Tailings decommissioning at Wismut GmbH

Uranium ore was processed in East Germany by SDAG Wismut until 1990. The operation was aimed at producing yellow cake. Uranium was the only resource. Uranium recovery was about 90%. Spoils from the hydrometallurgical processes were dumped in tailings disposal facilities. Besides residual uranium, these spoils also contain all daughter nuclides of uranium 235 and uranium 238. Other relevant contaminants are arsenic, sulfates, and chlorides. Pyrite is also present. Preparations for rehabilitation came only under way when uranium milling in East Germany was closed down. Until then no pertinent engineering operations had been undertaken and no bonds posted. Rehabilitation will be carried out according to current German legislation and regulations, recommendations issued by the Commission on Radiological Protection of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, and regulatory requirements. From case to case USEPA recommendations are used by way of comparison as noncommittal guidelines