Cost-effective Remediation of Legacy Uranium Mines in Canada - 19279
- Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa (Canada)
Canada's legacy uranium mines were developed and operated in the 1950's and the 1960's when environmental regulations applied to mining activities were not as stringent as they are today. Fortunately, the ore was very low grade and, most of these sites do not currently pose a significant risk. However, the mining practices used at the time would not be considered acceptable today and there is a need to ensure these sites are being managed properly, especially in the context of gaining public support for the development of new uranium mines. At the beginning of the Cold War nuclear arms race, uranium was in high demand. In 1948, bans on private uranium exploration and mining were lifted, resulting in extensive exploration activity across the country, with Canada's second uranium mine beginning production in 1953. By 1958, 19 uranium mills were operating and Canadian production peaked at 12,239 tonnes of uranium metal (tU). The uranium mining boom was short-lived as the United States, the major purchaser, soon had sufficient quantities of uranium to meet its needs and the Canadian contracts were not extended. Uranium mines began closing, and by 1965, only 4 remained in operation. Closure requirements were minimal at that time, and other than sealing shafts and other safety measures, the sites were abandoned by their owners and the wastes were not addressed. In many cases, the company that operated the mine, or its successor, still exists and is now addressing the wastes on its sites. However, sites for which a former operator cannot be found have become a government responsibility. It is not often practical or cost-effective to remediate legacy sites to the standards applied to modern uranium mines. Most of the sites pose a very low risk, due to the very low-grades of ore, their remote locations, and the fact that contamination has spread and dissipated over the last 50 years and the environment will continue to improve through natural attenuation. Owners of legacy uranium mine sites in Canada have developed and successfully carried out cost-effective remediation plans that meet regulatory requirements. Experience from the legacy sites that have been remediated to date in Canada has shown that costs for remediating legacy uranium mines need not be excessive, and should be similar to the cost of remediating other metal mines of comparable size. The main factor in the cost of remediating these sites is the amount of tailings that were generated. On a per unit cost basis (current U.S. dollars), costs of remediation, have ranged from US$0.83 to US$2.57 per tonne of tailings. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, Inc., PO Box 27646, 85285-7646 Tempe, AZ (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 23003036
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US--21-WM-19279
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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