Uranium Mill Tailings Affecting Water Resources in Mailuu Suu Valley, Kyrgyzstan

Residual waste dumps and tailings from previous uranium mining activities in Mailuu Suu represent a potential risk on local water resources. In 2006, a monitoring program was initiated to determine the contamination status of local water resources in order to establish a baseline to assess the impact of coming remediation activities. Field data supplemented by laboratory experiments shed light on uranium mobilization and transport paths. The observed status of the local water resources and recommendations for necessary mitigation measures has been presented to local authorities as well as citizens. (author)