The wind tends to blow frequently in the Moab area. Is the dust I see coming from the Moab site radioactive and is it harmful to breathe?

Some of
the dust you see coming from the Moab site contains particles from the uranium
mill tailings pile. Radioactive particulate material (radioparticulates) and
gamma radiation is measured at monitoring stations located around the Moab site
and at various off-site locations. Although the annual readings at several
on-site locations is greater than the U.S. Department of Energy limit of 100 millirems
per year (mrem/yr) above background, no member of the public occupies any
of these locations for a sufficient amount of time that would cause the
individual to receive a dose in excess of the annual limit. In addition, the total
effective dose to the maximally exposed individual, or the representative person
or group from the public likely to receive the most radiation dose based on
exposure pathways and parameters, is well below the 100 mrem/yr above
background limit. Dust-generating activities at the Moab site are shut down at
sustained wind speeds exceeding 20 miles per hour.

Show All Answers

1. Is any of the Moab site open for public use?
2. Is it safe to camp near the Moab site?
3. Is it safe to raft down the Colorado River or ride my bicycle on Potash Road past the Moab site?
4. Is the site open to the public for tours?
5. The wind tends to blow frequently in the Moab area. Is the dust I see coming from the Moab site radioactive and is it harmful to breathe?
6. What are uranium mill tailings?
7. What does U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plan to do with the site?
8. What is that huge pile of dirt northwest of Moab?
9. What will U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) do to control dust during remediation of the pile? How will emissions be monitored?
10. Where can I find out more information about the Moab UMTRA Project?
11. Who owns the Moab site?