US EPA

3785664 

Technical Report 

Detection of uranium enrichment activities using environmental monitoring techniques 

Belew, WL; Carter, JA; Smith, DH; Walker, RL 

1993 

NTIS/02981695_2 

GRA and I 

GRA and I 

Uranium enrichment processes have the capability of producing weapons-grade material in the form of highly enriched uranium. Thus, detection of undeclared uranium enrichment activities is an international safeguards concern. The uranium separation technologies currently in use employ UF(sub 6) gas as a separation medium, and trace quantities of enriched uranium are inevitably released to the environment from these facilities. The isotopic content of uranium in the vegetation, soil, and water near the plant site will be altered by these releases and can provide a signature for detecting the presence of enriched uranium activities. This paper discusses environmental sampling and analytical procedures that have been used for the detection of uranium enrichment facilities and possible safeguards applications of these techniques.