Environmental risk assessment for uranium mines and mills in Canada

In the past, the concern with radiation exposures arising from human activities has been with the protection of human health. The concept was that, if humans were adequately protected, then 'other living things are also likely to be sufficiently protected' (ICRP 1977) or 'other species are not put at risk' (ICRP 1991). In recent years, the general validity of this view has been challenged (e.g., IAEA 1999), in part, because of increased worldwide concern over sustainability of the environment, including maintaining biodiversity and protecting habitats, rather than because of actual observation of biological effects in non-human species. With the passing of the new Nuclear Safety and Control Act of May 2000, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) was required to regulate nuclear facilities in such a way as '...to prevent unreasonable risk to the environment.' This was a new challenge for both the CNSC and the industries which it regulates, especially the uranium mining industry. (author)