in the United States from the early 1940s through the 1960s was
processed by private companies for the Federal government and used for national defense programs, and in research. When the
Federal contracts terminated, most of the processing plants shut down and the mills and tailings piles were left essentially
uncontrolled." Tailings, a sand-like waste, represented about 98% of the ore that entered the mill. The principal potential
health hazard of uranium tailings is that they emit radon, albeit in small amounts. "Radon is a colorless, inert, radioactive
gas formed by the radioactive decay of radium, an element found with uranium in the ore." (UMTRA brochure, undated, in Box 1,
folder 1)
The project moved 2.5 million cubic yards of low-level radioactive mill tailings from the old mill site across the Animas
River just south of downtown Durango, to a tailings burial site in Bodo Canyon, approximately three miles southwest of the Bodo Property. At the Bodo Canyon disposal site they were consolidated into an engineered embankment and covered with
earth and rock. The disposal site is owned by the Federal government, whereas the original tailings site was released for
any uses consistent with local zoning ordinances. (Durango UMTRA brochure, Dec 1986, in Box 1, folder 1)
The project involved the formation of the Durango Task Force in 1979 to serve as a communications link between the DOE and
the community. Demolition of the old smelter smoke stack was one of several issues which provoked much public comment, as
shown by articles in the Durango Herald and fact sheets distributed by citizens groups. The Colorado Department of Health also was involved in the UMTRA project. (Durango UMTRA brochure, Dec. 1986, in Box 1, folder 1)
Earlier history of the Durango site (the following was written by William L. Chenoweth and is used by his
permission, September 2006):
"The Durango site was originally acquired by the American Smelting and Refining Company for the construction and operation of a
lead smelter. In 1942, the site was acquired by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, a government agency, to convert the plant
to recover vanadium from carnotite ores. The U.S. Vanadium Corporation (USV) was selected as the contractor to convert and
operate the plant. The vanadium was to be supplied to the Metals Reserve Company, a subsidiary of the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation. Metals Reserve was created to acquire some 40 commodities for the nation’s strategic stockpile, including vanadium.
USV also operated vanadium ore buying stations for Metals Reserve in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah. These stations
were located at Durango, Rico, Dove Creek and Gateway, Colorado and at Monticello, Moab and Thompson, Utah. There was also a
station at Farmington, New Mexico. The ore buying records of these stations are now in the Metals Reserve files at the National
Archives, Rocky Mountain Region, Denver, Colorado.
In early 1943 the Manhattan Engineer District (MED) contracted with USV to build and operate a "green sludge" plant at the Durango
millsite. This plant recovered uranium from the vanadium mill tailings. The green sludge was shipped to Grand Junction, Colorado,
where a refinery operated by USV for the MED produced a uranium concentrate (yellow cake).
By February 1944, Metals Reserve had acquired 6 million pounds of vanadium oxide at plants in Colorado and Utah, and the vanadium
program was cancelled. USV purchased the mill and continued to operate it and the green sludge plant until the fall of 1945, when
both were closed. In 1946 the green sludge plant was torn down.
In 1948, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission bought the vanadium mill from USV and leased it to the Vanadium Corporation of America
(VCA) with an option to buy it. VCA added a uranium circuit and on June 30, 1953, exercised the option to buy the plant and it
became the property of VCA.
VCA continued to operate the Durango plant until March 1963 when the company moved its milling operations to Shiprock, New Mexico,
where VCA had purchased the mill of Kerr-McGee Oil Industries, Inc. VCA merged into the Foote Minerals company in September,
1967. Through several corporate mergers, the VCA records today are with the Phelps Dodge Corporation in Phoenix, Arizona. Union
Carbide never acquired VCA." (For a related history of Union Carbide in this area, click here.)
Arrangement
Series, and the folders within them, are organized from highest hierarchical level to lowest, or from most general to most specific.
Items within each series (e.g., clippings, reports, correspondence, and memoranda) are arranged chronologically.
Scope & Contents
This collection contains brochures, press releases, newspaper clippings, reports, statements, minutes, memoranda,
correspondence and other printed materials pertaining to the U.S. Department of Energy's cleanup of radioactive uranium waste
at the site of a former uranium mill in Durango, Colorado.
This collection documents work supervised by the U.S. Department of Energy, Albuquerque Operations Office, throughout the
1980s to perform remedial actions on an inactive uranium mill tailings site in Durango, Colorado. The collection includes
numerous reports of studies of the effects of such radioactive waste, environmental impact statements in draft and final form,
and records of the local Task Force which include a record of public opinion.
Possible uses for this collection include research into future uses for the Durango site, effects of the contaminated materials
on the Bodo Canyon disposal site (including interrelationships of that site with the Animas-La Plata water project), remedial
actions on other similar sites, and studies of the partnership of a community, private industry, and federal, state, and local
governments in solving a difficult problem.
Restrictions
Access. There are no access restrictions on the use of these materials for research purposes. This collection
is open to the public for use in the Delaney Southwest Research Library at the Center of Southwest Studies.
Use and Copyright. These materials are for use only in the Delaney Southwest Research Library; they
are noncirculating. Limited duplication of print materials is allowed for research purposes. The user assumes full responsibility
for observing all applicable laws regarding copyright, property rights, and libel.
Preferred Citation
Durango, CO uranium mill tailings removal collection, Fort Lewis College. Center of Southwest Studies.
Processing Info
This inventory was prepared by the archivist; the online version was initially prepared by Jesse Davila in Fall of 1998. Student archival assistant Haley Sladek
also worked on the online inventory in the Fall of 2005. Archive student worker Tia Flippin edited and reformatted the online inventory in the Fall of 2011.
Acquisition Info
The collection includes two cubic feet of printed reports, minutes and other records maintained by Harold Steinhoff of Durango,
member of the Mill Tailings Task Force, which Steinhoff donated to the Center of Southwest Studies in July of 1992. The collection also consists of 10
folders of similar materials donated by Connie Albrecht and 3 folders of related materials donated by Roy Craig through Fort
Lewis College Professor Duane Smith in July of 1987.
Separated Materials
None.
Related Materials
| Pathfinder # 6 | Four Corners region environmental collections at the Center |
| M 175 | Union Carbide Western Slope of Colorado uranium (etc.) mining records inventory |
| M 229 | Langan W. Swent papers: Health and safety in underground uranium mines |
| M 223 | Page L. Edwards papers (4 boxes). From the late 1950s through the early 1970s Mr. Edwards was a geological engineer at the Vanadium Corp. of America (VCA) plant in Durango and was the General Manager of the VCA plant in Shiprock, New Mexico. |
| I 096 | Southwest Geological Studies reports, on 23 microfiche. Includes reports on modes of uranium occurrences in Colorado Front Range by Robert H. Carpenter; detailed uranium hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of the Tallahassee Creek ...in the northwestern part of the Pueblo Nims Quad, CO, by Spencer S. Shannon, Jr.; hydrogeochemical and stream sediment reconnaissance of nure by Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory; engineering assessment of inactive uranium mill tailings, Durango site; geology...of the...Needle Mountains, SW Colorado… |
| F 004 | Southwest mining artifacts. Includes a framed photo with uranium samples in vials from the plant at Naturita, Colorado, and a piece of petrified wood with uranium dust on it. Contact the curator regarding these and any other artifacts. |
| Surface Mining Regulation and Reclamation: Bibliography and Abstracts of Research Reports. |
Access Terms
Hazardous waste site remediation--Colorado--Durango.
United States Dept Of Energy Umtra Project Office.
Uranium mill tailings--Colorado--Durango.
Series/Container List
| Series 1: Public relations materials Series 2: Engineering, environmental studies, etc. reports Series 3: Durango Tailings Task Force records |
Series 1: Public relations materials, 1978-1990 (bulk 1980s), 1 document case back to Series list
| Description | Box/Folder |
| Brochures and circulars/ by U.S. Department of Energy, et al., circa 1986 | 1/1 |
| DOE News fact sheets and press releases/ by U.S. Department of Energy, et al., 1982-1990. Includes invitation to closing ceremonies at Durango site on 1 Nov. 1990. | 1/2 |
| Newspaper clippings/ from Durango Herald, et al., 1979-1989 (bulk 1984-1987). | 1/3 |
| Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, et al., 1978-1983. | 1/4 |
| U.S. Department of Energy - State of Colorado cooperative agreement, 1981 Oct. | 1/5 |
| Annual status report on the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Program/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1983 Dec. | 1/6 |
| Annual status report on the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Program/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1986 Dec. | 1/7 |
| Annual status report on the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Program/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1987 Dec. | 1/8 |
| Annual status report on the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Program/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1988 Dec. | 1/9 |
| Annual status report on the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Program/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1989 Dec. | 1/10 |
| Colorado economic impact study: briefing package and fact sheet/ by Jacobs Engineering Group, 1985 Dec. | 1/11 |
| Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action project in Colorado/ by Colorado. Department of Health, 1987 Feb. | 1/12 |
| 1987 annual report/ by Colorado. Department of Health. Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division, 1988 Apr. | 1/13 |
| Two typical TLDs, undated. | 1/14 |
| Remedial action concept paper for stabilization of the inactive uranium mill tailings sites at Rifle, Colorado, and cover letter, 1983 June-July. | 1/15 |
| Other sites, press releases and reports/ by U.S. Department of Energy, et al., 1984-1987 | 1/16 |
| Recent information on remedial action at the Shiprock, New Mexico, inactive uranium mill tailings site/ by Southwest Research and Information Center, 1984 Sept. 24. | 1/17 |
| Shiprock, New Mexico, tailings remedial actions photographs, 1985 Nov. | 1/18 |
| Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge draft plan, etc., 1985-1987. | 1/19 |
| Briefing for selected state legislators by the Colorado Department of Health and the U.S. Department of Energy on the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project (UMTRAP) in Colorado, 1985 Feb. 22 (1 volume). | 1/20 |
Series 2: Engineering, environmental studies, etc. reports, 1960-1961 and 1980-1989, 3 document cases back to Series list
| Description | Box/Folder |
| Control of radioactive pollution of the Animas River/ by E. C. Tsivogou, et al., 1960 | 2/1 |
| Radioecology: proceedings...Sept. 10-15, 1961/ ed. by Vincent Schultz and Alfred W. Klement, Jr. | 2/2 |
| Radiological survey of the inactive uranium-mill tailings at Durango, Colorado/ by F. F. Haywood, et al., 1980 Mar. | 2/3 |
| Engineering assessment of inactive uranium mill tailings, Durango site/ by Ford, Bacon and Davis Utah, 1981 June. | 2/4 |
| Analysis of cancer risk associated with low-level radiation from uranium tailings in Durango, Colorado, term paper/ by Daniel Judkins, 1981 Sept. 17. | 2/5 |
| Durango site status report photocopy/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1983 Mar. 9. | 2/6 |
| Environmental impact statement for remedial actions on uranium mill tailings/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1984 July. | 2/7 |
| Discussion of the lung cancer risk resulting from radon exposure to the general population, report/ by Julie Overbaugh, 1984 Sept. | 2/8 |
| Remedial actions at the former Vanadium Corporation of America uranium mill site, Durango...: draft environmental impact statement, vol. 1 (text)/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1984 Oct. | 2/9 |
| Remedial actions at the former Vanadium Corporation of America uranium mill site, Durango...: draft environmental impact statement, vol. 2 (appendices)/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1984 Oct. | 2/10 |
| Remedial actions at the former Vanadium Corporation of America uranium mill site, Durango...: draft environmental impact statement, exhibits photocopies/ by U.S. Department of Energy, circa 1984. | 2/11 |
| Remedial actions at the former Vanadium Corporation of America uranium mill site, Durango...: position papers, circa Jan. 1985. | 3/1 |
| Technical summary of the UMTRA Project Technology Development Program (1980-1984): final/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1985 Jan. | 3/2 |
| Remedial actions at the former Vanadium Corporation of America uranium mill site, Durango...: final environmental impact statement, vol. 1 (text)/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1985 Oct. | 3/3 |
| Remedial actions at the former Vanadium Corporation of America uranium mill site, Durango...: final environmental impact statement, vol. 2 (appendices)/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1985 Oct. | 3/4 |
| Remedial action plan and site design for stabilization of the inactive uranium mill tailings site at Durango, Colorado/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1986 June. | 3/5 |
| Subcontract documents/ by MK-Ferguson Company, 1986 May and Aug | 3/6 |
| Durango site project request for proposal from City of Durango/ by MK-Ferguson Company, 1986 Aug. 21. | 3/7 |
| Radiological support plan and environmental, health, and safety plan, undated (circa 1986) | 3/8 |
| Health physics monitoring plan, Durango, Colorado site/ by Chem-Nuclear Systems, Inc., 1986 Oct. 30. | 3/9 |
| Preliminary case report of the Durango smelter stack/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1986 Oct. | 4/1 |
| San Juan and New York smelter stack and superintendent's house, photographs photocopies, written and descriptive data/ by National Park Service, circa 1986. | 4/2 |
| Durango smelter stack printed materials/ compiled by Roy Craig, 1987. | 4/3 |
| Morrison Knudsen publicity materials, circa 1986. | 4/4 |
| The em-Kayan: magazine of "MK"/ by Morrison Knudsen, 1986 July and 1987 Jan. | 4/5 |
| Chem-Nuclear Systems, Inc. descriptive pamphlet. | 4/6 |
| Radiation and risk on the UMTRA project, report/ by H. R. Meyer of Chem-Nuclear Systems, Inc., undated. | 4/7 |
| Basic standard for ground water: notice of final adoption/ by Colorado. Water Quality Control Commission, 1987 Jan. 15. | 4/8 |
| Tailing pile remedial action project bar charts/ by U.S. Department of Energy and MK-Ferguson Company, 1987 Mar. | 4/9 |
| Ambient air monitoring program protocol/ by MK-Ferguson Company, 1987 July. | 4/10 |
| Surveillance and maintenance plan draft/ by U.S. Department of Energy, 1988 Feb. | 4/11 |
| Durango site information report/ by MK-Ferguson Company, 1988 Sept. and Nov. | 4/12 |
| Dolores Project, Colorado: final supplement to the final environmental statement/ by U.S. Department of the Interior. Bureau of Reclamation, 1989 Mar. | 4/13 |
Series 3: Durango Tailings Task Force records, 1979 (Chamber of Commerce Committee), and 1983-1987, 1 document case back to Series list
| Description | Box/Folder |
| Durango Chamber of Commerce. Environmental Committee minutes and correspondence, 1979. | 5/1 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1983. | 5/2 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1984 Jan.-June | 5/3 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1984 July-Sept. | 5/4 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1984 Oct.-Dec. | 5/5 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1985 Jan. | 5/6 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1985 Feb.-Mar. | 5/7 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1985 Apr.-June. | 5/8 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1985 Sept. | 5/9 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1986 Jan.-Feb. | 5/10 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1986 Mar.-Apr. | 5/11 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1986 May | 5/12 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Connie Albrecht, 1986 May - 1987 Jan. | 5/13 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1986 June-July. | 5/14 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1986 Aug. | 5/15 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force bid materials file/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1986 Aug.-Sept. | 5/16 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1986 Nov. | 5/17 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1986 Dec. | 5/18 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1987 Jan. | 5/19 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force correspondence from Colorado. Department of Health, 1987. | 5/20 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, 1987 Feb. | 5/21 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force memoranda, notes and attachments/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, circa 1987 Mar.-Apr. | 5/22 |
| Durango Tailings Task Force overhead transparencies and originals/ compiled by Harold Steinhoff, [198-]. | 5/23 |