With about 60 countries indicating an interest in adding nuclear power to their energy mix, there has been a corresponding push to meet this future demand by quickly opening new uranium mines.
"Our fear is that this may lead to a generation of new sites contaminated by radioactive waste because some of these operations are taking place in countries that do not have appropriate infrastructure to deal properly with all aspects of mining operations which may create a need for remediation when mining operations cease," says Horst Monken Fernandes, an engineer in the IAEA´s Waste Technology Section.
So the IAEA is working hard to promote the recently launched Network of Environmental Management and Remediation (ENVIRONET); a system that brings these Member States together with other countries and organisations which have extensive experience in remediation, so they can share skills, knowledge, regulatory and managerial approaches and expertise.
"We are trying to convey recommendations and good practices in order to avoid another generation of new contaminated sites. The IAEA Safety Standards are very useful in this context," says Monken Fernandes.
Irena Mele, Head of the IAEA´s Waste Technology Section says countries that have plans to begin uranium mining must consider the entire "life cycle" - initial planning must include the necessary human and financial resources not just for the opening of the first mine shaft, but the whole life of the mine including the final closure and restoration of the site.
Spreading the Word
During next week´s annual Waste Management Conference in the US, which attracts about 2000 people from around the world, the IAEA will be hosting four technical sessions on ENVIRONET.
"Our aim is to explain how networking can help countries in their remediation plans and show that the need for environmental remediation is present worldwide," says Monken Fernandes.
"We also want to allow institutions with this kind of experience to talk about the services they can share; and allow operators and regulators to share their views and experiences and explore ways to achieve common objectives," says Monken Fernandes.
The Waste Management Conference will be held from 7 � 11 March 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Background
ENVIRONET´s partners include a wide range of organisations such as research institutions, utilities, regulatory bodies, universities, consulting companies, and other networks.
There are now approximately 15 organisations from 10 countries which are part of the network.
ENVIRONET not only focuses on uranium mining but deals with industries involved in naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM).
NORM industries include those operations that do not belong to the nuclear fuel cycle, but due to the fact that natural radionuclides occur in the raw material being processed, the industrial operations may lead to increased concentrations of radionuclides in waste, residue and by-products, resulting in potential exposure to ionizing radiation.