Decommissioning Projects - Other Countries
(last updated 25 Feb 2008)
Contents:
> See also: Decommissioning Projects - Canada · USA · Europe · Asia
(see also Decommissioning Data)
CNEA releases environmental assessment of reclamation of former uranium mine and mill sites in Argentina
> Download: Proyecto de Restitucion Ambiental de la Mineria del Uranio (PRAMU): EVALUACION AMBIENTAL, Documento Marco, 03 Diciembre de 2005 (in Spanish):
CNEA 
· World Bank
> Download: Argentina: Uranium mining Environmental restoration Project, Environmental assessment - Executive Summary, January 2006 (in English): World Bank
The Argentinian Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEA) plans to reclaim the former uranium mining sites in the country with the help of a World Bank loan. In a first stage, the efforts shall be concentrated on the site of Malargüe (Mendoza), and in a second stage on Córdoba and Los Gigantes (Córdoba), and others. The total reclamation cost is estimated at US$ 25 million.
Project description:
Argentina-Mining Decontamination Project (World Bank)
Project data (World Bank)
Proyecto de Restitución Ambiental de la Minería del Uranio (PRAMU) (CNEA)
Reclamation work on the Malargüe uranium mill tailings started on March 17, 2003, with preparation of the disposal site for the tailings. The work is co-financed by the World Bank. (Los Andes April 7, June 16, 2003)
> See also: Argentina: Plans for reclamation of uranium mining sites with World Bank loan
> See also: Argentina: Plans for reclamation of uranium mining sites with World Bank loan
(see also Decommissioning Data)
Decommissioning Data
Aerial view: Google Maps 
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Unauthorized mining at former Shinkolobwe uranium mine
Since 1997, 6000 miners are entering the former Shinkolobwe mine site each day without authorization. They have excavated a huge open pit next to the former uranium mine, which had been flooded after it was mined out. The miners are interested in cobalt rather than uranium. However, uranium could also be extracted from the ore. In view of the possibility of uranium being extracted and circulated without any control, the United States have demanded the DR Congo government to regain control over the mine site. In January 2004, president Joseph Kabila has decided to interdict access to the mine site. Two months later, no effect could be observed yet.
(Le Monde Mar. 24, 2004)
By the end of May, illicit mining at the site was observed to continue uninhibitedly. (AP May 31, 2004)
On July 9, 2004, at least eight miners digging the former Shinkolobwe mine illegally were killed when the mine collapsed. (AP July 12, 2004)
The 15,000 miners now working the Shinkolobwe mine without authorization from the government risk contracting cancer and developing other health problems because of high radiation levels at the site, concluded investigators from the U.N. mission in Congo.
Privatizing the mine could bring illicit mining under control, suggested U.N. investigators, who launched their inquiry earlier this month after part of the mine caved in, killing seven miners.
U.N. authorities "recommended that this mine be secured and put in the charge of a private operation for much more disciplined operations, with the aim of avoiding risks including the high rate of radioactivity ... and uranium trafficking with those who shouldn't get it in their hands," U.N. mission spokesman Alexandre Essome said.
(AP July 20, 2004)
On July 16, 2004, district authorities of Haut Katanga prevented an investigation initiated by the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), known by its French acronym MONUC, from accessing the site of a uranium mine in Shinkolobwe.
(IRIN July 21, 2004)
U.N. investigators are to measure contamination and radiation at the Shinkolobwe uranium mine which partially collapsed in July 2004, killing at least nine people. The five-member team will spend Oct. 24 - Nov. 4, 2004, at the mine, where miners continue to dig illegally for valuable copper and cobalt compounds, U.N. spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said. (Reuters Oct. 22, 2004)
During their site visit between Oct. 25 and Nov. 4, 2004, UN investigators found no artisanal miners active on-site. Following the evacuation of the mining site in early August 2004, the adjacent village had been destroyed. "No immediate risks to the environment were observed," said Alain Pasche of the UN assessment team, "though we have taken samples of water, soil and sediments, which will be further analysed in Switzerland for heavy metal concentration." (UN Nov. 9, 2004)
On July 20, 2006, a team of experts monitoring a U.N. arms embargo on the Democratic Republic of Congo said they found ample signs of "artisan mining" by small groups of private individuals during a recent visit.
Local police and residents told them "local agents of the mining police and of the National Intelligence Agency not only encourage but also charge fees from the miners," the experts said in a report to the U.N. Security Council.
"These observations stand in stark contrast to the assurances given to the Group of Experts by officials of the Ministry of Mines and of the National Intelligence Agency," the experts said.
"They assured the group that the mine is secured and that no artisan mining is taking place," their report said.
(Reuters July 20, 2006)
Security forces have seized at least 300 tons of copper and cobalt ore illegally mined in a uranium-rich part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the army and local officials said.
"In all, 6,000 sacks of heterogenite have been seized near the Shinkolobwe site", a uranium mine that has been shut down since 1960, an army officer told AFP, asking not to be named. The DRC's heterogenite contains unprocessed copper and cobalt, often worked by artisanal miners. Industry sources said that mineral smugglers use sacks of either 50 or 100 kilograms, which means the total announced haul in the southeastern Katanga province is between 300 and 600 tons of ore deposit.
(AFP Apr. 11, 2008)
Decommissioning Data
NGOs denounce health and environmental situation at Areva's former Mounana uranium mine, Gabon
On April 4, 2007, the organisations SHERPA , CRIIRAD and Médecins du Monde presented the results of an investigation into the health and environmental situation at Areva/COGEMA's former Mounana uranium mine. The resulting report is based on a site tour in June 2006, and evidence of former miners, among others. In summary, CRIIRAD concludes:
- During the active mining phase, protection of the workers was not assured appropriately.
- The follow-up of the health of the former miners is inadquate.
- In Mounana, several buildings were constructed with radioactive material, some of these buildings had to be demolished.
- More than 2 million t of uranium mill tailings were simply released into a river between 1961 and 1975, presenting a long-term health hazard.
- The reclamation of the site was done in a totally inadequate way.
> View related documents available from CRIIRAD (in French)
> Download AREVA AU GABON, Rapport d’enquête sur la situation des travailleurs de la COMUF, filiale gabonaise du groupe AREVA-COGEMA, 4 avril 2007 (474k PDF - in French)
The inglorious legacy of COGEMA in Gabon
From 1961 to 1999, COGEMA's subsidiary COMUF produced nearly 28,000 tonnes of uranium at Mounana, Gabon.
During the first years of operation, COMUF simply released a total of over 2 million tonnes of uranium mill tailings into the next creek. This creek, the Ngamaboungou, then carried them over kilometers to the Mitembe river. Later, another 4 million tonnes of tailings were dumped in the former open pit mine. Only in 1990, COMUF built a dam to hold the tailings produced during the last years of operation. It has received, however, only the small remainder of the total of nearly 7 million tonnes of tailings.
The mine and mill effluents led to high contaminant concentrations even in the Mitembe river, and dead fish were often observed in the river. In 1996/1997, still, levels of up to 3.2 Bq/l of soluble radium-226 and 1.7 mg/l of soluble uranium-238 were found in the river water. After shutdown of the mine in 1999, these values are reported to have decreased to below 0.7 Bq/l for radium, and below 0.1 mg/l for uranium (for comparison: WHO recommends 0.015 mg/l for uranium in drinking water).
The acidic effluent released to the Ngamaboungou creek was not even neutralized, though a neutralization plant had been constructed; but, it was never operated, since the cost of importing the necessary lime would have been prohibitive. In the creek valley, the tailings deposited on the river bed, forming a reservoir for long-term re-mobilization of contaminants. The tailings moreover formed deposits in the valley, presenting a hazard from external radiation and from resuspension of radioactive dust. COMUF calculated that residents crossing the valley to reach their plantations have received annual radiation doses between 2.3 and 2.9 mSv per year. After covering some of the material, the radiation doses are expected to decrease to 0.8 mSv per year.
The tailings dumped in the open pit were left without a cover for long years; children used to play on the dusty surface without being told about the hazards.
The tailings dam built in 1990 was erected across the Ngamaboungou creek, without providing an - elsewhere mandatory - diversion channel for the creek: the creek is flowing through the dam still (!), leaving it via an overflow, without any treatment.
Recently, a large part of the waste piled up at the Ngamaboungou creek has been covered with soil. The mayor of Mounana, however, anticipates that the cover will not last longer than a few years, given the extremely high precipitation rate in the area.
The currently ongoing reclamation works are being paid for by the tax payers of the European Union, rather than by COGEMA: Since 1997, Gabon has been receiving a total of over EUR 50 million in aids for the development of its mining sector. Of this amount, EUR 7 million were diverted by the Gabon mining ministry for the reclamation works at Mounana. It is no surprise that this diversion, at least, worked well: the mining minister of Gabon is a former COMUF director.
(WOZ Wochenzeitung, Zürich, No.30, July 22, 2004)
> Download Gabon: Unregulated Mining Endangers Lives (32k PDF - WISE/NIRS Nuclear Monitor 616, 1 Oct. 2004)
> for details and photo gallery see: The inglorious legacy of COGEMA in Gabon - Decommissioning of the Mounana uranium mine and mill site
Decommissioning Data
The site has been exploited by open cast mining by French Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA ) between 1937 and 1954. A monitoring survey of the abandoned mine site and its vicinity revealed radiation doses from gamma radiation and radon 13 times "normal" exposure. The gamma dose rate varies between 250 and 1466 nGy/h, corresponding to annual equivalent dose rates of 2.19 - 12.85 mSv/a.
Source: Radiation Dose Assessment in the Vicinity of an Old Uranium Mine: Case of the site of Vatovory, Vinaninkarena Antsirabe, Madagascar, by: Raoelina Andriambololona, H. F. Randriantseheno, J.F. Ratovonjanahary, J.L.R. Zafimanjato, J.B. Ratovoson, H.N. Rabenandrasana, in: 11th International Congress of the International Radiation Protection Association - IRPA 11 , Madrid, Spain, 23-28 May 2004
Regulator denies water and foodstuffs in the Wonderfonteinspruit catchment area are radioactive - despite scientific reports
The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) sought yesterday to allay concern about radioactive contamination of water and foodstuffs in the Wonderfonteinspruit catchment area.
CE Maurice Magugumela disputed reports that vegetables and fish from west of Johannesburg tested for radiological contamination exceeding internationally acceptable benchmarks.
He said the products were safe to eat but this is contradicted by several scientific reports submitted on the radiological status of the area - one a report commissioned by the NNR and conducted by the Nuclear Energy Corporation of SA. An observer said the denials suggested a whitewash of the looming crisis in the area.
"The NNR has a statutory duty to protect the population. If it states that there is a problem it would be tantamount to admission of a dereliction of duty," the source said.
(Business Day Feb. 8, 2008)
Excessive concentrations of radioactive substances found in vegetables grown near South African gold/uranium mines
Radioactive levels three times higher than permitted have been found in vegetables grown in wetlands in the Wonderfonteinspruit area between Randfontein and Potchefstroom, Beeld newspaper reported on Feb. 2, 2008.
It cited what it described as "shocking revelations" on Feb. 1, 2008, in a report by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) drawn up at the request of the National Nuclear Regulator some time back, but only released now.
The newspaper said tests on asparagus, oats and onions produced in the Gerhard Minne wetlands showed that the level of radioactive substances was three times higher than the safe permissible level for human consumption.
Pointing out that intensive gold mining takes place in the area - and that uranium as a by-product is found in mine dumps there - the news report said large tracts of land in the area of the Wonderfonteinspruit were 150 times more radioactive than the permitted level.
It quoted an unidentified spokesperson for the National Nuclear Regulator as saying that the test results in the report were worrying.
(Independent Online Feb. 2, 2008)
Excerpt from the Technical Report:
5.3 Results of dose calculations
[...] The doses calculated for "realistic" exposure pathways range over four orders of magnitude from about 0.01 mSv to 138 mSv per annum. For approximately 50% of the 47 sampling sites, the calculated incremental doses of the respective critical group are above 1 mSv per annum. [...]
[...] the exposure pathways that are specified as "potential" may significantly contribute to incremental doses at some sites. After taking them into account, at approximately 75% of the 47 sites the calculated incremental doses of the respective critical group are above 1 mSv per annum. [...]
> Download summary report:
Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment Area Public Report, Results and Corrective Actions ,
National Nuclear Regulator, WCA Report, No. TR-NTNS-07-0001, 23 p., (8.7MB PDF)
> Download full report:
Radiological Impacts of the Mining Activities to the Public in the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment Area, National Nuclear Regulator, No. TR-RRD-07-0006, 12 July 2007:
South African gold/uranium mines causing excessive uranium concentrations in streams and stream sediments
Large gold-mining companies operating to the west of South Africa's commercial centre, Johannesburg, stand accused of contaminating a number of water sources with radioactive pollutants.
One case involves the Wonderfontein Spruit ("water course", in Afrikaans): a stream that runs 90 kilometres from the outskirts of Johannesburg to the south-west past the towns of Krugersdorp, Bekkersdal, Carletonville and Khutsong, before flowing into the Mooi River near Potchefstroom.
Mariette Liefferink, an environmental activist, blames the mines for the high concentrations of heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, copper cobalt and zinc in the waters of the spruit. She is particularly troubled by the levels of uranium, which gives off radioactive by-products such as polonium and lead.
"The Wonderfontein Spruit is of major concern to us because every year the gold mines discharge 50 tonnes of uranium into the receiving water course. The Water Research Commission (a parastatal research body) has found that there are approximately 1,100 milligrammes per kilogramme [sediment] of uranium in the upper Wonderfontein Spruit, and 900 milligrammes per kilogramme [sediment] in the lower Wonderfontein Spruit area."
[These concentrations are by far higher than those in the ores mined in the area!]
In 2002, acidic water began decanting out of a disused mine on Randfontein Estates about 42 kilometres south-west of Johannesburg. The property belonged at that time to Harmony Gold.
Water coming out of the disused mine in Randfontein could not simply be channelled into the nearest river because it was far too acidic and could have had serious consequences for the environment.
As an emergency measure, Harmony fed the water into Robinson Lake, at that time a popular recreational area where fishing was a favourite pastime. Today the lake has very high levels of uranium and a pH level of 2.2, which makes it as acidic as lemon juice and completely incapable of sustaining any life forms.
The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) measured in the water a uranium concentration of 16 milligrammes per litre, obliging it to declare Robinson Lake a radiation area.
[this is 800 times the 20 micrograms per litre drinking water standard applicable in many countries!]
(Inter Press Service Dec. 3, 2007)
Regulator withholds report on serious contamination of water and food from mining activities in Gauteng
Meat, fish, milk, maize and other crops produced near Wonderfontein Spruit in Gauteng are probably harmful to people as they are seriously contaminated by, among others, radioactive pollutants.
This pollution, resulting from overflow from sludge dams during 100 years of mining, affects the area between Randfontein and Potchefstroom, where more than 400,000 people live.
International experts say people who eat or drink these products could suffer liver or kidney failure or get cancer. It could also hamper children's growth and cause mental disability.
According to findings in a report compiled by German physicists under Dr Rainer Barthel from Brenk Systemplanung's South African subsidiary BS Associates Ltd, the water from the Wonderfontein Spruit, which was used to irrigate the crops, had absorbed polonium and lead, the radioactive by products of uranium and radium.
Cattle drinking from the Wonderfontein Spruit that churned up the uranium-rich mud, were also contaminated by these radioactive pollutants. Their meat and milk would also probably be poisonous.
People in towns in this area received their drinking water from Rand Water, but people on farms and informal settlements were reliant on water from Wonderfontein Spruit.
The report was compiled on request of the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), who refused to make the contents known for the past three months. Maurice Magugumela, chief official of the NNR, upon enquiry said "there is no reason for concern".
Barthel was prevented from delivering two speeches from the report at the Environmin 2007 conference held on July 22 - 26, 2007, titled "Radiological Risks of cattle watering at polluted surface water bodies in the Wonderfonteinspruit catchment area", and "Radiological impact assessment of mining activities in the Wonderfonteinspruit catchment area". He had to withdraw these speeches at short notice.
Sandy Carroll, environmental manager at Harmony Gold Mining Co. Limited , admitted that the mining groups were informed about the dangers indicated in the report. She said Harmony was talking to NNR and they were together seeking solutions.
The West Rand district municipality planned to erect notices warning people along the Wonderfontein Spruit (which runs for 100 km) not to use the water.
Carroll replied in an e-mail to Beeld's enquiries: "Alternative water sources will be suggested."
The report stressed that there was no natural water in the whole area that was safe for use by humans, animals or plants.
(News24 July 31, 2007)
Effort needed to stop poisoning of water from old mines
A water expert says a major and broad-based effort is required to stop the poisoning of water supplies in parts of Gauteng by old mines. Concerns are growing about a number of toxins, including radioactive uranium, finding their way into Gauteng's groundwater.
The Eastern and Western catchment areas of the Vaal Dam are already receiving toxic water from old mines.
Gary Small, a hydrogeologist, says this problem is potentially serious and so large that not one organisation can deal with it. "This is a kind of disaster that could happen that requires the kind of response that we saw with the Tsunami. We need a spontaneous, collaborative effort to sort this thing out."
(South African Broadcasting Corporation, March 01, 2005)
No need for reclamation of gold/uranium mill tailings?
In a paper given on Oct. 4, 2001, at ICEM'01 Denis G. Wymer of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa presented environmental monitoring data for the radiological impact from the gold/uranium mining industry and its wastes.
These data were used to calculate doses for members of the public.
"[...] It is concluded from these results that the impact of gold mining operations on the environment is small, and will not cause any member of the public to receive a radiation dose more than about 10% of the public dose limit. Current rehabilitation measures for tailings are mainly limited to vegetation and reworking of slopes. It is unlikely that the costs of constructing radon barriers would ever be justified on the basis of the minimal dose reduction benefits that could be achieved. Some measures to control surface water pollution may continue to be necessary but, from present knowledge, contamination of ground water is unlikely to be of concern. [...]" (excerpt from the abstract)
Government puts mining companies on notice to ensure groundwater pumping at bancrupt Hartebeestfontein gold/uranium mine
The recent liquidation of DRDGold's Hartebeestfontein and Buffelsfontein gold mines means someone has to take responsibility for pumping 28-million litres of water a day out of an underground lake to prevent downstream mines from flooding.
AngloGold, whose Ashanti operation is downhill from DRDGold's mines, says it will cost it R85-million [US $13.8 million] a year if it has to take over the pumping responsibilities. Moreover, the pumping facilities 1km underground are in such a bad state of repair that steel pipes carrying water to the surface could "blow any day now" if repairs are not carried out soon. James Duncan, spokesperson for DRDGold, said it was ridiculous to expect a bankrupt mine to continue bearing the responsibility of pumping to keep other mines profitable, while deriving no benefit.
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has put the squabbling mines on notice to find a solution within two weeks, or else the government would institute one for them.
(The Star April 12, 2005)
Windblown dust still an issue at Randfontein tailings
Harmony Gold invested Rand 2.5 million (US$ 382,650) during 2007 in an effort to control dust pollution at its Randfontein operations.
In 2006, the company had spent Rand 4.7 million (US$ 719,380), after the company received complaints from Randfontein residents, that the dust from the mine dumps constituted a nuisance and a health hazard.
The average dust fall-out, at ten sampling stations in Randfontein, was about 500 milligrams per square metre and day in 2005, before dust suppression measures were implemented. The average dust fall-out was reduced to less than 200 milligrams per square metre and day during 2006, and about 230 milligrams per square metre and day during 2007. The intermediate dust suppression measures include the wetting of slimes dams, reed screening and ridge ploughing. Earlier attempts to bind the windblown material by application of different palliatives had been unsuccessful.
As a long-term measure, "vegetation or possible reclamation is being considered".
(Mining Weekly Nov. 2, 2007)
Study commissioned on environmental and health hazards from wastes of former uranium mining in Kitwe area, Zambia
Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) Plc has engaged German consultancy WISUTEC Wismut Umwelttechnik GmbH to undertake an environmental and social impact study at two uranium dumps in the Kitwe area.
The dumps are in an area where ZCCM-IH already has a programme in place of resettling residents to a safer area.
So far, 600 people who were living near the uranium dumps have been resettled elsewhere.
ZCCM-IH environmental officer Cyril Lukeke told media practitioners who visited the company's projects under the World Bank-supported Copperbelt Environment Project (CEP) that study would cost about 500,000 euros.
Lukeke said the consultant has already collected samples from the two dump sites to ascertain the effects of the uranium residue on the community living nearby. The study started in April and is billed for completion next year, after which ZCCM-IH will determine the remedial measures to be taken.
Uranium was mined at Kitwe, where the mine is now operated by Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) Plc, during the 1950s when a company called Amco was contracted to sink shafts at Mindola. The uranium was shipped to the United Kingdom, whose colony northern Rhodesia was then, but since then, the mineral has not been actively mined.
(Mineweb June 11, 2007)
"The only uranium production [in Zambia] was done in the early 1950's at the Nkana copper mine, Kitwe, in the copperbelt. From about 100,000 tonnes of uranium ore mined at a grade of 0.19 per cent U, about 100 tonnes U were produced." (NEA/IAEA: Uranium Resources, Production and Demand, 1989)
(see also Decommissioning Data)
Rare fish discovered in disused Kakadu uranium mine
A rare native fish discovered swimming in an abandoned Northern Territory uranium mine is close to being bred in captivity.
The barraway's carp gudgeon was discovered in the abandoned Sleisbeck mine pit in Kakadu National Park.
It is hoped captive breeding of the fish could help protect the species and provide income for traditional owners.
Ornamental fish breeder Dave Wilson says he's already received enquires from overseas collectors who are keen to aquire the small rare native fish.
(ABC February 25, 2008)
Concern about return of clean-up bond on Nabarlek mine
The Northern Territory Government has returned 96% of a clean-up bond on the former Nabarlek uranium mine, despite scientists' warnings that progress was "far from ideal".
The territory's Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development released AU$ 9.6 million of an AU$ 10 million bond in September 2003 to Pioneer International, which mined the east Arnhem Land ore body in 1979.
But it was done without consulting the commonwealth's Office of the Supervising Scientist (OSS) and despite the concerns of the OSS and other experts over rehabilitation progress on-site.
Acting chief supervising scientist Alex Zapantis said the OSS was surprised to discover the territory had released the money without consultation, and raised its concerns at a meeting earlier this month.
On a recent tour of Nabarlek by the Alligator Rivers Region Technical Committee - an expert panel overseeing management of the region - members expressed concern at the state of the site, which was littered with mining rubbish and covered in weeds.
(The Australian 18 Dec. 2003)
Old uranium mining leases to become part of Kakadu National Park
Greg Hunt MP, Parliamentary Secretary with ministerial responsibility for Kakadu National Park, announced on June 5, 2006, that the Government would be moving to incorporate 29 mining leases into the park, adding some 466 hectares to the World Heritage Area.
The old uranium sites date back to the 1950s and 1960s, well before Kakadu became a national park and decades before it was globally recognised as a World Heritage Area for both its cultural and natural values.
They include Guratba, more commonly known as Coronation Hill, one of Northern Australia's most sacred sites.
The move will ensure the effective rehabilitation of abandoned uranium sites in Kakadu's South Alligator River valley, following the Government's Budget announcement of A$7.3 million over the next four years for this work.
(The Hon Greg Hunt MP media release June 5, 2006)
Budget funds clean-up of old uranium mine sites in Kakadu National Park
Money to clean up parts of the Northern Territory's Kakadu National Park, which have been contaminated by uranium mining, has been included in the federal Budget. Treasurer Peter Costello says the Federal Government is putting more than A$ 7 million towards rehabilitating sites around the South Alligator River contaminated by uranium mining decades ago.
The Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Greg Hunt, says the Jawoyn traditional owners want radioactive material stored on-site.
"They have very strong views that that which came out of the ground should return to the same place," he said.
"Traditional owners have said to us they want to find a solution on-site in that part of the land."
(ABC 10 May 2006)
An internal report from the Office of the Supervising Scientist says tailings from an old uranium mine in Kakadu National Park are being washed into the river system and on to a tourist road. The report, obtained by the ABC, says tailings from the Rockhole mine which have risen to the surface are being washed into the South Alligator River and are mixing with the dust on the Gunlom Falls Road.
(ABC News 6 June 2000)
More radiation found in Kakadu
Low-level radiation has been identified at other former uranium mine
sites in Kakadu National Park. Australia's Nuclear Safety Agency director, Peter Burns, says rehabilitation work at some of the old mines was inadequate, and at
others, tailings have reached the surface.
(ABC News 9 June 2000)
Radioactive waste removed from Kakadu
The managers of Kakadu National Park are removing some radioactive residue from the south of the park. A consultant's report on the remediation work needed is due in November 2000.
Material is being removed from the area between the Gunlom Road and the South Alligator River. It is planned this year to put some protective rock over the residues so they can't be any further eroded and so they can't end up in the South Alligator River. Also, some small quantities of residues are being picked up and are to be put in drums to stop them being dispersed into the environment. (ABC News 24 Oct 2000)
People swimming in old mine and tailings dam
State Member for Mount Isa Tony McGrady says people are ignoring warning signs at the Mary Kathleen open cut and tailings dam.
McGrady says he is concerned about the number of people still swimming at the old uranium mine between Mount Isa and Cloncurry.
"Commonsense should dictate to people that if you are in the workings of an old abandoned uranium mine site and there's quite a substantial amount of water you should not swim in that tailing dam or any other part of the mine site where there is water," he said.
(ABC 26 Oct. 2004)
High radiation found at abandoned Lake Way uranium mine in West Australia
On a recent research trip to remote communities in the Goldfields, members
of the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of WA discovered rusting tins of uranium ore
and a dismantled sign reading "danger - low level radiation ore exposed" at the site, 18 km from Wiluna.
They also recorded high levels of radiation at the site using a Geiger
counter. Since the discovery, Greens MLC Giz Watson has demanded the
immediate fencing off of the area and clean-up of radioactive material.
> View Anti-Nuclear Alliance of WA report
PIRSA issues Radium Hill management plan Phase 1
Radium Hill - Uranium mine and low-level radioactive waste repository,
Management Plan, Phase 1 - Preliminary Investigation 2004, by M. McLeary, Report Book 2004/9, Primary Industries and Resources South Australia
> Download full report (4.5MB PDF)
PIRSA issues Port Pirie management plan Phase 1
Port Pirie uranium treatment plant, Management Plan, Phase 1 - Preliminary Investigation 2004, by M. McLeary, Report Book 2004/10, Primary Industries and Resources South Australia
> Download full report (7MB PDF)
