Russell Edge (IAEA Project officer) & Oleg Voitsekhovych (UHMI, CMSET, consultant)

1. WM-2010, ENVIRONET section Phoenix 7-11 March 2010 The IAEA Ongoing Activities in Supporting Environmental Remediation Projects in Central Asian Countries Russell Edge (IAEA Project officer) & Oleg Voitsekhovych (UHMI, CMSET, consultant)

2. 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

3. 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

4. A serious environmental threat for the local population

5. 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

6. IAEA Projects relevant to Safe management of residues from former mining and milling activities in Central Asia

7. The IAEA has been providing support over time Improving Capacity of Laboratories, helping in QA/QC basic programs implementation and Safety assessment Providing training and expertise for radiological monitoring and characterization (regulator and operators) Helping establish sound regulatory and decision making frameworks

8. Assessment in some specific Case Studies Tajikistan Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Kazakhstan

10. Тaboshar

11. Specific problems --- acid drainages Миссия МАГАТЭ-2006

12. Annual doses (Sv/y) from different uses of water sources existing at Taboshar

13. 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

14. Degmai Tailing Site remediation Strategy No cover at the tailing dump Priority Actions needed 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 Populated area Tailing Legacy

15. UZBEKISTAN Charkesar and Jangiabad Uranium Production Legacy Sites

16. 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

17. Charkesar Remediation Strategy Uzbekistan Specific Needs 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 Uranium Legacy Site IAEA TC RER-9086

18. 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

19. Kyrgyztan Some comments and assessment • Kadji-Say (4) • Min-Kush (2) • Maluy-Suu (1) IAEA TC RER-9086

20. KIG. Kadji-Say, Issyk-Kul lakeside June 2006 • 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 Erosion effects on the un-stabilized slopes of ash tailing in Kadji-Sai April, 2007

21. Mailuu Suu , Kyrgyzstan - April 2007

22. 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

23. Actions to be considered Immediate • 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),

24. 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

25. Kazakhstan. RadWaste and U-Residues Management Caspian Sea

26. 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

27. Common Problems 1. Safety Assessment Methodology and Risk Assessment should become a common platform for Remediation Planning • 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)

28. Common Problems 2. 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

29. Common Problems 3. Better Public Risk Communication is needed Local citizens destroyed the observational wells. Kadji-Say

30. Common Problem 4. Lack of Management and Institutional Control. Specific Examples

31. Conclusion • 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. THANKS R.Edge@iaea.org (IAEA) o. voitsekhovych@gmail.com (UHMI)