International Symposium on Uranium Raw Material for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Exploration, Mining, Production, Supply and Demand, Economics and Environmental Issues (URAM-2018)

IAEA Coordination Group for Uranium Legacy Sites (CGULS): Strategic Master Plan for the Environmental Remediation of Uranium Legacy Sites in Central Asia

26 Jun 2018, 16:00

20m

M3 (Vienna)

ORAL Track 10. Health, safety, environment and social responsibility Health, Safety, Environment and Social Responsibility

Speaker

Ms Michelle Roberts (IAEA)

Description

Uranium mining and processing activities have been carried out in Central Asia since the mid-1940s, particularly in the mountainous areas above the Syr Darya River and the Ferghana valley, where the borders of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan intersect. Many of these activities ceased in the 1990s, leaving numerous sites containing uranium and other hazardous and radioactive wastes in populated areas. Left un-remediated, these uranium legacy sites (ULS) pose a hazard to future generations. To move forward CGULS developed and is implementing a Strategic Master Plan (SMP) for environmental remediation of ULS in Central Asia. The SMP sets out a strategy for adoption and a master plan for implementation for the remediation these ULS. The SMP addresses three main activities: 1. Systematic and comprehensive studies to assess the current status of each ULS and to propose appropriate and effective remediation solutions. 2. Remediation solutions implemented according to international standards and good practice. 3. Countries develop the capacity to implement remediation projects and assume long term stewardship of the remediated sites. The first step of site evaluation and remediation solutions design is underway; the next step, the actual implementation of the remediation work, requires additional funding.