RE-Powering America's Land:
Lakeview, Oregon
Evaluating the Feasibility of Siting Renewable Energy Production

on Potentially Contaminated Land

Feasibility Studies to RE-Power Communities
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's RE-Powering America's Land initiative
encourages renewable energy development on current and formerly contaminated
land and mine sites when it is aligned with the community's vision for the site. EPA
and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
are collaborating on a project to evaluate the feasibility of siting renewable energy
production on potentially contaminated sites.This effort pairs EPA's expertise on
contaminated sites with NREL's expertise in renewable energy. The feasibility studies
will provide site owners and communities with a realistic and achievable plan for
putting renewable energy on a given site.
Site Description
The 169-acre Uranium Mills Tailing site is located one mile northwest of the city
of Lakeview. In 1957, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission entered into a contract
with the Lakeview Mining Company for a uranium processing mill. The mill was
constructed in 1958 but only operated for two years due to lack of ore. Investigations
of the mill site in 1976 found localized areas of elevated radioactivity and suspected
contaminated-material burial sites. Remediation of the site began in 1986 and was
completed in 1989.
The work involved excavation and relocation of mill tailings and soil contaminated
with radium, thorium, and uranium and mill-building structural debris. The
excavated areas formerly occupied by the tailings pile, evaporation ponds, and
mill site were backfilled and graded to conform with local slopes, and revegetated
according to applicable EPA standards.
Community Goals
The Lake County Resources Initiative (LCRI) has formed a renewable energy working group that includes local communities,
private business representatives, and the local energy utility. The goal of the working group is to explore local renewable energy
opportunities, and all entities are in support of the project. Based on potential geothermal and other renewable resources, the
long-term community goal is to develop enough renewable energy initiatives for Lake County to become a net exporter of
renewable energy. This feasibility study will contribute to the ongoing investigation to accomplish this goal.
Feasibility Study: Geothermal
EPA and NREL are collaborating to conduct a study on the potential for geothermal power generation on the Uranium Mills Tailing
site. The feasibility study will evaluate the technical and economic opportunities and challenges at the site. It will:
¦	Provide a preliminary analysis of the viability of the site;
¦	Assess geothermal resource availability;
¦	Identify possible facility type, size, and location; and
¦	Review the economics of the proposed facility.
For more information, visit www.epa.gov/renewabieenergyiand or contact deanenergy@epa.gov
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
November 2011
Uranium Mills Tailing Site
Lakeview, Oregon
Site Facts:
Site type: Mine site
Renewable technology: Geothermal
Contacts:
EPA Headquarters
Lura Matthews
matthews.lura@epa.gov
(202) 566-2539
www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland
National Renewable Energy Lab
Gail Mosey
gail.mosey@nrel.gov
(303) 384-7356
www.nrel.gov
The information presented in this fact sheet comes
from the proposal; EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of
this information. Therefore, activities described in this
fact sheet are subject to change.
SEPA

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