ABSTRACT
Radon emissions from uranium mill tailings have long been recognized as a potential health hazard (Rogers and Nielson 1981). As a result, the EPA established standards for the maximum average release rate for radon-222 of 20 picocuries per square meter per second, averaged over the entire tailings surface, for inactive uranium tailings impoundments (Gillen 1985). The management procedure suggested to reduce radon emissions of inactive mill tailings is to cover the tailings with earthen materials or a combination of earthen materials and cement, asphalt, etc. (Rogers and Nielson 1984).
