Uranium mill tailing sites reclamation--comparison of approaches in the world uranium producing countries and the Czech Republic--Uranium Mine

摘要

The submitted contribution deals with environmental impacts of uranium mill tailings, remediation of tailings sites and legislation in this subject area. The experience with uranium mill tailings reclamation in the large uranium producing countries is briefly presented. Czech legislation does not define naturally occurring radioactive material as a special category of radioactive waste and no special standards for uranium mill tailings control and reclamation exist. Abandoning of mining activities at the Uranium Mine Dolni Rozinka called preparation of the project of uranium mill tailings reclamation. The exploitation is permitted until the year 2002. According to the project of reclamation water released from the uranium mill tailings should be discharged to the deep horizons of the mine (600 to 300 m under the sea level). Mill tailings dams will be covered by inert material and the layer of clay sealing. The great depth of horizon, radioactive wastewater will be discharged to, and good sealing properties of rock massif (metamorhic rocks of Moldanubikum) ensure stable disposing of wastewater out of range of environment. This method of reclamation will make processing plant liquidation (after abandoning of mine) less cost demanding and faster.