| This program foresees implementation of research
works directed on development of measures to decrease the environmental
impact by uranium mining and milling wastes.
Research works will be performed on following three trends:
1. Studies on uranium mill tailings materials for use as backfill material
for the uranium mines.
Sand used in solidified backfill material as inert agent is presumed
to be replaced by uranium mill tailings. Difference of granular size composition,
geotechnical and radiation properties of the tailings from those of sand
is the cause to carry out laboratory research to determine the backfill
mixture composition and backfilling technologies and to assess radiation
situation in mines to be backfilled.
One of the main purpose of the research is simulation of impact on
Environment and human during disposal of the tailings when backfilling
uranium mine:
-
development of radiation impact model;
-
simulation of influents dispersion in environment, dose exposure estimation
and radiation protection optimization on the basis of "cost-benefit"correlation;
-
assessment and long term prediction of radiation situation at mine and
on the vicinities.
2. Simulation of hydrogeological processes during decommission of tailings
storage facilities.
Works on this trend will include the choice of facility (tailings storage)
and set-up of numerical hydraulic and transport model (initial data collection)
to assess and to predict the contaminants dispersion off site, as well
as to develop protective measures to be taken during the tailings storage
facility decommission.
Transport model for underground waters is based on numerical decision
of classic equation of convective diffusion. For simulation we shall use
data obtained from geological and hydrogeological and land-reclamation
surveys, as well as results of our former works.
3. Development of (additional) isolation layers for tailing storage
facility .
The research is directed on determination of isolation layers composition
for decommission of uranium tailing storage facility to ensure its reliable
isolation and stabilization, as well as optimization of radioprotection
on base of "cost-benefit" correlation. The composition of the isolation
layer should be ecology friendly. Estimation of destructive processes rate
will be made with use of archeological method and numerical modeling on
base of disaster theory methods. |
Ukraine