(2009) recommended that ecological risk assessments for uranium should consider both chemical toxicity and radiological toxicity, including the radioactivity associated with the decay of uranium daughter products. Kleinfelder’s largest criticism is that the initial assumption of a tailings dam failure as dictated by the statement of work is incorrect because (i) they estimate the probability of such a failure to be remote, and (ii) USNRC guidelines for disposal cell siting and design discourage abovegrade or partially abovegrade tailings disposal, while acknowledging that VUI is considering partially abovegrade disposal. State Radiation Protection Programs Documented impacts include water quality effects (e.g., elevated concentrations of trace metals, arsenic, and uranium) caused by acid mine drainage or oxidation of groundwater, localized reduction of groundwater levels, off-site dust transport, and impaired populations of aquatic and terrestrial biota. GRAND CANYON URANIUM MINING . Uranium can be recovered in two ways: by conventional mining of the rock (ore), or by using strong chemicals to dissolve uranium from the rock that is still in the ground and pumping it to the surface. (2005) reviewed the toxicity literature for uranium and derived the predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs), which are concentrations of uranium in water or soil below which no adverse effects on exposed organisms are anticipated to occur: • Terrestrial plants, 250 mg U/kg (dry soil), • Other soil biota, 100 mg U/kg (dry soil), • Freshwater benthos, 100 mg U/kg (dry sediment), • Freshwater fish in very soft water (hardness of <10 mg CaCO3/L), 0.4 mg U/L, • Freshwater fish in soft water (hardness of 10-100 mg CaCO3/L), 2.8 mg U/L, • Freshwater fish in hard water (hardness of >100 mg CaCO3/L), 26 mg U/L. ","parent":0,"count":702,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":99,"category_count":702,"category_description":"How can countries come together for sustainable development? This opens in a new window. The disposal of waste rock is an issue in mining in general, because the volume of the mine voids cannot contain the entire volume of material removed during a mining operation; waste rock is typically stored in aboveground piles near a mine to minimize handling and disposal costs. 1. Exposures occur by eating, drinking, breathing, skin contact, or from gamma-ray emissions from radionuclides. Processing will take place in a building, and significant controls can be in place to keep emissions to a minimum. A significant indirect impact on habitat will be the consequences of loss of shade trees. BOX 6.2The Virginia Beach Study:A Preliminary Assessment of Potential Impacts ofUranium Mining in Virginia on Drinking Water Sources. Panelists include: Larry King with Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium Mining, Anna [read more…] The uranium boom in the United States from the 1940's to the 1980's was a period of extensive uranium mining on Native American lands. Integrated monitors assess radiation exposure over a period of time (e.g., 2 weeks), which provides a. greater sensitivity but no instantaneous readings. Exposure to ammonia at high levels may cause increased respiratory activity and increased heart rate in fish. Robust safety systems to address long-term risks: The GEP determined that existing safety systems on certain sites are unreliable in the long term, because they function on measures—such as land-use restrictions—that may degrade over time. Chemicals used as part of the processing operations, such as anhydrous ammonia or sulfuric acid used in leaching, could have significant off-site human health impacts under catastrophic accidental releases. Uranium mining can contaminate air, water, and soil. Flooding, Pollution Threat Prompts Call for Uranium Mine Closure Near Grand Canyon. Until comprehensive site-specific risk and vulnerability assessments are conducted, including accident and failure analyses, the short-term risks associated with natural disasters, accidents, and spills remain poorly defined. It is now primarily used as fuel for nuclear reactors that make electricity. Two published studies (Correa et al., 2008; Kochhann et al., 2009) investigated the uptake and toxicity of a soluble form of thorium (thorium nitrate) to the silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen). The sampling station closest to the tailings exhibited very high concentrations of both uranium and sulfate—consistent with this explanation (Waite et al., 1989). However, until site-specific risk and vulnerability assessments are conducted, the short-term risks associated with natural disasters, accidents, and spills remain poorly defined. The highest concentrations were observed in fish, although Muscatello and Janz (2009b) found no overt effects of selenium exposures on adult spawning northern pike and white sucker fish or on the eggs and larvae compared with those in a nearby uncontaminated lake. It could be many years to decades before water levels return to premining levels (Toran and Bradbury, 1988; Adams and Younger, 2001; Banks et al., 2010; Martinez and Ugorets, 2010; Caine et al., 2011). Many of the same potential impacts to groundwater quality described for drilling apply to underground exploration and mining; in particular, the effects of direct introduction of oxygen into the subsurface that can mobilize uranium and form acid mine drainage (as discussed previously), and the artificial connection of separate aquifers. Therefore, large quantities of waste rock at a mining operation will emit radon and may generate wind-blown particulates if dust controls are not in place. Through this effort. However, there are no data that document the long-term performance of these mitigation features. Scientist Rakhmanbek Toichuyev told The Third Pole that typhoid is a huge challenge for communities – a direct result of a lack of clean drinking water. Unlike fossil fuel-fired power plants, nuclear reactors do not produce air pollution or carbon dioxide while operating. Open-pit and subsurface mines have different air impacts. Uranium mining facilities produce tailings that generally are disposed of in near surface impoundments close to the mine. The Navajo Uranium Mining Experience, 2003-1952 This bibliography, compiled by the Southwest Research and Information Center, contains resources related to Navajo uranium issues and communities affected by uranium mining impacts since the mid-1970s. Problems with AMD are nearly ubiquitous in the literature for uranium mines around the world, including sites in Australia (Mudd and Patterson, 2010), Germany (Biehler and Falck, 1999), Ontario, Canada (Berthelot et al., 1999), Saskatchewan, Canada (Waite et al., 1988), Portugal (Neves and Matias, 2008), and Brazil (Campos et al., 2011), as well as for virtually all types of mining (e.g., underground mining of high-sulfur coal deposits). For example, backfilling the mine with low-permeability material prior to flooding can minimize groundwater flow though the abandoned mine works. A clear process is needed for reviewing monitoring data, including an annual independent review of monitoring data, and adjudicating data discrepancies. Note that you may see cookies placed by Google for advertising, including the opt out cookie, under the Google.com or DoubleClick.net domains. of groundwater. The solubility of thorium increases in acidic aqueous solutions, and so tailings solutions can contain very high concentrations of 230Th under acid-generating conditions. Sinclair and Dobos (2006) found that seven of eight reclaimed soils, varying in age from 6 to 17 years, had a lower land capability classification (LCC) relative to their premined condition. For example, the solid radioactive wastes that are left over from the milling processes are called tailings and the liquid wastes are called raffinates. Johannesburg is undoubtedly the most uranium-contaminated city in the world Dr Antony Turton An even more dangerous pollutant is lurking in Johannesburg's mine dumps, however: radioactive waste. • increased flows in receiving streams owing to mechanical pumping of groundwater from underground mine workings (with increased flows propagated to receiving waters downstream). In addition, monitoring programs are able to find out if the site has leakage and can give baseline data for the site. Ionizing radiation—specifically, α, β, and γ particles released through the decay of radionuclides—causes ecological effects via damage to biological tissues in exposed organisms. of copper can also cause gill tissue damage and even lead to death (USEPA, 2007). It is near the new town of Arandis. They may have affected the health of community members other than workers. Modern mines treat the water from all mine operations, including the mine, processing facility, and tailings impoundment, prior to discharge and aim to control fugitive dust. Iron. During early mining operations, sulfide-containing tailings were dumped in a waste management area with no additional treatment. Considering all types of aquatic organisms, Mathews et al. Acidity. About Radioactive Waste From Uranium Mining and Milling, The Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act, Subpart B: National Emission Standards for Radon Emissions from Underground Uranium Mines, Technologically Enhanced Naturally-occurring Radioactive Materials (TENORM), Uranium Recovery Regulations, Guidance, and Communications, Directory of Agreement State and Non-Agreement State Directors and State Liaison Officers, Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, Radioactive Material from Fertilizer Production. oxidized uranium(VI) species. Exposure may cause superficial burns and lesions on animals. The GEP emphasized the importance of maintaining a dialogue between the local and national levels to reinforce information sharing and follow up on actions. This book is the collection of papers from the latest International Uranium Mining and Hydrogeology Conference (UMH VII) held in September 2014, in Freiberg, Germany. Copper can be toxic to both aquatic biota and terrestrial plants. Health Effects of Uranium. [5] Mid-20th century mining on Naabeehó Bináhásdzo (Navajo Nation) polluted groundwater with high concentrations of uranium and arsenic. A wide variety of uranium toxicity studies have been performed using terrestrial plants, soil invertebrates, soil microorganisms, aquatic invertebrates, fish, and mammals. A variety of mitigation options were considered as part of the environmental assessment process to address the remaining significant environmental issues at Cluff Lake with the explicit goal of minimizing long-term active mitigation activities (e.g., groundwater pumping, water treatment). An equally important aspect is assessing the attainment of best-practice discharge targets, which may be significantly lower than regulatory limits. Data that can be obtained through this is limited to the URL of the pages that have been visited and the limited information a browser might pass on, such as its IP address. NOTE: Dashes indicate that no criteria have been established. Although concentrations are reduced by processing, uranium is more mobile than either thorium or radium at near neutral pH under oxidizing conditions. Although 90-95 percent of the uranium in the ore is extracted during processing (thus reducing uranium concentrations by at least an order of magnitude), most of the uranium decay products (e.g., 230Th, 226Ra, 222Rn), which may comprise the majority of the total radioactivity of the ore, stay in the tailings (Hebel et al., 1978, Van Metre and Gray, 1992). This would involve preparing and formalizing a decision-making process to implement long-term management options. Radium in mill tailings can be adsorbed or co-precipitated with Fe-Mn hydrous oxides, gypsum, barite, or amorphous silica under oxidizing conditions, keeping 226Ra concentrations in solution very low (Abdelouas, 2006). Birth anomalies were as high as 5% in the 1990s, until the authorities started trucking water to the three worst-affected villages. Decanol poses a slight to moderate toxicity to freshwater fish and a moderate toxicity to saltwater fish. NIGER: Cominak uranium mine closes, radioactive pollution stays. Under oxidizing conditions, uranium in aquatic environments is generally present in the hexavalent state (U6+), although the aqueous species will depend on a variety of factors, including pH, alkalinity, and complexing agents, such as dissolved organic matter or phosphate). But after the Comstock Lode mines began declining around 1874, it was the Tonopah district that brought Nevada's silver production back to life. Mitigation of surface water quality effects from another early uranium mining operation that was active during the same period (1955-1996), at Elliot Lake in Ontario, Canada, had somewhat greater success while providing some important lessons for future uranium mining operations. The most bioavailable and toxic form present under typical environmental conditions is the divalent uranyl (UO22+) ion (Cheng et al., 2010). Wind can blow radioactive dust from the wastes into populated areas and the wastes can contaminate surface water used for drinking. Subpart B of the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) protects people and the environment from radon emissions from underground uranium mines. years, significant improvements have been made to tailings management practices to isolate mine waste from the environment, and belowgrade disposal practices have been developed specifically to address concerns regarding tailings dam failures. A tailings dam failure, however, would allow for a significant sudden release of ponded decant water into receiving waters, as discussed in the previous section (see Box 6.2). Each state has a radiation program that ensures the safe use of radioactive materials. The following sections explore the various impacts on surface water quantity from modern uranium mining and processing. Campos et al. Uranium Site Cleanup to Mitigate Ecological Impacts in France. True exceedances would trigger the need for corrective actions. It is mined and concentrated similarly to many other metals. The MASE and LACSE organizations oppose new uranium mining and demand legacy uranium mines to be cleaned up," said Mr. Gilbert. It also was not asked to compare the relative risks of uranium mining to the mining of other fuels such as coal. Management issues or human error, as well as criminal acts such as intentional release, could lead to large-scale environmental contamination by hazardous materials or radionuclides used or stored on-site. This webpage contains information about worker safety in United States’ mines. Chronic effects of exposure to some constituents in kerosene include changes in liver; harmful effects on kidneys, heart, lungs, and nervous system; increased rates of cancer; and immunological, reproductive, fetotoxic, and genotoxic effects (Irwin et al., 1997). Much of the dust caused by mining operations consists of fine particles that are generated from the mechanical disturbance of rock and soil, bulldozing, blasting. Sediment. The EPA relies on several regulations and laws to protect people and the environment from radiation exposure from the uranium extraction process. While nuclear power plants do not emit greenhouse gases the mining of uranium does create greenhouse gas emissions. Early phases of uranium mining (exploration and construction) would have negligible effects. If surface or underground uranium mining were conducted in Virginia, the extent of surface water contamination, including releases of both radionuclides and toxic metals, would depend on the mineral composition of the ore, the miti-gative steps taken to minimize impacts to downstream receiving waters, and the long-term performance of those mitigative strategies under a variety of climatic conditions. View our suggested citation for this chapter. We encourage you to republish The Third Pole articles, online or in print, under the Creative Commons licence Please read our republishing guidelines to get started. These include substances potentially present in mine water or treated effluent (e.g., dissolved salts), substances potentially. A fish community study performed during the 1990s (Jeffree et al., 2001) showed that the fish community present in the Finniss River immediately downstream from the inflow from the mine was similar to the community present at unaffected sites. To meet water quality standards, modern dewatering of uranium mines would provide for waste-water treatment prior to any release off-site. Uranium mining near Namibia's Stampriet Artesian Basin (SAB) aquifers, as proposed by the Russian company Headspring Investments, would affect not only Namibia, but also adjacent areas in Botswana and South Africa. However, biological monitoring in Island Lake downstream from the Cluff Lake mining and processing operation in Canada showed shifts in benthic invertebrate communities to more metal-tolerant species. University of Maine climate scientists made the discovery during the first high-resolution continuous . Register for a free account to start saving and receiving special member only perks. Agreement States inspect facilities to make sure the staff is properly trained and that equipment is operating safely. Both dissolved and solids-associated contaminants in the tailings present a hazard to groundwater but the risk can be mitigated by recycling and treating water in tailings management facilities (see Chapter 4). The elliptical shape of the contours reflects anisotropic (direction-dependent) preferential flow along the diagonal from lower left to upper right. Some uranium mining and milling sites are cleaned up under the EPA Superfund program. A thorough site characterization, supplemented by air quality and hydrologi-cal modeling, is essential for estimating the potential environmental impacts of uranium mining and processing under site-specific conditions and mitigation practices.
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