Canadian regulatory processes and practices for environmental protection in uranium mining

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA), regulates all nuclear facilities and nuclear related activities in Canada. The enhanced environmental protection mandate under the NSCA has led to reassessment and subsequent requirements for significant process changes to effluent treatment systems at existing uranium mining and milling operations. Waste rock and tailings from the mining and milling operations must also be carefully managed to minimize potential adverse environmental effects during operations and for the long term. This paper will review the regulatory processes used in Canada for uranium mining and milling operations and the design practices used and specific examples of effluent treatment and tailings and waste-rock management systems in Saskatchewan. (author)