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URANIUM MINING ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION PROJECT (PRAMU)

A. ASENJO Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica (CNEA), San Rafael - MZA, Argentina

The National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) started its activities 49 years ago obtaining significant results and, at the present time it is defined as an institution of research and development in the nuclear field, and is also responsible for the management of radioactive wastes and the dismantling of nuclear and radioactive facilities.

Mining and milling activities have been carded out during the last 40 years, and nowadays CNEA is undertaking the Uranium Mining Environmental Restoration Project (PRAMU). The aim of this project is to achieve that in all the places where uranium mining activities were developed, restore the environment as much as it is possible in terms of economic and technical reasonability.

Then, in first place, the characteristics of the problem in each site are determined through the necessary studies which identity the produced or potential impacts, the possible pathways of contamination, etc.

The sites which are studied are: 1. MALARGUE (Mendoza Province) 2. CORDOBA (Cordoba Province) 3. LOS GIGANTES (Cordoba Province) 4. SAN RAFAEL (Mendoza Province) 5. HUEMUL (Mendoza Province) 6. PICHTNAN (Chubut Province) 7. TONCO (Salta Province) 8. LA ESTELA (San Luis Province) 9. LOS COLORADOS (La Rioja Province)

The decision to implement the PRAMU has as a goal to improve the current conditions of the tailings deposits and mines, to ensure the protection of people and environment in the future.

For the development of the project CNEA is obligated to comply with the legislation in force and to the control of different instances of the public administration (national, provincial and local) and various institutions of the State.

The main objectives of the project for the different sites are: Malargue site: To undertake the necessary actions to execute the works for the environmental restoration and the management of the mineral tailings originated from the uranium minerals which were processed in the industrial plant.

Cordoba and Los Gigantes sites: To design the engineering and execute the necessary activities to proceed to the closure of the sites.

San Rafael site: To develop a strategy report dealing with the future of the complex and the restoration of the Zone.

Other sites (Huemul, Pichinan, Tonco, La Estela, Los Colorados): To develop the environmental evaluation and on the basis of the results obtained, to study the different technological options for the mitigation of the possible impacts produced and the future potential ones.

Some actions related with Malargue closure are being carried out, and CNEA is complying with formalities to obtain financing for the whole project.

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