This report, the first of two volumes, examines the occurrence of uranium in its natural settings in the United States, its industrial uses, and the methods employed over the last century to extract it from ore deposits. In addition, the report explores the nature of solid and liquid wastes generated by the extraction methods, and the various reclamation and remediation methods which can environmentally restore the extraction site. A second volume, to be issued separately, will examine, in a general way, the potential radiogenic cancer risks from abandoned uranium mines, as well as environmental and geographical issues associated with those mines. The intent of that report will be to generally identify who is most likely to be exposed to uranium, and where the greatest risks may be found. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) field studies are used in both reports, providing examples of current conditions of abandoned and remediated mines. A related report compiles information from multiple sources providing locations throughout the United States, though concentrating on sites of the western U.S., that have been explored or mined for uranium.

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v. 1 Mining and reclamation background (Revised June 2007)-- Investigation of potential health, geographic, and environmental issues of abandoned uranium mines (August 2007).