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Validity of the Methodology for Establishing Baseline Water Quality for Uranium

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Conference

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

San Antonio, Texas

Publication Date

June 10, 2012

Start Date

June 10, 2012

End Date

June 13, 2012

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

NSF Grantees' Poster Session

Tagged Topic

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Page Count

14

Page Numbers

25.1458.1 - 25.1458.14

DOI

10.18260/1-2--22215

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/22215

Download Count

334

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Paper Authors

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Marisa Hamilton Riviera Kaufer High School

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Lee Clapp Texas A&M University, Kingsville

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Lee Clapp is an Associate Professor in environmental engineering.

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biography

Mohamed Abdelrahman Texas A&M University, Kingsville

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Mohamed Abdelrahman received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering and engineering physics from Cairo University, Egypt in 1988 and 1992, respectively. He received an M.S. and a Ph.D. in measurement and control and nuclear engineering from Idaho State University in 1994 and 1996, respectively. He is currently the Associate Dean of Engineering at Texas A&M University, Kingsville. Abdelrahman's research focus is industrial applications of sensing and control with major research funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and industry. He has also focused on collaborative and innovative educational research. Abdelrahman is passionate about outreach activities for popularizing engineering research and education. His activities in that arena included NSF funded sites for research experience for undergraduates and research experience for Teachers. He has published his research results in more than 90 papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings and 30+ technical reports.

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Abstract

Validity of the Methodology for Establishing Baseline Water Quality for Uranium In Situ Recovery MiningAbstract This paper examines the importance of establishing a baseline water quality level prior toin situ recovery mining for uranium. Water is a life line of many and the quality of that water isbeing questioned by many. In South Texas there is a clash between private citizen groups anduranium mining companies regarding water quality in uranium mining sites. Private citizengroups are claiming that uranium mining companies are contaminating the water supply withdrilling processes and uranium production processes and specifically picking baseline wellslocation that are not representative of the aquifer water quality. Also criticized is the way that thebaseline averages are being calculated by the uranium companies. However, research findingsshow that the drilling process is similar to that of other drilling processes. There is not a clearvariation between drilling for baseline water wells and drilling for identification and productionof uranium deposits. The geology of the uranium deposits plays a large part in calculating theaverages. It is not simply taking the uranium concentration averages, either arithmetically orlogarithmically. The claims that uranium companies are polluting the ground water may be validbut the phenomenon needs better understanding before conclusions can be made on the causes ofuranium contamination in ground water. There are many improvements that can be made byprivate citizens, uranium companies, and the regulation agencies to maintain better water quality. A learning module based on the legacy cycle concept is developed that challenges thestudents to think through the importance of and what is required in establishing baseline dataprior to any mining or petrochemical extraction processes. This learning module will beintroduced into a high school science class during the 2011-2012 school year. Assessment of thestudents’ performance will be carried out and reported.

Hamilton, M., & Clapp, L., & Abdelrahman, M. (2012, June), Validity of the Methodology for Establishing Baseline Water Quality for Uranium Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--22215

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