Comprehensive Study Report Cluff Lake Decommissioning Project Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission December, 2003 Comprehensive Study Report Cluff Lake Decommissioning Project Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission December 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 EA Conclusions...................................................................................................................... 1-2 2 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................ 2-1 2.1 Project Overview................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Need for the Project .............................................................................................................. 2-1 2.3 The Project Proponent.......................................................................................................... 2-2 2.4 Site History ............................................................................................................................ 2-6 2.4.1 Environmental Assessment History of the Cluff Lake Uranium Mines and Mill ................................................................................................. 2-6 2.4.2 Site-Wide Development History ..................................................................................... 2-7 2.5 Current and Proposed Licensing......................................................................................... 2-8 3 APPLICATION OF THE CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACT....................................................................................................... 3-1 4 SCOPE OF PROJECT.................................................................................................. 4-1 5 SCOPE OF ASSESSMENT .......................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Environmental Assessment Factors..................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Environmental Assessment Methodology ........................................................................... 5-1 5.2.1 Study Boundaries – Spatial ............................................................................................. 5-2 5.2.2 Study Boundaries – Temporal......................................................................................... 5-4 5.2.3 Assessment Process......................................................................................................... 5-5 5.2.4 Modeling Approach to Evaluate Post-Decommissioning Effects ................................... 5-6 5.2.5 Follow-up and Monitoring .............................................................................................. 5-9 6 SITE DESCRIPTION AND EXISTING ENVIRONMENT...................................... 6-1 6.1 Site Description: Site Components and Current Status .................................................... 6-1 6.1.1 The D Mine Area............................................................................................................. 6-1 6.1.2 Claude Mine Area ........................................................................................................... 6-3 6.1.3 OP/DP Mine Area ........................................................................................................... 6-5 6.1.4 DJ Mine Area ................................................................................................................. 6-6 6.1.5 The Mill Complex and Support Facilities ....................................................................... 6-9 6.1.6 The Tailings Management Area and Effluent Treatment Systems................................ 6-12 6.1.7 Ancillary Buildings and Services.................................................................................. 6-15 6.2 Description of the Existing Environment.......................................................................... 6-19 6.2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 6-19 6.2.2 General .......................................................................................................................... 6-19 6.2.3 Climate .......................................................................................................................... 6-20 6.2.4 Air Quality..................................................................................................................... 6-20 6.2.5 Gamma Radiation Levels .............................................................................................. 6-23 i Comprehensive Study Report Cluff Lake Decommissioning Project Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission December 2003 6.2.6 Geology ......................................................................................................................... 6-24 6.2.7 Hydrogeology................................................................................................................ 6-26 6.2.8 Groundwater Chemistry ................................................................................................ 6-30 6.2.9 Morphology, Hydrology and Limnology ...................................................................... 6-35 6.2.10 Surface Water Quality................................................................................................... 6-39 6.2.11 Sediment Quality........................................................................................................... 6-44 6.2.12 Ecological Field Studies................................................................................................ 6-47 6.2.13 Valued Ecosystem Components.................................................................................... 6-48 6.2.14 Traditional and Recent Land Use.................................................................................. 6-49 6.2.15 Island Lake Post-Operation Risk Assessment............................................................... 6-50 6.3 Summary of Operational Impacts ..................................................................................... 6-53 7 DECOMMISSIONING OBJECTIVES....................................................................... 7-1 7.1 Decommissioning Objectives................................................................................................ 7-1 7.1.1 Locations for the Achievement of Decommissioning Objectives................................... 7-1 7.1.2 Water Quality Decommissioning Objectives .................................................................. 7-1 7.1.3 Decommissioning Sediment Quality Assessment Guidelines......................................... 7-4 7.1.4 Decommissioning Radiological Objectives .................................................................... 7-5 7.1.5 Care and Maintenance and Long-term Institutional Controls ......................................... 7-7 8 PROJECT DESCRIPTION.......................................................................................... 8-1 8.1 Alternatives............................................................................................................................ 8-1 8.1.1 Mining Area.................................................................................................................... 8-5 8.1.2 Mill Area......................................................................................................................... 8-9 8.1.3 Germaine Camp............................................................................................................. 8-10 8.1.4 TMA and Industrial Landfill ......................................................................................... 8-10 8.1.5 Remediation of Island Lake .......................................................................................... 8-12 8.1.6 Revegetation Alternatives............................................................................................. 8-12 8.2 Decommissioning Project – Proposed Works and Activities........................................... 8-13 8.2.1 D Mine Area.................................................................................................................. 8-13 8.2.2 Claude Mine Area ......................................................................................................... 8-13 8.2.3 OP/DP Mine Area ......................................................................................................... 8-16 8.2.4 DJ Mine Area ................................................................................................................ 8-16 8.2.5 Mill Complex and Support Facilities ............................................................................ 8-18 8.2.6 The Tailings Management Area (TMA) Including Effluent Treatment Systems.......... 8-19 8.2.7 Ancillary Buildings and Services.................................................................................. 8-21 8.2.8 Site-Wide Revegetation Plan......................................................................................... 8-25 8.3 Regulatory Compliance Programs.................................................................................... 8-25 8.3.1 Quality Assurance Program........................................................................................... 8-25 8.3.2 Radiation Protection