of March 26, 1998:
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(last updated 7 Feb 2002)
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of Oct. 26, 1998
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This decision reflects a number of deficiencies identified by AECB at the Cluff Lake site:
Excerpt from AECB News Release 98-07 of March 26, 1998:
"OTTAWA - The Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB) today announced the licensing decisions taken following its meeting of March 24, 1998." [...]"CLUFF LAKE URANIUM MINING FACILITY
The Board approved a nine-month extension to the operating licence for the Cluff Lake uranium mine, in northern Saskatchewan.
At the January 1998 Board meeting, AECB staff had recommended a renewal of the licence for a 13-month term, but this recommendation was changed in the staff's March 1998 report to the Board, following the receipt of the information concerning a recently detected increase in radium levels in Snake Lake, which is next to the facility's tailings management area.
A condition has been included in the licence requiring Cogema to investigate the cause of the increase, and to assess the impact of the increased radium levels on the environment. The company is also required to develop any necessary mitigative measures and a schedule for their implementation, and to report this information to the Board by June 30, 1998.
A number of other licence conditions were also added to address other AECB questions about the safe operation of the facility.
One of these conditions requires Cogema to supply information that demonstrates that the current radiation protection program for underground miners complies with the principle of keeping radiation exposures as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). At the March 24 Board meeting, AECB staff recommended a three-month extension to its original recommendation of requiring this information by April 1, 1998. While Cogema has been addressing this issue, the extension will allow the company additional time to complete its studies, determine the effectiveness of proposed measures to reduce worker exposures, and identify those measures which will be implemented. If this required information is not submitted and approved by June 30, 1998, the condition would prevent any further underground mining activities at the site until the company's program is approved.
The Board also noted that the company had not submitted an acceptable revision to its Code of Practice that better reflects existing underground conditions and expectations regarding radiation protection. Since August 1997, Cogema has not been allowed to undertake any new mine development until an approved Code of Practice is in place. An approved Code of Practice is a requirement of the AECB's Uranium and Thorium Mining Regulations.
Another condition restricts the placement of mill tailings in the tailings management area to specific authorized limits.
Cogema has previously indicated that it plans to submit a proposal for additional tailings capacity at the site. Guidelines have been prepared for the required Environmental Impact Statement to be submitted by Cogema. The proposal will then undergo both a federal and a provincial environmental assessment. During the assessment process, activities in the tailings management area will be limited to those that are authorized by this extended licence. Any modification will need prior approval of the Board.
Finally, Cogema must appear before the Board at its October 1, 1998, meeting to report on its progress in dealing with the AECB's questions related to radiation protection, tailings management, and general project management."
The AECB staff recommendations re. Cogema's Cluff Lake operating license renewal were open for public comment until March 3, 1998. For a copy of the recommendations, or further information, contact the AECB in Ottawa at Tel. +1-613-995-5894, Fax: +1-613- 995-5086, E-mail: info@atomcon.gc.ca [AECB News Release 98-03, Feb. 6, 1998]
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Cogema has announced a decision to reduce Cluff Lake production from 5 million lbs U3O8 (1920tU) to 3.5 million lbs U3O8 (1350tU) per year beginning in 1998. Cluff Lake resources should then last until 2006. [UI News Briefing 98.04]
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