Seminar on Governance of Uranium Production Activities Copenhagen, Denmark 27-28 May 2014

1. Seminar on Governance of Uranium Production ActivitiesCopenhagen, Denmark27-28 May 2014 Best Practice in Environmental Management of Uranium Mining – IAEA recommendations Peter Woods Team Leader, Raw Materials and Resources Subprogramme International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials Section

2. Contents of this presentation • Introduction to the IAEA’s activities in the Uranium Production Cycle and our approach to best practice in uranium mining • Some other international guides for good environmental practice in mining Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

3. IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria (photo P.Woods) Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

4. IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria (photo P.Woods) Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

5. The IAEA Organisational Chartinvolvement in the U production cycle “Uranium Production Cycle (UPC)” Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials Section Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

6. The IAEA and mining • Two Divisions have a particular interest and expertise in technical aspects of uranium and thorium mining and associated activities: • Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology • Fuel Cycle and Materials • Waste Technology • Radiation Transport and Waste Safety • Waste and Environmental Safety Section Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

7. Recent publications Best Practice (2010) → also (2009): Establishment of Uranium Mining and Processing Operations in the Context of Sustainable Development Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

8. “Best Practice in Environmental Management of Uranium Mining” • Guiding principles • Sustainable development • Think of future generations • As low as reasonably achievable • Keep impacts low (not necessarily zero) • Precautionary principle • Anticipate, and take some precautions even if we are not certain they are needed • Consider social, environmental and governance aspects Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

9. Best practice application • Consider environmental (and social) aspects of the project in all stages • Exploration • Feasibility and design (including costing) • Development and construction • Operation • Decommissioning and remediation • Post-closure monitoring and stewardship Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

10. Best practice application (continued) • Collect baseline environmental/social data • Involve the public/stakeholders • Assess the impacts and the risks • Environmental, social • Accept the impacts, or modify the project to reduce risks/impacts to something that is acceptable • Prepare plans for normal operations and monitoring, and contingency plans in case something goes wrong Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

11. Collecting baseline data (Australia, Argentina) Pre-mining groundwater characterization – groundwater levels Aquifer pumping test (Australia) Pre-mining radiological and weather monitoring (Argentina) Photos: top left EBS Ecology, others P. Woods Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

12. Best practice application (continued) • Include environmental protection in your design • Usually much cheaper than having to modify your mine or processing plant later • Consider the use of the land after the mining or processing • Return to farming or pastoral use? • Return to nature park? • Create something new? A lake? A landfill? An industrial area? A golf course? • Leave it stable and safe to be reopened in the future? Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

13. Best practice application (continued) • Include environmental management during operations • Including monitoring, interpretation of monitoring, reporting to authorities and the public • Have some external checking of the monitoring and its interpretation • Include management of wastes • Improve closure plans as operations progress • Decide if plans are still relevant • Learn from progressive rehabilitation Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

14. Tailings – appropriate disposal is essential Below: Wismut, Germany; inappropriately sited or constructed dams may need govt. remediation Photo: Gord McKenna Above: Tailings dam, former Moab mine, USA, being relocated Photo: http://www.gjem.energy.gov/moab/ Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

15. Tailings – In-pit disposal may be possible(… or may not) Areva’s McClean Lake Mine, Canada Nabarlek U mine, Australia (photos: AREVA, P. Waggitt) Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

16. Everyone’s objective should be…… Panna Maria, Texas, USA something like this…a remediated uranium mine used for a raising cattle and fishing (left)………… Taboshar, Tajikistan …..not this – an abandoned uranium mine and mill site (right) (photos: P. Woods, R. Edge) Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

17. “Best Practice in Environmental Management of Uranium Mining” • The IAEA document includes examples from • Canada, Australia, USA, Kazakhstan • A compact disc is included with papers from a conference in Canada, with papers from • Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Russia, Ukraine and USA Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

18. Some international guidelines • Please note these are examples only • The IAEA does not have any recommendation, good or bad, on these examples • There are other examples that may be relevant to you • Always consider what is appropriate for your country and the individual project Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

19. Some international guidance: industry example 1 • International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM: www.icmm.com) • Established in 2001 ‘to improve sustainable development performance in the mining and metals industry’ • 21 mining and metals companies • 31 national and regional mining or commodity associations • e.g. Ghana, Peru, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Europe • e.g. aluminium, coal, copper Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

20. ICMM values as stated by their website • ICMM has five stated values : • Care for the safety, health and well-being of workers, contractors, host communities, and the users of the materials we produce. • Respect for people and the environment, ensuring that we are sensitive and responsive to the values of host societies. • Integrity as the basis for engagement with employees, communities, governments and others. • Accountability to do what we say we will do and uphold our commitments. • Collaboration - working with others in an open, transparent and inclusive way as we address the challenges and opportunities we jointly face. Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

21. ICMM document from their website • Planning for Integrated Mine Closure: Toolkit Photographs: ICMM website Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

22. Some international guidance: industry example 2 World Nuclear Association • WNA: http://www.world-nuclear.org/ • Established in 2001 ‘Representing the people and organisations of the global nuclear profession’ • Grew out of the Uranium Institute, established in London in 1975 • Members include • most U miners, converters, enrichers and fuel fabricators • All reactor vendors • Many major associated companies • Nearly 90% of world nuclear electrical generation Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

23. WNA Policy Doc. • Sustaining Global Best Practices in Uranium Mining and Processing • Launched January 2008 Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

24. Some international guidance: industry example 2 World Nuclear Association • The WNA policy endorses: • WNA Charter of Ethics • WNA Principles of Uranium Stewardship • ICMM Sustainable Development Principles • Compliance with applicable conventions, laws,…including the IAEA Safety Principles • includes • Mining Safety, Ventilation, Radiation Safety, Water Quality, Personal Protective Equipment, Environmental Protection Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

25. Some international guidance: 2 non-government organizations examples • Post Mining Alliance • ‘Promoting good practice in post-mining regeneration’ • Center for Science in Public Participation • ‘Framework for Responsible Mining: A Guide to Evolving Standards’ 2005 • World Wildlife Fund involvement Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

26. Some national guidance examples: • The Uranium Institute Namibia • HERSS Standards (version 2, 2012) • Standard of Good Practice for Health, Environment and Radiation Safety and Security • http://namibiauraniuminstitute.com/joomla/pdf/2012/herss-document.pdf • A series of training events, in radiation safety, general health and environment, are available through the Institute • e.g. Introduction to Namib Ecology for Mine Managers, 1 day • e.g. Radiation Safety Officer’s Course (3 parts), totalling 12 days Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

27. Some national guidance examples: • Australian Government • Australia's In Situ Recovery Uranium Mining Best Practice Guide: Groundwaters, Residues and Radiation Protection (2010) • http://www.ret.gov.au/resources/Documents/Mining/uranium/In-situ-uranium.pdf • Code of Practice and Safety Guide for Radiation Protection and Radioactive Waste Management in Mining and Mineral Processing (2005) • http://www.arpansa.gov.au/pubs/rps/rps9.pdf Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

28. Some national guidance examples: • Australian Uranium Association • Code of Practice for members (version 2, 2012) • in the context of the ICMM sustainable development framework and principles • defines principles of behaviour and standards of best practice to guide improvements in performance in the Australian uranium industry • http://www.aua.org.au/Content/AUACodeofPractice.aspx • Annual surveys of members’ performance against the code are published • Best practice guidelines for uranium explorers also published • http://www.aua.org.au/Content/ExplorationGuidelines.aspx Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

29. Often more general guidelines apply • e.g. Canada • Environmental Code of Practice for Metal Mines • Includes legal requirements, but guidance (recommendations) is also included • Includes reference to IAEA docs (including that shown earlier) • http://nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/lawsregs/regulatorydocuments/published/html/rdgd370/index.cfm Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

30. Some Canadian examples: • National • RD/GD-370: Management of Uranium Mine Waste Rock and Mill Tailings • Includes legal requirements, but guidance (recommendations) is also included • Includes reference to IAEA docs (including that shown earlier) • http://nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/lawsregs/regulatorydocuments/published/html/rdgd370/index.cfm • Provincial: Saskatchewan Labour (Canada) • Occupational Health & Safety Radiation Protection Guidelines for Uranium Exploration • http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/radiation-protection-guidelines-uranium-exploration Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

31. Conclusion: common themes • Consider environmental (and social) aspects of mining and minerals projects from the earliest exploration and planning stages • Involve the government and the public • Do progressive rehabilitation if at all possible • Consider general and specific guidelines and regulations • Always consider the circumstances of your country and the location, climate and details of each project Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014

32. Thank you for your attention Peter Woods, Uranium Production Specialist/Team Leader +43 1 2600 22768, P.Woods@iaea.org Nuclear Fuel Cycle & Materials Section Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology Department of Nuclear Energy International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna International Centre P.O. Box 100 A-1400 Vienna, Austria Woods - Best Practice - Copenhagen June 2014