Retrieval of buried depleted uranium from the T-1 trench Page: 1 of 5
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Retrieval of Buried Depleted Uranium
from the T-1 Trench
by
Mark Burmeister
Rocky Mountain Remediation Services, LLC
Norma Castaneda
Department of Energy, Rocky Flats Field Office
Tom Greengard
Kaiser-Hill/SAICCurt Hull
S. M. Stoller Corporation
Don Barbour and W. J. Quapp
Starmet CorporationABSTRACT
The Trench 1 remediation project will be conducted this
year to retrieve depleted uranium and other associated
materials from a trench at Rocky Flats Environmental
Technology Site. The excavated materials will be
segregated and stabilized for shipment. The depleted
uranium will be treated at an offsite facility which utilizes
a novel approach for waste minimization and disposal
through utilization of a combination of uranium recycling
and volume efficient uranium stabilization.
I. INTRODUCTION
Prior to 1962, approximately 125 drums of uranium
metal machine turnings and chips were disposed in
Trench 1 (T-1) at Rocky Flats. T-1 is located at the
eastern edge of the industrial area of the Site. The trench
is approximately 250 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 10 feet
deep. Records indicate that approximately 10,000-
20,000 kilograms of unoxidized depleted uranium (DU)
machining chips (uranium-238) and Cimcool, a non-
hazardous metal cutting coolant consisting of
approximately 95% water, are buried in T-1. Burial of
DU in T-1 began in November 1954 and ended in
December 1962. The drums were covered wit1
approximately 2 to 5 feet of soil. Each group (or
shipment) of drums was placed in the trench and then
covered with soil.DSROM OF THIS DOCU1ME IS UA1ED
CoNF-9 cfD5'
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()STfBased on existing records, process knowledge, and
interviews with former workers, all of the drums in T-1
are believed to have originated from Building 444.
During the period T-1 was open, Building 444 was a
multi-purpose manufacturing facility with emphasis on
manufacturing DU and DU alloy components.
The characterization and the development of the
conceptual model for Trench 1 was performed utilizing
the following methodologies and sources:
" performing an extensive search and review of
historical documentation, including memoranda,
waste manifests, meeting notes, and compiling
historical data from the Historical Release Report
" conducting personal interviews of retired building
and operations staff to identify buried materials,
potential contaminants, trench location, size, and
configuration
" reviewing historical aerial photographs to identify
disturbed areas, and verify trench dimensions and
location, and determine time of operation
" reviewing existing subsurface soil and groundwater
data
" conducting site visual surveys to identify physical
features and establish a geophysical sampling grid
MASTER 41
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Burmeister, M.; Castaneda, N.; Greengard, T.; Hull, C.; Barbour, D. & Quapp, W. J. Retrieval of buried depleted uranium from the T-1 trench, article, July 1, 1998; United States. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc709094/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.