PNGMDR: the long-term behaviour of the sites The studies submitted for the PNGMDR since 2003 have enhanced knowledge of: ∙ the dosimetric impact of the mine tailing disposal areas on man and the environment, in particular through the comparison of data obtained from monitoring and the results of modelling; ∙ the evaluation of the long-term dosimetric impact of the waste rock stockpiles and waste rock in the public domain in relation to the results obtained in context of the Circular of 22 July 2009; ∙ the strategy chosen for the changes in the treatment of water collected from former mining sites; ∙ the relation between the discharged flows and the accumulation of marked sediments in the rivers and lakes; ∙ the methodology for assessing the long-term integrity of the embankments surrounding tailings disposal sites; ∙ transport of uranium from the waste rock piles to the environment; ∙ the mechanisms governing the mobility of uranium and radium within uranium-bearing mining tailings. Further to ASN opinion 2016-AV-0255 of 9 February 2016, and in the context of the PNGMDR 2016-2018, Orano submitted 11 studies between January 2017 and February 2020 to supplement the studies submitted prior to this. Based on this, ASN issued an opinion on 4 February 2021 to review the situation on these subjects. Consequently, ASN opinion 2021-AV-0374 of 4 February 2021 specifies the studies still to be carried out to meet the challenges associated with the former mining sites and recalled above. These studies may lead to the performance of work such as removal of the mining tailings from public land, reinforcement of the structures encircling the disposal sites, and improving preservation of the memory. This opinion also recommends continuing the work of the two technical working groups concerning: ∙ Maintaining the functions of the structures encircling the uranium ore treatment residue disposal areas. The final report on maintaining the functions of the structures encircling the uranium ore treatment residue disposal areas was finalised and published on 30 January 2023. This report shall now be taken into consideration by Orano to update its assessments of the stability of its structures encircling the mining residue disposal sites. In October 2023, Orano submitted the study concerning the Bernardan site and in December 2023 that of the Lodève site. ∙ Management of the water from the former uranium mining sites. With the aim of reducing the overall impact (radiological and chemical) of releases on people and ecosystems, the special technical working group in 2023 finalised the drafting of the methodology guide for drafting the multi-stakeholder, multicriterion analysis methodology. This is a decision-making aid guide regarding the questions of maintaining, shutting down or modifying the treatment of mine water collected on a given site, which in some cases hosts uranium ore processing residue repository. ASN has proposed creating a third working group which will focus on the updating of the methodology for assessing the longterm impact of the mining processing residue disposal sites. This working group will endeavour more specifically to detail the longterm deterioration scenarios for the covers of mining processing residue disposal facilities, in relation with the radioactive waste disposal site development scenarios and the work carried out by the pluralistic expert assessment group for the uranium mining sites of the Limousin region (GEP Limousin). This working group has not yet started, priority having been given to the work of the two working groups mentioned above. The PNGMDR 2022-2026 plans to continue these actions concerning the long-term environmental and health impact of the management of the former uranium mines. These actions will notably take into consideration the ongoing update of the studies on structure stability applying the methodology proposed by the final report on maintaining the functions of the structures encircling the uranium ore treatment residue disposal areas and application of the methodology for management of the waters from former mining sites specified above. The uranium mines, their annexes and their conditions of closure are covered by the Mining Code. The disposal facilities for radioactive mining tailings are governed by section 1735 of the ICPE classification system. Oversight of the conditions of management of the mine tailings or mining waste rock outside the production or disposal sites is the responsibility of the Prefect, on proposals from the Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing (Dreal). Consequently, the mines, the disposal areas, the mine tailings, the conditions of management of mine tailings or mining waste rock on public land and the management of sites and soils with no solvent responsible entity which are polluted by radioactive substances are not subject to ASN oversight. ASN assists the State departments at their request in the areas of radiation protection of workers and the public, and the management routes for mining waste, tailings and waste rock. In addition, under the PNGMDR, ASN issues opinions on the studies submitted in order, for example, to further knowledge of the development of the long-term radiological impact of the former mining sites on the public and the environment. ASN can, at the request of the competent authority, issue opinions concerning the management of these sites, in view of the radiation exposure risks and radioactive waste management challenges. ASN ACTIONS CONCERNING THE VARIOUS URANIUM MINING SITES AND SOILS CONTAMINATED BY RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2023 383 • 15 • Radioactive waste and contaminated sites and soils 15 05 08 11 04 14 06 07 13 AP 03 10 02 09 12 01
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