Abstract
Common passive controls for uranium tailings include constructing thick earthen covers, protected by rock, over the waste. Earthen covers effectively limit dust and radon emissions and gamma radiation and, in conjunction with the rock covers, help stabilizing the tailings to prevent dispersion of the tailings through erosion or intrusion. In some cases, piles may be moved to safer locations (e.g. deep mines). However, the long term fate of uranium tailings in mountain areas is different from tailings in flat landscapes. Especially under humid climatic conditions the amount of rainfall is high as is the leaching and erosion potential. The uranium tailing Schneckenstein in the eastern part of Germany was chosen for a case study. The deposited uranium and other toxic elements will contaminate the downstream aquatic environment for thousands to more than ten thousand years depending on the scenarios chosen. Safeguarding the Schneckenstein tailing can be done over a few decades but gets much more difficult in the long term perspective. Because natural attenuation is unlikely to happen, enhanced natural attenuation or active measures have to be taken. Advantages and disadvantages of several options are discussed.
Published Version
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