TENORM Resources

Below you will find resources and guidance related to TENORM. Studies of existing TENORM sites provide information on selection of appropriate methods for estimating risks from these sites, the best ways to clean up the sites, as well as the most economical and environmentally friendly ways to dispose of the TENORM.

On this page:

• TENORM: general guidelines and information
• TENORM from mining and other extractive industries other than uranium
• TENORM associated with uranium

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TENORM: general guidelines and information

Report to Congress: Evaluation of EPA’s Guidelines for Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TENORM) (pdf) (76.51 KB, June 2000, 402-R-00-01)
EPA sponsored a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) evaluation of existing methods for estimating the risk from TENORM sites and existing guidelines for cleaning them up. EPA sponsored the study at the request of Congress.

TENORM from mining and other extractive industries other than uranium

Potential for Radiation Contamination Associated With Mineral and Resource Extraction Industries (pdf) (332.15 KB, June 13, 2024)
EPA guidance to its regional personnel who are involved in site visits and inspections. This document provides a listing of the various types of mineral and other sites which might have associated TENORM radioactivity. This is an update to the 2003 version. It includes information on critical minerals, updated links and contacts.

Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials in the Southwestern Copper Belt of Arizona (pdf) (3.48 MB, 402-R-99-002)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been working over the past several years to better understand the nature and extent of TENORM that may become concentrated at copper mining sites. This document presents the information that EPA has complied on this issue to date.

TENORM associated with uranium

Uranium mining: risks and cleanup of historic mines and mills

View known or potential mine location information from federal, state and Tribal agencies in a single database as part of EPA’s investigation into the potential environmental hazards of wastes from abandoned uranium mines in the western United States.

Technical Report on Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials From Uranium Mining - Volume 1: Mining and Reclamation Background (pdf) (3.2 MB, 402-R-08-005a)
This report, the first of two volumes, examines uranium in the United States: its occurrence in natural settings, industrial uses, extraction methods employed over the last century, solid and liquid wastes from various extraction methods and reclamation and remediation methods to restore the extraction site's environment. 

Technical Report on Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials from Uranium Mining - Volume 2: Investigation of Potential Health, Geographic, And Environmental Issues of Abandoned Uranium Mines (pdf) (3.37 MB, 402-R-08-005)
This is the second of two reports on uranium mining TENORM. This report investigates the potential radiogenic cancer risks from abandoned uranium mines and evaluates which may pose the greatest hazards to members of the public and to the environment. The intent of this report is to identify who may be most likely to be exposed to wastes at small abandoned uranium mines, and where the greatest risks may lie.

TENORM: uranium production from In situ recovery/in situ leaching facilities

Draft Technical Report: Ground Water Modeling Studies at In Situ Leaching Facilities and Evaluation of Doses and Risks to Offsite Receptors from Contaminated Ground Water: Revision 2 (pdf) (2.81 MB, 402-R-14-002)
This draft report presents the results of ground water modeling studies on possible releases from hypothetical ISL faculties based on a range of release scenarios. The studies were designed to demonstrate whether or under what conditions leakage of various types from an ISL site to a down-gradient receptor well can result in hazardous situations.

Draft Technical Report: Considerations Related to Post-Closure Monitoring Of Uranium In-Situ Leach/In-Situ Recovery (ISL/ISR) Sites (pdf) (3.16 MB)
This draft Technical Report is intended to support the SAB's technical consideration of issues associated with establishing the groundwater baseline for new facilities, demonstrating that the restored groundwater has reached steady state, and post-restoration stability monitoring to ensure that the groundwater quality is not deteriorating over time after restoration.

References Cited in Draft Technical Report: Considerations Related to Post-Closure Monitoring Of Uranium In-Situ Leach/In-Situ Recovery (ISL/ISR) Sites (pdf) (124.62 KB)
Reference list from the Draft Technical Report: Considerations Related to Post-Closure Monitoring of Uranium In-Situ Leach/In-Situ Recovery (ISL/ISR) Sites. Technical references are linked to the original source document or to the publisher when possible.