XA9846516_J3/ IAEA-TECDOC-982 Planningfor environmental restoration of uranium mining millingand sites in central easternand Europe Proceedings of a workshop held under the Technical Co-operation Project RER/9/022 on Environmental Restoration in Central and Eastern Europe, Felix, Romania, 4-8 November 1996 INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC .ENERGY AC3ENOY November 1997 The IAEA does not normally maintain stocks of reports in this series. However, microfiche copie f thesso e reportobtainee b n sca d from INIS Clearinghouse International Atomic Energy Agency Wagramerstrasse 5 0 10 x P.OBo . A-1400 Vienna, Austria Orders should be accompanied by prepayment of Austrian Schillings 100,- in the form of a cheque or in the form of IAEA microfiche service coupons orderee whicb y hdma separately fro INIe mth S Clearinghouse. The originating Section of this publication in the IAEA was: Waste Technology Section International Atomic Energy Agency Wagramerstrasse5 P.O. Box 100 A-1400 Vienna, Austria PLANNIN ENVIRONMENTAR GFO L RESTORATIO URANIUF NO M MININ MILLIND GAN G SITE CENTRASN I EASTERD LAN N EUROPE IAEA, VIENNA, 1997 IAEA-TECDOC-982 ISSN 1011-4289 © IAEA, 1997 Printed by the IAEA in Austria November 1997 FOREWORD Environmental degradation is a serious issue in most countries of central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. As a result of extensive exploitation of natural resources and in particular of the mining and milling of uranium ores, large areas have become radioactively contaminated necessitating restoration and/or appropriate lanmanagemene dus t technique ensuro st e thahealte th safettd han f affecte o y d populatio t compromisedno e nar . Further exploitation of large territories is thus severely limited and the long term impact, e.g. use f groundwatero f primo s i ,e concern Membee Th . r e regioStateth e e awarn th i snar f o e problem t environmentabu , l restoratio t enjoye n ys a doe higt sno h priority owin prevailino gt g economic conditions. IAEn A A Regional Technical Co-operation (TC) project RER/9/02 "Environmentan 2o l Restoration r centra"fo easterd an l n formee Europth d rean USS s launcheRwa 199n di d 2an f 1996 o firse d concludeTh t .en phas e f thith o e t sda e primar projecth d yha t purposf o e identifyin d characterizinan g g radioactively contaminate de region th site n i s, including evaluation of doses to the general public and other environmental impacts. The main results of this phasprojece th f eo t were publishe IAEA-TECDOC-865n di . Durin implementatioe gth f no the project, it became apparent that most countries in the region share the problem of contamination from uranium minin 1995-199w millingd ne gan A . 6 e projecphasth f o et focused on the radioactive contamination of uranium mining and milling sites and the developmen planf to environmentar sfo l restoratio thesf no e sites. Whil e 1993-199eth 4 phase aime t attractinda attentioe gth f Membeno r Statee th n si region to a long neglected problem, the second phase served as a stimulus to initiate concrete planning activities that would lea correctivo dt e action highln si y contaminated area thosn si e countries. As a consequence, the project emphasis shifted from scientific discussions to the identificatio responsibilitiesf no , planning activities assessmene th d an , existinf o t required gan d resources for the eventual implementation of restoration plans. It was also expected that the end result of the project would increase regional co-operation in the field of environmental restoration as a means of assisting Member States in building up capabilities to solve environmental contamination issues. The project made use of the regional expertise already acquire countriee th n di s whic mord hha e experienc fiele environmentaf th do n ei l restoratios na countrieweln i s la s outsid regioe eth n with similar experience. The 1995-1996 phase of the project consisted of a planning meeting and three workshops that addressed different topical themes. Throughou e course projectth th t f o e , participants presente progrese dth s achieve difficultied dan s encountere implementatioe th n di n of environmental restoration plans in their respective national context. The papers compiled in this publication were presented at the last workshop, held in Felix, Romania, 4-8 November 1996. They summarize national situations in environmental contamination as of the end of 1996 and ongoing or planned actions for remediation. The IAEA technical officer responsible for the workshops was M. Laraia of the Division of Nuclear Power and the Fuel Cycle. The project was managed and implemented by the Department of Technical Co-operation. The papers were compiled and edited by A.N. Prasad, India. The IAEA wishes to express its thanks to all participants in the programme and would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the excellent co-operation and hospitality of the institutions which hosted the project workshops. EDITORIAL NOTE In preparing this publication press,for staff IAEAofthe have pages madethe up fromthe original manuscripts as submitted by the authors. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the governments of the nominating Member States or of the nominating organizations. Throughout the text names of Member States are retained as they were -when the text was compiled. Theof use particular designations countriesof territoriesor does imply judgementnot any by the publisher, the IAEA, as to the legal status of such countries or territories, of their authorities and institutions or of the delimitation of their boundaries. The mention of names of specific companies productsor (whether indicatednot or registered)as does not imply any intention to infringe proprietary rights, nor should it be construed as an endorsement recommendationor IAEA.ofthe pan the on The authors are responsible for having obtained the necessary permission for the IAEA to reproduce, translate materialuse or from sources already protected copyrights.by CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .............................................. 7 SUMMARY .................................................7 1 . Plans for environmental restoration of uranium mining and milling sites in Bulgaria .................................................. 21 K. Nedyalkov Environmental restoratio uraniuf no m mine Canadan si : Progress over year2 5 s ..................................................5 3 . D.G. Feasby Planning environmental restoratio Norte th n hi Bohemian uranium district, Czech Republic: progress report 1996 .........................................9 4 . J. Tomas Environmental restoration of uranium contaminated sites in Estonia within the framewor IAEf ko A project (RER/9/022 1995-199n )i 6 .................1 6 . R. Ratas Environmental restoration plans and activities in France: 1995-1996 progress report ......................................1 7 . V. Roussel Environmental restoration plan activitied san Germann si y ...................5 8 . E. Ettenhuber Environmental restoration plan activitied san Hungaryn si : 1995-1996 progress report .....................................3 10 . L. Juhasz, P. Szerbin, Z. Lendvai, M. Csovari, I. Benkovics Environmental restoration plans and activities inKazakstan .................. 117 A.Kim Environmental restoration plans and activities in Poland (limited to uranium contamination only): 1995-1996 progress report .......................9 12 . A. Solecki, Z. Waclawek Environmental restoration plans and activities in the zones of uranium ore extraction and milling in Romania: 1995-1996 progress report ...................... 135 C. Bejenaru, I. lonescu, D. Georgescu Environmental restoration plans and activities in the Russian Federation .......... 153 V. Boldyrev, Komarov,A. Kuzin,R. ShatalovV. Environmental restoration plans and activities in Slovenia: 1995-1996 progress report .....................................1 16 . Z. Logar Restoration activitie uraniun si m minin millind gan g facilitie Spain i s n ..........1 17 . J.M. Gar da Quiros Environmental restoratio regionn i uraniuf so m minin millind gan Ukrainen gi : Progress, problems and perspectives ................................ 189 C. Rudy Overview of Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project of the United States of America 1995-1996 .................. .....................9 19 . EdgeR. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS ....................................... 213 INTRODUCTION 1. INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION In the new and somewhat transformed world, international co-operation seems to be a rule rather than an exception. New alliances are made in technological as well as in economic fields. Countries with political differences in the past now work together to reap mutual benefits. Parties workin same th en gi fiel d should also take advantag f theseo e changes and trends, and collaborate to make the best use of available technology and expertise. faca s Ii t thaneee r safth t dfo e managemen uraniuf o t m minin millind gan g (M/M) waste existl continental n sucs i worle a th hd f dthersan o internationas ei l interes thin i t s field. Broadly, three main mode f internationaso l co-operatio visualizede b n n ca firs e Th t. through bilateral arrangements between individual countries and/or organizations. The second based on co-operation on a multi-lateral level among states regionally or interregionall thire th throug s di d yan h international organizations co-operatioe Th . n through international organization particulari sh , with emphasi information so d nan technology