Uranium mining produces both radioactive tailings and contaminated water. Contaminated material in tailings might be spread via natural erosion particularly in the extreme weather conditions characteristic of Weld County. Wastewater from uranium mines is managed using either evaporation ponds, direct application of wastewater to surrounding areas (refered to as a land application), or re-injection of the wastewater into the earth using a deep well injection method. Dried residue from evaporation ponds or mine tailings can be trucked away to a hazardous waste facility.

The following sections deal specifically with these hazardous waste disposal issues:

• Impact of Weather on Uranium Mine Tailings
• Land Application Disposal
• Deep Well Injection
• Evaporation Pond Disposal
• Hazardous/Radioactive Waste Transportation

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