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IAEAInternational Atomic Energy Agency
The IAEA Ongoing Activities in Supporting Environmental Remediation Projects in Central
Asian Countries
Russell Edge (IAEA Project officer)
&
Oleg Voitsekhovych (UHMI, CMSET, consultant)
WM-2010, ENVIRONET section Phoenix 7-11 March 2010
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Scope for discussion
• Brief description of the Problems
• Ongoing IAEA relevant activities
• Main Progress and Findings
• Common problems
• Country Specific needs
• Recommendations and expectations from ENVIRONET
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Why Central Asia countries and IAEA Concern
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
common history for Uranium Industry development in past, similar legacy site problems, similar economical difficulties and lack of experience
interested in managing and/or remediating the legacy of former uranium mining and milling activities to protect their population and environment
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A serious environmental threat for the local population
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The problem solution lies in the following areas where improvements are needed
Regulatory framework and enhancing the regulatory provisions
Site Characterization (methodology, implementation and Data management)
Facilitation of monitoring network (procurement of equipment and training of personnel, QA/QC)
Environment and Radiological Assessment as a basis for Remediation Strategy Planning
Remediation Projects management
The Best Practice for Environment Remediation to be transferred and taken into account
Institutional Control Programs to be developed and established
Public to be better informed and involved in Risk Communication and Remediation Planning
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IAEA Projects relevant to Safe management of residues
from former mining and milling activities in Central Asia
RER/9/086
(2005-2008)Safe management of Residues from Former Mining and Milling Activities in Central Asia
RER/3/010
(2009-2011)Supporting Preparation for Remediation of Uranium Production Legacy Sites
KIG/9/003
2005-2008)Establishment of a Radioecological Monitoring and Assessment Network
KIG/9/004
(2006-2009)Assessment of the radiation Situation and Public Exposure at the Former Uranium Mining Sites of Minkush
KIG/7/002
(2009-2012)Enhancing Radioecological Monitoring
TAD/9/002
(2005-2008)Application of International Safety Standards on the Management of Uranium Milling Residues
TAD/9/003(2006-2009)
Establishment of the radiation Monitoring System Around Open Radioactive wastes of Northern Tajikistan
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The IAEA has been providing support over time
Helping establish
sound regulatory
and decision making
frameworks
Improving
Capacity of Laboratories,
helping in QA/QC basic
programs implementation
and Safety assessment
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Assessment in some specific Case Studies
Tajikistan
Kyrgyzstan
Uzbekistan
Kazakhstan
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Тaboshar
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Specific problems --- acid drainages
Миссия МАГАТЭ-2006
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Annual doses (Sv/y) from different uses of water sources existing at Taboshar
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Remediation Strategy Priorities Recommended for Taboshar Uranium Production Legacy Site (Tajikistan)
• Alternative water supply pipeline for the town
• Better public Risk communication needed ( to prevent access to the legacy site for the public)
• Site Specific Environment monitoring to be established
• Restoration of the tailing dumps covers needed to reduce residue oxidation, Rn and dust dispersion
• Mine water and tailing drainages clean-up may be beneficial
• To remove residues of tailing materials washed-out b the mud-flood from the Utken-suu River
Population Group
Dose. Sv/y Contribution. %
Min Max External Radon Others
1 9.3E-04 4.7E-03 12 88 0
2 1.2E-03 5.1E-03 11 80 9
3 1.2E-03 6.5E-03 32 59 8
4 1.3E-03 6.8E-03 39 49 12
5 1.0E-03 7.2E-03 48 50 2
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Degmai Tailing Site remediation Strategy
Population Group
Dose Sv/y Contribution. %
Min Max External Radon Others
1 4.0E-04 2.8E-03 66 29 5
2 1.5E-03 8.2E-03 82 16 3
3 3.4E-03 1.7E-02 86 12 2
To prevent free access to the site for local citizens and domestic animals
To make refurbishment old wells and develop new groundwater monitoring networks
To establish regular observation on Rn and aerosols dispersion around the tailing and legacy site
To make FS and design for appropriate cover and to implement actions
To establish Site Institutional Control and Surveillance program
Priority Actions neededNo cover at the tailing dump
Tailing
Populated area
Legacy
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UZBEKISTAN
TURKMENISTAN
KAZAKHSTAN
TAJIKISTAN
KYRGYZSTAN
AFGHANISTAN
Tashkent
Sam arkand
Karsh i
Bukhara
N ukus
U rganch
U chkuduk
N am angan
N avoi3
1Zarafshan
245
76
8
9
10
1112
13 14151617
18
Charkesar and Jangiabad Uranium Production Legacy Sites
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Charkesar Uranium Legacy Site(Uzbekistan)
Problem context:
People have access to the former contaminated sites
Houses were build from tailing materials, resulting :
The gamma-dose rate in many houses and also in some social premises (local hospital, former school building varied from 0.70 to 1.5 µSv/h,
The Rn-222 indoor in some houses are 250-1200 Bqm-3.
Equivalent individual doses for local citizens estimated in range 2 to 15 mSv/a due to mainly Rn-222+external irradiation
Inhalation and water use due to (Ra-226, Pb-210, Po-210) can contribute 0,5-1.0 mSv/a
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Uzbekistan Specific Needs
IAEA TC RER-9086
Charkesar Remediation Strategy
Uranium Legacy Site
Public Groups
Dose. Sv/y Contribution. %
Min Max External Radon Others
1 1.9E-03 2.0E-02 36 63 1
2 3.9E-03 2.8E-02 26 73 1
Engineering actions:The old Mining Shifts should be
blocked to stop mining water releases to the surface.
Contaminated areas at the Uranium Production Legacy Site should be remediated by clean soil cover
Social actions:Strategy on reclamation and
revitalization of the Site village should be developed and implemented under the State Remediation Plan:
The institutional control at the Legacy site and Better Risk communication
To identify most contaminated buildings and assist to the local citizens to target clean up their houses and backyards.
The water in spring sources used for drinking by the local population does not have high Uranium concentrations. However, the heavy metals content of this water exceeds the safe standard level for drinking and to be treated
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Jangiabad (Uzbekistan)The town Jangiabad going to be re-vitalized – because resort and touristy interest is growing
Motivation for its remediation should be in focus of the State Strategy
The former Mine site should be clean-up with removal of scrubs and contaminated soils
The mine water should be under monitoring and regulatory control under Sanitary Radiological Service of Uzbekistan
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Kyrgyztan Some comments and assessment
IAEA TC RER-9086
UZBEKISTAN
TAJIKISTAN
CHINA
KAZAKHSTAN
Bishkek Talas
Sary-Tash
Naryn
Karakol
Min-Kush
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
• Kadji-Say (4)• Min-Kush (2)• Maluy-Suu (1)
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KIG. Kadji-Say, Issyk-Kul lakeside
June 2006
April, 2007
Erosion effects on the un-stabilized slopes of ash tailing in Kadji-Sai
The remediation works has been implemented with assistance of ISTC in 2005.
However, no stabilization actions were completed at the slopes, some part of tailing still has no cover
In 2008 the slope cover has been partly restored. However , phyto-stabilization actions to be very useful
Environment Radiation Monitoring network should be established
Surveillance and Institutional control are needed
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Mailuu Suu , Kyrgyzstan - April 2007
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Min-Kush legacy site and adjacent residential areas
The local citizens use contaminated residues from the legacy site for domestic purposes and insulations of their houses. Photo by P. Stegnar
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Actions to be consideredImmediate• Characterization of the Legacy Site and residential areas, Radiological
Safety Assessment.
• Assessment of geotechnical stability of the landslide below Tuyuk-Suu tailing, to install geotechnical markers and train local rescue teams of the Ministry of Emergency Situation.
• Regular surveillance program to be established for the all tailing dumps at the Min Kush site
Potential Remediation options
• Clean-up of the residential houses adjacent to the Milling and Mining sites based on the Assessment.
• Repair of water catchments by-pass system to be repaired
• Reinforcement of the dam of Tuyuk-Suu tailing and to repair of tailing cover , pending on the results of engineering expertise and technical inspections (if necessary),
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Kazakhstan
Grate experience in Uranium Legacy Site Closure and Remediation, Because
Sufficient State support and State Remediation Program (2001-2010) However, a number of problems with Legacy Sites still remained
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Kazakhstan. RadWaste and U-Residues Management
Caspian Sea
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Main area of assistance requested by the KZ counterpart institutions
• International assessment of the priory implemented Remediation Projects and New Project Design Per-Review
• Site specific Monitoring and Surveillance Programs to be developed. QA/QC program development
• General assistance in methodology for remediation projects planning and management
• Best Remediation technology transfer
• Regulatory provisions for Long-term institutional control
• Training and Capacity building Development
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Common Problems 1.
The Risks Assessment should be grouped in: risks caused by nature (seismicity, occurrence of landslides, storm events etc.) political and economical risks (political problems with cross border impact risks, vandalism, terrorist threats etc.)
The Site specific risks to be assessing as radiological risks non-radiological risks
(heavy metals in water and in dust at the Former Uranium Production Legacy Sites) and "geotechnical" and mining specific risks (i.e. dam stability, shafts, open workings)
Safety Assessment Methodology and Risk Assessment should become a common platform for Remediation Planning
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The regulatory basis for Uranium Legacy Site management in most of CA countries is covered by regulations addressing other types of radioactive wastes.Therefore it is important to help in developing specific Regulatory provisions, which are applicable to Uranium Mining and Milling facilities and in particular for Remediation Planning for Uranium Production Legacy Sites
The main regulatory requirements to be established:• Dose criteria (reference levels to be established)
• Site Characterisation and Safety Assessment Procedures
• Organisational structure for Site Specific Monitoring, Surveillance Programs, Data Exchange and Data Reporting
• Criteria for cost effective remediation strategies
• Safety Requirements for reworking of the Uranium Residue as a part of remediation process
• Institutional control and Public involvement and Risk communication
Common Problems 2.
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Common Problems 3. Better Public Risk Communication is needed
Local citizens destroyed the observational wells. Kadji-Say
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Common Problem 4. Lack of Management and Institutional Control. Specific Examples
KZ The State Program for Uranium Mines and Milling Facility Remediation is going to the end in 2010.
No clear strategy in the Remediated Site management after its completing
KG The Government is going to create a State Agency for coordination and Remediation Project management. The functional role of Operators and Regulators are still not clearle discriminated.
The National Programs for Site specific Monitoring and Surveillance are still on the way to be developed and established. The training programs for national experts to be significantly extended.
TAD There many Funding Agency and International Companies are going to take part in Remediation Projects implementation. The mechanism for Coordination and Evaluation of these project for Funding should be developed.
No qualified national experts and institutions for such project designs evaluation and selection
UZ Country safe and has rather well developed Uranium Industry, with existing experience in Remediation of the Uranium Residues waste piles. However, no State Program and Institutional Control at the remained former Uranium Facilities, which has to be developed under responsibility of the Local authorities. This can help in significant Risk reduction for the local population.
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Missing State Support to the national laboratories for operational expenses, rendering the IAEA assistance less efficient
More progress is needed to enhance and actually launch State Programs for development of the Remediation Strategy and Environment Radiation Monitoring
Future activities of IAEA projects should focus on: Comprehensive Safety Assessment of the former uranium
facilities and Assistance in Prioritization of the Remediation Planning
Enhancing regulatory frame work and establishing adequate exemption criteria and licensing for remediation ,
Development of effective site specific monitoring programs and QA/QC practice,
Enhancing Institutional control & extending Public Risk Communication
Conclusion
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Current IAEA relevant activity
• IAEA in cooperation with EC and CA countries is currently working to produce the exhausting reports describing the current status, future challenges and recommendation to the Governments of CA countries and also to the International Funding Agencies regarding optimal strategies for the Regional Problems solution
W O R K I N G M A T E R I A L (Limited Distribution)
Regional Technical Cooperation Project RER/9/086
Safe Management of Residues from Former Mining and Milling Activities in Central Asia
International Atomic Energy Agency
November 2009
Project Results 2005-2008
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Expectations from ENVIRONET
• Information and experience exchange aiming to help countries to understand better the regional problems and strategies for their solutions
• Assistance in regulatory norms development, using best examples in the countries, which already solved the similar problems.
• Consultancy and support of Service to be provided for Risk Assessment and Risk communication
• Technical support of the practical activities in the countries, including Strategies and Monitoring Programs, capacity building development and Remediation Strategy Planning
• Assistance in Best practice transfer, Remediation project management and innovations
• Justification and evaluation of already ongoing projects in cooperation with other International Organizations and Funding Agencies
• Support of the Center of excellence and informational Networks
