URANIUM: The Mines & Radioactive Waste Left Behind

Uranium Mines

Rabbit Lake

Cigar Lake

Uranium City

Port Hope

Ardoch Algonquin

Environmental Threats Waste Dispersal Water Contamination Air Pollution & Greenhouse Gas Emissions Exposure to radioactivity & toxins

Waste Acidic, potentially acid generating and contain long- lived radionuclides, heavy metals and other contaminants. Whole groups of organisms have disappeared downstream from some uranium tailings areas. Radiation hazards are more subtle and will take longer to be manifested. Canadian uranium mines and mills have already created 109 million tonnes of waste rock and 214 million tonnes of tailings. Current rate of half a million tonnes/year. Mining of lower grade ores will be mean more tailings. Long-term storage requires long-term institutional care.” – Auditor General of Canada.

Who regulates tailings? Canada has no detailed laws on removal or covering of mine and mill tailings by mining companies. Tailings management of operating uranium mines/mills regulated by the Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB) and provincial authorities. Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of radioactive mine tailings or refinery wastes, neglected by the authorities, have been used in the construction. Tailings management during the operational phase has greatly improved in the last fifteen years. But even at the newest mines, radioactive spills are frequent. The long term containment of uranium tailings remains a major unsolved problem. Concrete "pots" have cracked and leaked after less than five years of use.

Water Contamination Severe contamination of groundwater with radionuclides, heavy metals, and other contaminants has occurred at tailings management facilities and waste rock storage areas. Surface water discharges from uranium mining and milling facility have resulted in the contamination of the surrounding environment with radionuclides and heavy metals. Effluent from uranium mines and mills has been classified as “toxic” for the purposes of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Uranium mining operations involve extensive pumping-out of groundwater (in excess of 16 billion litres per year).

Elliot Lake Robert Del Tredici

Churchrock, New Mexico

Key Lake

Air Pollution & Greenhouse Gas Emissions Significant sources of atmospheric releases of radon gas. In 2004, VOC emissions from the uranium milling operations were equivalent to average annual emissions of more than 300,000 cars. The Rabbit Lake acid plant reported releases of 43,000 tonnes of SO2 in 2004, ranking it among the largest sources of SO2 emissions in Canada. GHG emissions arise from the operation of mining equipment, milling and tailings management processes, and mine site closure and post-closure care activities.

Hazards to humans & wildlife Contamination of natural environment and wildlife near uranium mines and mills via windblown dust from tailings sites and effluent discharges to surface waters. Uranium mining operations involve major disruptions of the surface landscape, and surface and groundwater flows.

What we don’t know…can hurt us How to eliminate, neutralize or destroy radiation Effects of chronic exposure to low level radiation on biota and ecosystems How to decommission uranium mines so as to minimize radionuclide migration forever Significance of other contaminants released by uranium mining.

Care needed now — and forever Decommissioned mines must be managed essentially forever to prevent the release of radioactive contaminants from tailings and waste rock to the surrounding ecosystem and community.

Recent headlines Cameco says concrete barrier at Cigar Lake has been poured, work going ahead - February 19, 2008 Cameco's Rabbit Lake mine back in operation (after flooding) – January 2, 2008 Cameco to spend up to Can$20 million to clean up Port Hope, Ont., plant – January 28, 2008