Remediation of tailings Ponds I and II

This paper presents a brief review of the remediation of tailings ponds I and II near Pecs, Hungary, including the steps followed in implementing the project, and descriptions of the applied science and methods used. Two tailings ponds were built near Pecs to contain and store uranium mill tailings. The total area of the two ponds is about 1 600 000 m2 and the estimated weight of the tailing is 20 000 kt. The ponds contain 1 382 t U (TP I: 71.3 g/t U, TP II: 55.8 g/t U). After uranium mining ceased in 1997, remediation of the tailings ponds was the most important part of remediation of the mine-mill complex. Today remediation of TP II is complete. Remediation of the 593 406 m2 area, included relocation of 673 996 m3 of tailings followed by constructing a five-layer cover that includes 214 825 m3 of clay, 169 580 m3 of sand and 549 240 m3 of loess. Of the 1 000 000 m2 total area of TP I, 163 207 m2 is covered. Before covering TP I, 590 623 m3 of tailings were relocated. After re-contouring the surface, a cover of 48 981 m3 of clay and 204 088 m3 of loess is being constructed. Remediation of TP I is to be finished in 2006. (author)