Decommissioning Projects - Germany 
(last updated 1 Nov 2011)
> See also Issues for:
New Mining Projects ·
Operating Mines ·
Legislation & Regulations
> See also Data for:
Deposits, Proposed and Active Mines ·
Old Mines and Decommissioning
Federal Social Court awards former Wismut miners compensation for larynx cancer
On Aug. 18, 2004, the German Federal Social Court (Bundessozialgericht 
) in a landmark ruling for the first time decided, that a compensation of cancer other than lung cancer is justified for uranium miners. In two cases, filed by former Wismut uranium miners and/or their surviving families, the Court has found that the larynx cancer developed by the miners must be seen as caused by their former occupation and therefore has to be compensated by the employers' liability insurance. The insurance had maintained that no epidemiological evidence had ever proven such causation, while only the dosimetric model by Jacobi (1995) had been used so far to support such claims. The court decisions are relevant for approx. 2000 other former Wismut miners who have contracted cancers other than lung cancer.
(Aktenzeichen: B 8 KN 2/03 U R, B 8 KN 1/03 U R)
Sources: Bundessozialgericht: Presse-Vorbericht Nr. 46/04 (5.8.2004), Presse-Mitteilung Nr. 46/04 (18.8.2004), ap Aug. 18, 2004
former Ronneburg mine (Thuringia), aerial view: Google Maps 
Culmitzsch tailings (Thuringia), aerial view: Google Maps
Trünzig tailings (Thuringia), aerial view: Google Maps
Helmsdorf tailings (Saxony), aerial view: Google Maps
Königstein underground/in-situ leach mine with Schüsselgrund waste pile (Saxony), aerial view: Google Maps
> see also: Uranium Mining in Eastern Germany: The WISMUT Legacy (38k)
(see also Decommissioning Data)
> See also: National Reports for Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (IAEA)
Effluent from Wismut's former Aue uranium mine could be used for geothermal heating
The city of Aue is investigating the feasibility of using the effluent from the water treatment plant at Wismut's former Aue mine for geothermal heating in an industrial park. The effluent amounts to 800 cubic metres per hour at a temperature of 25°C.
(Freie Presse Oct. 31, 2011)
Wismut builds new deposit for water treatment plant residues
On Aug. 8, 2011, Wismut began the construction of a second deposit for the residues from its Ronneburg water treatment plant. The deposit with a capacity of 540,000 cubic metres will cover an area of 7.6 hectares.
(Wismut GmbH Aug. 29, 2011)
Wismut plans to release higher salt loads to river
Wismut has applied for a permit to release higher salt loads from its Ronneburg water treatment plant to the Weiße Elster river. While the plant removes contaminants such as uranium, radium, and heavy metals, sulfate passes the plant undeminished. The salt load would increase the degree of hardness of the river's water from 19 to 24 °dH [from 3.4 to 4.3 mmol/l], making it "very hard". The Ronneburg church environmental group warns from impacts on microorganisms.
(Ostthüringer Zeitung Aug. 23, 2011)
Wismut's water treatment plant capacity increased, but untreated mine water still has to be released occasionally
Wismut has increased the capacity of the water treatment plant in the former Ronneburg mining area from 500 to 750 cubic metres per hour. The new treatment line is currently being tested at full capacity, but will be completed only by end September. In the meantime, excess water inflow into the flooded underground mines will have to be released untreated. After a period of heavy rain, the groundwater level in the mining area had increased to unexpected levels. To avoid the uncontrolled escape of the contaminated mine water to the surface, excess water has to be released to surface waters after treatment.
(Ostthüringer Zeitung July 1, 2011)
On Oct. 6, 2011, Wismut announced the completion of the capacity increase of the water treatment plant.
Wismut plans to complete cleanup of uranium mining legacy by 2020
Wismut GmbH plans to conclude the cleanup of the uranium mining legacy in Thuringia and Saxony by 2020. After this date, long-term tasks such as water treatment, environmental monitoring and surveillance of reclaimed surfaces will have to continue for an unknown period of time.
(DAPD June 23, 2011)
Federal cleanup of Wismut's uranium mining legacy to cost more and last longer
The Federal Republic of Germany, sole owner of Wismut GmbH, has increased the initial Euro 6.65 billion cleanup budget by 5.3% to Euro 7 billion. Of this total amount, Euro 5.4 billion have been spent until end 2010 already. The amount available for the year 2011 is Euro 139 million.
The completion of the reclamation work, initially set at 2010/2012, is now expected 10 years later at 2020/2022. The completion of the most challenging task, the stabilization of the largest uranium mill tailings deposit Culmitzsch is expected for 2022. The water treatment facilities for the effluents arising at various sites will have to continue operation even beyond that date, as heavy metal concentrations will still be too high for unrestricted release.
(Freie Presse May 4, 2011)
Wismut's water treatment plant capacity insufficient to handle effluent volume increase after heavy rains
The standards for nickel and cadmium are currently exceeded in the Gessenbach creek in the former Ronneburg uranium mining area in Thuringia. The problem is apparently caused by the heavy rains of the last months, impacting the flooding process of the underground mines and dissolving contaminants from the rock. The capacity of Wismut's water treatment plant is insufficient to treat all of the current effluent; its capacity will be increased only in the second half of 2011.
(Ostthüringer Zeitung Feb. 11, 2011)
Pilot project for geothermal heating from former Wismut uranium mines
Mine water at temperatures of 25 °C is to be pumped in a pilot project from depths of 60 to 90 metres to supply heating for a school in Bad Schlema. For the future, Bad Schlema hopes to supply heating from mine water for the whole town.
(Sächsische Zeitung Jan. 16, 2010)
German radiation protection authority releases monitoring results for radon in former uranium mining areas
> View here
Final phase of flooding begins at Wismut's Königstein underground/ISL mine
On August 3, 2009, Wismut started the final flooding phase of the former Königstein underground/ISL mine in Saxony. Flooding of the mine is expected to be completed in 2015.
(Sächsische Zeitung Aug. 3, 2009)
Final phase of flooding begins at Wismut's Schlema underground mines
On July 6, 2009, Wismut plans to begin the final phase of flooding at the former underground uranium mine in Schlema. Flooding of the deepest sections of the up to 1800 metres deep mine started already in 1991. The water level is allowed to rise at a slow pace to avoid subsidence at the surface. After completion of the flooding, contaminated discharges from the mine will have to be treated in the long term at a rate of 800 cubic metres per hour.
(Freie Presse July 2, 2009)
Capacity of water treatment plant at Wismut's former Ronneburg mine to be increased
Wismut is planning to increase the capacity of the water treatment plant at the former Ronneburg uranium mine from 450 to 750 cubic metres per hour. The expansion became necessary due to increased groundwater inflow. The expanded plant is scheduled to start operation at the end of 2010.
(Wismut Apr. 2, 2009)
Water treatment plant under construction at Wismut's Hartenstein waste rock pile
An effluent treatment plant is under construction for seepage catched at Wismut's No. 371 waste rock pile at Hartenstein in the Aue area. While seepage at other waste rock piles is allowed to flow into former underground mines located beneath the piles, there exist no such mines at this site: therefore, seepage could reach the Zwickauer Mulde river, if untreated. The No. 371 pile covers an area of more than 65 hectares. The average amount of seepage collected is 37 cubic metres per hour, while the plant can handle 100 cubic metres per hour.
Excess mine water from the former underground mines in the Aue area arises at a rate of 750 cubic metres per hour and is treated by a treatment plant with a capacity of 1150 cubic metres per hour. It is expected that treatment will have to continue for several decades, until contaminant concentrations will be low enough to allow for direct effluent discharge into the Mulde river.
(Freie Presse Mar. 17, 2009)
Cleanup of Wismut legacy to take longer than foreseen
The cleanup of the uranium mining legacy in Saxony and Thuringia will take longer than foreseen and continue beyond 2015, according to Wismut's technical director Stefan Mann. The funding requirements won't increase, though. Euro 5.1 billion have been spent until end 2008, while the total cost was initially estimated at Euro 6.6 billion.
(Freie Presse Jan. 2, 2009)
Reclamation of Dänkritz I uranium mill tailings deposit almost completed
On Dec. 2, 2008, Wismut GmbH announced that the reclamation of the Dänkritz I uranium mill tailings deposit in Saxony is almost completed.
Reclamation of former Crossen uranium mill site completed
On Nov. 17, 2008, Wismut GmbH announced that the reclamation of the former Crossen uranium mill site in Saxony has been completed. Demolition of the buildings on the 17 hectare site had started in 1992. All waste material was dumped on the Helmsdorf tailings deposit.
The relocation of the 3.2 million m3 Crossen waste rock pile to the Helmsdorf tailings deposit is still ongoing, with completion expected by 2012.
Mice undermining stability of uranium mine waste rock pile in Saxony
After heavy rain, a section of the soil cover on Wismut's waste rock pile No. 366 in Aue (Saxony) slipped down. The 1 metre soil cover had been installed in 2001 and was meant to last for decades. It is assumed that burrowing mice have contributed to the problem. An expert will conduct an investigation into the cause of the failure.
(Freie Presse Jan. 22, 2008)
The investigation concluded that the cover failure had been caused by heavy rain, in combination with tunnels burrowed by mice. Meanwhile, another section of the cover began sliding down.
(Freie Presse Apr. 15, 2008)
The damaged cover has been repaired, including some modifications to improve surface water runoff.
(Wismut GmbH June 2, 2008)
Overflowing mine flooding water contaminates surface waters in Wismut's former uranium mining area in Thuringia
At times of wet weather, contaminated waters from the flooded underground uranium mines in the Ronneburg area reach the surface and spill into surface waters, in particular the Gessenbach creek. Due to various technical problems, Wismut GmbH currently is not capable to treat the water nor keep the groundwater level at a lower level in order to avoid further spills.
(Kirchlicher Umweltkreis Ronneburg Nov. 26, 2007)
Relocation of Wismut's landmark waste rock piles in Thuringia completed
The relocation of the last two conical waste rock piles left from Wismut's uranium mining operations in Ronneburg/Thuringia has been completed. One last larger waste rock pile (Halde 4) is being relocated now.
(Wismut March 23, 2007)
Flooding of southern part of Ronneburg underground mine completed
On Aug. 21, 2006, groundwater water reached its natural level in the flooded southern part of Wismut's former Ronneburg uranium mine. Subsequently, a new water treatment plant started operation in order to maintain the natural groundwater level. The plant treats further inflowing groundwater before release into the Wipse creek. It is expected that the water treatment plant will have to operate for 15 to 25 years. The flooding of the underground mine had started in 1998 (that is, groundwater inflow started to refill the mine, when the pumps that kept the mine dry were halted, after all hazardous material had been removed from the mine and 120 underground barriers had been built). The cavity volume of the northern and southern parts of the mine combined is approx. 27 million cubic meters. (Wismut GmbH Aug. 22, 2006)
Intermediate cover on Basin B of Culmitzsch uranium mill tailings completed
On August 14, 2006, the 85 ha intermediate cover on top of the Basin B of Wismut's 90 million t Culmitzsch uranium mill tailings deposit in Thuringia was completed. The completion of the intermediate cover for the Basin A is expected for 2009.
(Wismut GmbH, Aug. 14, 2006)
The former uranium mining area in Ronneburg (Thuringia) that is to host the 2007 federal garden festival (Bundesgartenschau 2007 ) no longer presents a radiation hazard. A study performed by Öko-Institut found that a visitor receives a dose of 4.85 Micro-Sievert during a 20-hour stay on the festival area (i.e. 242 nSv/h). This value includes gamma radiation, inhalation of radon and dust, among others. Such values were also to be found in areas not affected by uranium mining.
(dpa June 7, 2006)
The garden festival was opened on April 27, 2007, and will last until Oct. 14, 2007.
During the garden festival, IPPNW will hold several events on the history and the hazards of the Wismut uranium mining operations. For details, see:
uranrisiko.de · kunstschau.tv
Wismut to drive dewatering tunnel to continue flooding of Dresden-Gittersee mine
In 1995, Wismut had halted the pumps at the former Dresden-Gittersee underground uranium mine, to allow for flooding of the mine by inflowing groundwater. In July 2003, however, groundwater reached the surface at several locations in the town of Freital-Potschappel, while the mine was not completely flooded yet. So, flooding had to be halted temporarily. Wismut now made a decision to drive a 2900 m long dewatering tunnel, to allow for resumption of the flooding process, without endangering surrounding settlements.
(Wismut GmbH Dec. 19, 2005)
Church environmental group calls for memorial site commemorating consequences of Wismut's uranium mining
The church environmental group of Ronneburg (Kirchlicher Umweltkreis Ronneburg)
calls for the construction of a memorial to commemorate the consequences of decades of uranium mining in Thuringia, as there are the villages that had to make way for the mines, and the victims of the mining operations, many of whom died from lung cancer contracted in the mines. The memorial should commemorate the commitment of the miners, but it should also make clear that there is no clean nuclear energy, given the impacts of uranium mining.
(Press Release of Lutheran Church in Thuringia, May 11, 2005)
Relocation of Paitzdorf waste rock piles (Thuringia)
The relocation of the Paitzdorf waste rock piles was completed on Dec. 12, 2006. (Wismut Dec. 12, 2006)
The Relocation of the two conical landmark Paitzdorf waste rock piles started on Jan. 4, 2006. It is scheduled for completion until the end of the year 2006. (Wismut Jan. 5, 2006)
On March 23, 2005, Wismut will start the pull down of the two conical Paitzdorf waste rock piles. From January 2006, the material totalling 8.2 million cubic meters will be transported over a distance of 5.5 km to the former Lichtenberg open pit mine.
(Wismut March 17, 2005)
Environmental group criticizes cleanup at Thuringian Wismut sites
The church environmental group of Ronneburg (Kirchlicher Umweltkreis Ronneburg) criticizes some aspects of the reclamation currently being performed by Wismut GmbH in the former uranium mining area of Thuringia. The group raises concerns related to the flooding of the former underground mines, and related to the top cover to be applied to the Lichtenberg waste rock pile.
The Thuringian underground mines with approx. one thousand kilometers of tunnels are currently in the process of being refilled with groundwater. During the active mining period, groundwater had been pumped, producing a huge depression cone. Now, the pumps have been shut off, allowing inflowing groundwater to refill the mine. According to the group, the procedure chosen for the refilling of the mines allows for higher contaminant levels in any outcropping water than achievable with a more modest refilling scheme that would require more expenses for water treatment, though.
The former Lichtenberg open pit is being refilled with contaminated waste rock material. Eventually, the waste material will form a new pile at the site of the former open pit. It is planned to cover this pile with 1 metre of slightly contaminated material, plus a 40 cm top cover of neutral material. The group criticizes that this cover design allows for twice the infiltration rates from rainfall than achievable with a better cover design that would be more expensive, though; in addition, it were not clear whether the design chosen would be suitable to sustain trees and whether it would meet the 200 year durability criterion aimed at by Wismut.
(Strahlentelex, 3 Feb. 2005)
A golf course is to be built on the reclaimed parts (comprising 57 hectares) of Wismut's former No. 382 uranium mine waste rock pile in Schlema, Saxony. Environmental monitoring of the site will continue; the cost will be paid for by Wismut GmbH for a limited period of time.
(Wismut GmbH May 11, 2004)
Construction of the golf course started on April 21, 2008. (Freie Presse Apr. 23, 2008)
Construction of the golf course is completed. (Freie Presse Aug. 27, 2008)
The golf course Golfpark Westerzgebirge was inaugurated on May 31, 2009. Total construction cost was EUR 1.3 million. (Freie Presse Jun. 1, 2009)
Wismut to begin relocation of Ronneburg landmark uranium waste rock piles
On June 5, 2004, Wismut GmbH will start the pull down of the four conical landmark uranium waste rock piles in the Ronneburg area (Thuringia). The piles are approx. 100 meters high and contain a total of 15 million cubic meters of waste rock from the former underground mines in the area. The material will be relocated to the former Lichtenberg open pit mine in Ronneburg.
Due to their visibility over a long distance, these piles - in common parlance referred to as "the pyramids of Ronneburg" - have become landmarks symbolizing the uranium mining era in Thuringia, although they are by far smaller in volume than other uranium waste rock piles in the area. The relocation operation will be completed in 2007. (ddp May 3, 2004)
Wismut's cleanup funds assured in 2004
In an answer to a parliamentary question, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour has stated that Wismut GmbH will receive Euro 215 million for its regular reclamation work during the course of the year 2004. According to the current schedule, the clean-up will be completed in 2015. (Bundestags-Drucksache 15/2791 vom 26.3. 2004)
No major damages by floods at Wismut sites
The heavy rain events and floods in Eastern Germany have caused minor damages only to the Wismut uranium mine sites undergoing reclamation. The Saxonian mine sites of Schlema/Alberoda and Königstein were those most affected, while the Thuringian sites of Ronneburg (mine) and Seelingstädt (mill/tailings) were not affected.
(Wismut Aug. 20, 2002)
The situation at the sites that are no longer under the jurisdiction of Wismut, including a number of uranium mill tailings ponds, is unclear, however.
Schneckenstein tailings (Saxony), aerial view: Google Maps
Lengenfeld tailings (Saxony), aerial view: Google Maps
Dänkritz 2 tailings (Saxony), aerial view: Google Maps
Johanngeorgenstadt Steinsee tailings (Saxony), aerial view: Google Maps
Dresden-Gittersee tailings (Saxony), aerial view: Google Maps
Freital tailings (Saxony), aerial view: Google Maps
> See also: Altstandorte des Uranbergbaus in Sachsen (30k PDF, in German)
> See also: Uranium Mining in Eastern Germany: The WISMUT Legacy (38k)
(see also Decommissioning Data)
Reclamation of Halde 296 legacy waste rock pile in Aue-Alberoda completed
The reclamation of the Halde 296 legacy waste rock pile in Aue-Alberoda, Saxony, has been completed. The originally conic pile was in use between 1950 and 1959. It had a volume of 952,000 cubic metres and covered an area of slightly more than 5 hectares.
(Wismut GmbH Sep. 1, 2011)
Additional funding assured for reclamation of Wismut legacy sites
The German Federal Government and the State of Saxony have agreed to equally make available another EUR 138 million from 2013 to 2022 for the reclamation of uranium mining legacy sites in Saxony that are not covered by the Federal cleanup program. For the ten years from 2003 to 2012, EUR 78 million had been allocated for this purpose.
(Freie Presse July 15, 2011)
"Summary
In the Federal States of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, centuries of mining and milling activities resulted in numerous residues with increased levels of natural radioactivity, like waste rock dumps and tailings ponds. These may have altered the situation concerning radiation exposure significantly. Especially waste rock dumps from old mining activities as well as 20th century uranium mining may, due to their radon exhalation capacity, lead to significant radiation exposures. They often lie close to or within residential areas. To investigate the impact on the natural radon level, the federal office for radiation protection has run networks of radon measurement points in 16 former mining areas, together with 2 networks in regions not influenced by mining for comparison purposes. Altogether, data has been taken at 595 measurement points.
As a result of these investigations, representative overviews of the long-term outdoor radon concentrations could be established including estimates of regional background concentrations. One of the most important findings of the investigations is the fact that the former mining and milling activities did not result in large area impacts on the outdoor radon level. Only some of the neighbourhoods immediately adjacent to mining residues show a significant increase of concentration, which might also influence the indoor concentrations in nearby houses.
Based on the background values, regions were identified where the radon exhalation from mining residues has lead to increased concentrations in residential areas and resulting radiation exposures of the population estimated. Also, the consequences of the Wismut companies reclamation activities are reported. Finally, recommendations are given on the radiological evaluation of outdoor radon concentrations."
> Download: Ergebnisse der Radonmessungen in der bodennahen Luft der Bergbaugebiete , BfS-SW-05/09, C. Dushe, C.; Gehrcke, K.; Kümmel, K.; Müller, S., Dezember 2009 (BfS - in German)
Reclamation of Halde 278 legacy waste rock pile in Grünstädtel completed
The reclamation of the Halde 278 legacy waste rock pile in Grünstädtel, Saxony, has been completed at cost of EUR 3 million. The cleanup also included demolition of the buildings of the Schacht 278 mine.
(Wismut GmbH Nov. 20, 2009)
Environmental group demands reclamation of Wismut's abandoned legacy sites in Thuringia
While in Saxony efforts for the reclamation of Wismut's abandoned legacy sites (i.e. sites that are not part of the federal cleanup programme) are ongoing for some years already, the Thuringian Ministry of Environment sees no need to set up a similar effort for those of Wismut's legacy sites that are located in Thuringia. These sites are not even secured against release for new uses, in spite of the persisting hazards.
The church environmental group of Ronneburg (Kirchlicher Umweltkreis Ronneburg) now demands an effort for the securing of Wismut's abandoned Thuringian legacy sites comparable to the one ongoing for the Saxonian sites.
(Strahlentelex Nr. 544-545, 3. Sept. 2009)
Meanwhile, the church environmental group of Ronneburg (Kirchlicher Umweltkreis Ronneburg) has compiled a list of legacy sites in Thuringia. It comprises 9 sites (covering 352.66 hectares) in the Seelingstädt area and 17 sites (covering 50.29 hectares) in the Ronneburg area.
(Strahlentelex Nr. 560-561, 6 May 2010)
Hazards resulting from the abandoned legacy sites can even endanger neighbouring sites currently undergoing reclamation: On July 23, 2010, heavy rain caused a slope slide at a waste rock pile near the Trünzig tailings deposit.
(Strahlentelex Nr. 570-571, 7 Oct 2010)
In a meeting with the Thuringia state chancellery, the church environmental group of Ronneburg urged a reassessment of the legacy uranium sites in Thuringia. Only a small fraction of the sites has been documented and assessed properly, the group says. In the Ronneburg area alone, there are 300 hectares of abandonded and radiologically hazardous land. In some areas near Seelingstädt, radon concentrations of 50 - 115 Bq per cubic metre are observed during winter.
(Ostthüringer Zeitung Oct. 28, 2010)
Additional funding required for reclamation of Wismut legacy sites
The amount of EUR 78 million jointly provided by the Saxonian state and the Federal Government for the reclamation of abandoned Wismut legacy sites turns out to be insufficient. From 2012, another EUR 140 million will be required to reclaim all of the sites left from the late 1940s and the 1950s - sites which are not covered by the federal clean-up programme initiated in 1990.
(Freie Presse Aug. 12, 2009)
Cleanup of 1954 Lengenfeld uranium mill tailings spill finally completed
The cleanup of the areas contaminated by the 1954 Lengenfeld tailings spill finally has been completed. 55,000 cubic metres of contaminated material have been excavated from the Plohnbach creek valley floor and the Lenkteich pond and deposited in the Nordhalde waste pile. The total project cost was approx. EUR 3 million.
(Freie Presse Oct. 22, 2011)
Cleanup of 1954 Lengenfeld uranium mill tailings spill to start in April 2010
The cleanup of the areas contaminated by the 1954 Lengenfeld tailings spill is scheduled to start in April 2010. The reclamation of the contaminated Plohnbach creek and the restoration of the Lenkteich pond is to be completed by end 2011. At present, the radiation readings in the valley floor of the Plohnbach creek are the highest in any public area in Germany. The excavated contaminated material is to be deposited on the Nordhalde waste pile. Preparatory work has started in December 2009 already.
(Freie Presse Feb. 17, 2010)
Cleanup of 1954 Lengenfeld uranium mill tailings spill finally to start
From July 8, 2009, the plans for the cleanup of the areas contaminated by a 1954 tailings spill are open for public review. Floods had caused a dam failure of the Lengenfeld uranium mill tailings deposit and thousands of tonnes of tailings spilled into the Lenkteich pond. The cleanup is expected to last until October 2013 at cost of EUR 2.5 million.
(Euroherz July 8, 2009)
Reclamation of abandoned Lengenfeld tailings site to start with 4-year delay in 2009 (Saxony)
The public consultation on the proposed reclamation of the Lengenfeld uranium mill tailings deposit is to be held in 2008. Reclamation work is scheduled to start in 2009 - four years later than originally planned.
(Freie Presse Dec. 15, 2007)
Federal Republic and Saxony sign agreement on reclamation of abandoned Wismut legacy sites
On September 5, 2003, after 13 years of dispute, the Federal Government of Germany and the Saxonian State Government signed an agreement on the reclamation of the Wismut legacy sites that are not covered by Wismut's current reclamation mission. The agreement covers the sites that were no longer owned by Wismut after 1962, mainly located in the Ore Mountains near the Czech border. The total amount of Euro 78 million (US$ 84 million) is to be spent on the legacy sites until 2012 - that is only 17% of the sum required, according to earlier estimates. The reclamation project will be managed by Wismut GmbH; local businesses will be involved in the realization.
(Freie Presse/ddp Sep. 5, 2003)
Saxony contracts Wismut GmbH for reclamation of Johanngeorgenstadt uranium legacy sites
Twelve years after the unification of Germany, the state of Saxony has contracted Wismut GmbH for the project management of the planned reclamation of seven sites of former uranium mining activities in Johanngeorgenstadt and Breitenbrunn in the Ore Mountains. Former uranium miner Wismut is not legally responsible for these sites which were abandoned before 1960.
(Wismut release Jan. 14, 2003)
High uranium concentrations in village pond
High uranium concentrations of up to 3.5 milligrams per litre were found in the water of the village pond and some private ponds in the village of Gauern in Eastern Thuringia. The village is located close to the 80 million t Culmitzsch uranium mill tailings pile and the Gauern uranium waste rock pile.
For comparison: the World Health Organization WHO recommends a value of 0.002 milligrams per litre for drinking water, and the U.S. drinking water standard is 0.03 milligrams per litre.
Fish caught from the village pond also had elevated radionuclide concentrations: more than 10 Bq uranium, 5 Bq Pb-210, and 0.3 Bq Ra-226 per kg. The uranium concentration exceeds normal concentrations 500-fold, the Pb-210 concentration 20-fold.
The Thuringian Geological Survey (TLUG ) is now investigating causes and impacts of these concentrations.
(Ostthüringer Zeitung Aug. 15, 2002)
The ponds are located at the site of a former open pit uranium mine. The mine was in operation in the 1950s and later was used as a dump for mine waste. It has not been subject to Wismut's reclamation efforts. (Thüringer Allgemeine Aug. 27, 2002)
Assessment of abandoned sites completed - Cleanup still not assured
The Federal Radiation Protection Agency (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz) has completed a survey of the sites where Wismut mined uranium but where Wismut no longer is the site owner. These sites are not included in the cleanup programme funded by the Federal Government, but their cleanup has to be paid for by the State governments. The survey showed that radiation hazards exist only at 20% of the 8000 sites identified, and that those hazards are limited to the immediate vicinity of the sites. (BfS press release March 15, 2001 - in German )
The estimated cleanup cost for those abandoned sites located in Saxony alone is estimated at DM 900 million (US$ 410 million). The Saxonian State Government has spent only DM 60 million so far on their cleanup. (Freie Presse March 17, 2001)
> See also: Altstandorte des Uranbergbaus in Sachsen (30k PDF, in German)