URANIUM MINING REMEDIATION IN ROMANIA

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1 URANIUM MINING REMEDIATION IN ROMANIA Lorena Pop National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control - Romania Safeguards, Physical Protection and Radioactive Mining Compartment Technical Meeting of the Uranium Mining Remediation Exchange Group August 2013, Dolni Rozinka, Czech Republic 1

2 Uranium Production Cycle in Romania Main Activities and Facilities Uranium mining (Crucea Botusana Mine) Decommissioning of uranium mines (Ciudanovita, Lisava, Natra in Banat area; Baita open pit, Avram Iancu, Baita Plai in Bihor area); Uranium ore milling (Uranium Ore Processing Feldioara Plant) (Brasov area); Uranium ore processing and UO2 sinterizable powder fabrication (Uranium Ore Processing Feldioara Plant) Fabrication of CANDU nuclear fuel (Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Pitesti Plant) Production of heavy water (Heavy Water ROMAG Plant) Production of electricity using power CANDU reactors (NPP Cernavoda, Unit 1 and Unit 2) Dry intermediate depositing of spent nuclear fuel (Spent Fuel Intermediate Repository) 2

3 Other Main Nuclear Facilities VVRs Research Reactor - located in Magurele (in decommissioning stage) TRIGA Research Reactor located in Mioveni (in operation) 3

4 Map with the main Uranim Sites in Romania Open pit Baita Plai (conserv ation) Av ram Iancu mine (decommissioning) Crucea-Botusana mine (operating) Uranium mines group Banat area - Dobrei, Natra and Ciudanovita (decommissioning) Feldioara Uranium Ore Processing Plant NPP Cernav oda ROMAG Heav y Water Plant Pitesti Nuclear Fuel Plant 4

5 Hierarchy of Nuclear Legal Basis on Decommissioning of Uranium Contaminated Facilities (1) Law Regulations Guidelines 5

6 Hierarchy of Nuclear Legal Basis on Decommissioning of Uranium Contaminated Facilities (2) Law no. 111/1996 on the safe deployment, regulation, authorization and control of nuclear activities, republished Radiation Protection Fundamental Norms Radiological Safety Norms for Occupational Radiation Protection in Uranium and Thorium Mining and Milling Radiological Safety Norms on the Management of the Uranium and Thorium Mining and Milling Radioactive Waste Radiological Safety Norms on the Conservation and Decommissioning of the Uranium and/or Thorium Mining and Milling Facilities Radiological Safety Norms Authorization Procedures of the Uranium and Thorium Mining and Milling Guidelines on the recommended parameters for the Estimation of the effective doses on all ways of exposure Guidelines on the Criteria of release from authorization regime of CNCAN in order to use for other purposes of the buildings, materials, facilities, dumps and areas contaminated following the activities of mining and milling of uranium and/or thorium ores Guidelines on the technical requirements for design, sitting, construction, operation, closing and decommissioning of storage of uranium ore facilities and decommissioning of the uranium and 6 thorium milling waste disposal areas

7 Hierarchy of Nuclear Legal Basis on Decommissioning of Uranium Contaminated Facilities - Provisions on decommissioning in ROMANIAN NUCLEAR LAW Law 111/1996, on the safe deployment, regulation, authorization and control of nuclear activities, republished in 2006, states: Chapter I, General Provisions, art. 2 b) The provisions of the present law shall apply to the following activities and sources: design, possession, sitting, construction-assembly, commissioning operation, conservation and decommissioning of the mining and milling facilities for uranium and thorium ores and of the waste management facilities of the waste resulted from the mining and milling thorium ores. Chapter II, Authorization conditions, art. 8 paragraph (1) The activities and sources stipulated under Article 2 require an authorization issued by the Commission in compliance with the authorization procedure typical of each kind of activity or source, 7 and with the provisions of Art. 5

8 Hierarchy of Nuclear Legal Basis on Decommissioning of Uranium Contaminated Facilities - Regulations Based on the Art. 5 (1) provisions of Law 111/1996 on the safe deployment, regulation, authorization and control of nuclear activities, republished in 2006, the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control issued a group of Radiological Safety Norms for Uranium and Thorium mining and milling, as it follows: 1.Radiological Safety Norms on Occupational Radiation Protection in Uranium and Thorium Mining and Milling 2.Radiation Safety Norms on the Management of the Radioactive Waste Resulted from Uranium and Thorium Mining and Milling 3.Radiological Safety Norms on Decommissioning of Uranium and Thorium Mining and Milling Facilities 4.Radiological Safety Norms Authorization Procedures for Uranium 8 and Thorium Mining and Milling

9 Hierarchy of Nuclear Legal Basis Decommissioning of Uranium Contaminated Facilities - Guidelines (1) 1. Guidelines on the recommended parameters for the estimation of the effective doses on all ways of exposure 2. Guidelines on criteria for release from CNCAN authorization regime for use in other purposes of buildings, materials, facilities, dumps and lands contaminated by mining and milling of uranium and thorium ores 3. Guidelines on technical requirements for design, sitting, construction, operation, closing and decommissioning of storage of uranium ore facilities and decommissioning of the uranium and thorium milling waste disposal areas 9

10 Hierarchy of Nuclear Legal Basis Decommissioning of Uranium Contaminated Facilities - Guidelines in elaborated drafts 1. Guide to drawing-up a Radiological Assessment Report for Uranium Tailings Ponds 2. Guide on measurement of alpha activity surface contamination on scrap using beta measurements devices 3. Guide on methodology for inspection and assessment of long term stability of closed tailing ponds and dumps 10

11 LEGAL RESPONSABILITY The Uranium National Company S.A. was set up by the Government s Decision No. 785/1997, modified by Government s Decision No. 729/2004 and is responsible for administrating the uranium mineral resources existing in Romania, related to uranium mining exploitation, uranium ore processing and uranium concentrates conversion to UO 2 sintered powder. By the same Government s Decision No. 729/2004 the geological activities for uranium are transferred to a new company named Radioactiv Mineral Magurele S.A. Annex no. 3 at Government s Decision No. 729/2004 contains the list of all sites where the Uranium National Company carried out geological research for uranium

12 ASSURANCE OF REMEDIATION FUNDS (1) By the Government s Decision 158/2004 was set up a new trading company named CONVERSMIN S.A. which has as main activity object: a) the conservation of mines from shut-down until starting subscription of the closing contract; b) closing of underground mines and ecological remediation; c) operating, maintenance and remediation of the facilities resulted by the break-up of closing activity, in order to preserve the designed environmental parameters; d) Post-closure monitoring of closed mining facilities.

13 ASSURANCE OF REMEDIATION FUNDS (2) According to Art. 3, paragraph (1) of Government s Decision No. 1158/2004: Financial funds of the trading company CONVERSMIN S.A. are constituted by: 1. The amounts allocated from state budget by the budget of Economy and Finances Ministry to carry out the works included in National Annual Program for conservation, closing, ecological reconstruction and postclosing surveillance of mining objectives (including uranium mines). 2. Own capital realized by contracting and executing works financed by the programs and financial projects based on the agreements between Romania and international institutions.

14 ASSURANCE OF REMEDIATION FUNDS (4) Government s Decisions for the conservation and definitive closing of uranium production legacy sites: Government s Decisions No. 816/1998 Government s Decisions No. 17/1999 (Ciudanovita mine) Government s Decisions No. 720/1999 (Mines: Ranusa, Lisava and Avram Iancu) Government s Decisions No. 493/2000 (Mines: Bicazu Ardelean, Glogova, Valea Vacii - Valea Leucii, Puzdra-Lesu, Ilisova) Government s Decisions No. 602/2001 (Hojda-Magura mine) Government s Decisions No. 898/2002 (Mines: Barzava, Valea Galbena- Arieseni, Mehadia) Government s Decisions No. 1846/2004 (Mines: Milova, Repedea-Poienile) Government s Decisions No. 1008/2006 (Mines: Crucea Nord Botusana, Primatar I-II) Government s Decisions No. 644/2007 (Mines: Baita Plai Partial, Dobrei Est and Rapsag; Tailing pound Cetatuia Feldioara Compartment 1) Government s Decisions No. 997/2010 (Mines: Crucea Botusana Partially, Avram Iancu Supplementary, Baita Plai, Ciudanovita- Supplementary, Lisava Supplementary; Plant R2, E2 Feldioara )

15 REMEDIATION OF URANIUM PRODUCTION LEGACY SITES - PRIORITIES IN ROMANIA Closing (decommissioning) and remediation of uranium mines Ciudanovita, Lisava and Natra localized in Banat area in progress; Closing (decommissioning) and remediation of uranium mines Avram Iancu and Ranusa localized in Bihor area in progress; Closing (decommissioning) and remediation of uranium mine Baita Plai and of open pit Baita Plai, both localized in Bihor area (Uranium National Company and CONVERSMIN are preparing technical closing documentation in order to obtain CNCAN decommissioning authorization) Closing (decommissioning) and remediation of geological research mines for uranium Barzava and Repedea - Poienile (CNCAN issued the necessary authorizations);

16 Decommissioning of uranium mines where the operation was terminated. Environmental restoration and monitoring of environmental factors. Each decommissioning licence issued by CNCAN includes the actual closure and environmental restoration works, depending on the mining facility and site characteristics. CNCAN reviewed the implementation manner and the progress of decommissioning works as provided for in the licences for the exploitation mines Avram Iancu, Lisava (Dobrei and Natra mining sectors), Ciudanovita and the uranium ores geological research mines at Repedea Poienile de sub Munte and Barzava. According to the approved decommissioning documentation and to the estimation of construction works, the following closing and decommissioning works were executed at Lisava and Ciudanovita mines: 16

17 CONTINUED closing of underground mines (galleries and shafts); backfilling of the vertical shaft; embankments; consolidation of underground mining works for water circulation; dismantling of surface facilities; devising of access ways; designing and rehabilitation works at several waste dumps. 17

18 Decommissioning and remediation progress at Ciudanovita uranium mine Banat area (1) Decommissioning of uranium ore Ciudanovita transport bunker Present 18

19 Decommissioning progress at Ciudanovita uranium mine Banat area (2) Decommissioning of Shaft 1 Ciudanovita

20 Decommissioning and remediation progress at Ciudanovita uranium mine Banat area (3) Remediation of sterile dumps

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22 BIHOR MINES (1) 22

23 NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR BIHOR MINES (2) 23

24 BIHOR MINES (3) 24

25 BIHOR MINES (4) 25

26 BIHOR MINES (5) 26

27 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! THANK YOU! 27