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NATIONAL URANIUM COMPANY
BUCHAREST - ROMANIA
68 Str. Dionisie Lupu
010458 București
Telefon: +40 21 318 52 58 Fax: +40 21 312 91 46 E-mail: [email protected]
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BIHOR BRANCH – BIHOR COUNTY
Status of Environmental Remediation
at former
AVRAM IANCU – EAST MINE
ARIEȘUL MIC VALLEY
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HYSTORY
Around 1950 uranium exploration was subject of a joint
venture between the Soviet Union and the National Uranium
Company.
Large geological surveys were performed in the south-
western (Banat county) and north-western (Bihor county)
regions of Romania.
In 1952 uranium mining commenced as an open-pit excavation,
in the Bihor region (Băiţa Plai).
Around 1960 the exploitation of uranium continued by opening
underground excavation mines at two other sites in the Bihor
region (Avram Iancu mine) and in the Banat region .
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GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WORKS
1950 –1957 a large geological survey programme was
undertaken within the North – West counties of Romania (Bihor
county had received a special attention )
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Mining activities for uranium ores during the fiftees
1952 – commissioning of mining at Baita Plai open pit and first
dispatch of uranium ore to the Soviet Union.
the dispatched uranium ore was of a very good quality and
grade
no uranium milling and processing was ensured in Romania
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OPEN PIT AND UNDERGROUND MINING IN THE
1952 - 1960 PERIOD
In 1952 was discovered the largest uranium deposit
within the area of the Crișul Negru, Arieșul Mic și Văii
Leucii small rivers ( at the borders of Alba,Bihor,Arad
counties )
În 1962 a new underground mine is developped for the
Avram Iancu deposit not far from the Baița Plai mine
In 1958 at Stei town, Bihor county, was set up the first
laboratory dealing with work radioactive exposure and
environment monitoring for uranium mines
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Following the ,, SOVROM KUARTIT,, activity
1963 – The new ,,Organizația Expediția Geologică,,
undertakes the former ,,Sovrom Kuartit,, activities in
Romania
1964 – last dispatch of uranium ore to the Soviet
Union
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URANIUM ORE PRODUCTION DURING 1963-1977
• Mine Avram Iancu - all the uranium ore production was stored at the mine site for a future dispatch to a romanian mill.
• The uranium ore was mined and stored from 1964 to 1977 near the mine adits.
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RESEARCH FOR A MILLING TECHNOLOGY FOR
URANIUM YELLOWCAKE PRODUCTION
- Start of the nuclear electric power programme in Romania
• 1963-1977 – pilot tests for uranium ores processing using romanian ores
• Pilot stage tests on ores processing at the ȘTEI – Bihor small research plant
• First batches of romanian uranium yellowcake from a pilot facility
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INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING OF URANIUM ORES
• 1977- start of the transfer of
uranium ores from Bihor and
Banat mines to the new
Feldioara plant
• 1977-1978 – commissioning of
the processing plant and of the
tailings pond Cetatuia II
• First industrial batches of
yellowcake produced at the
processing plant
• Storage of the natrium
diuranate produced from 1977
to 1986
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THE NATIONAL URANIUM COMPANY BUCHAREST
• The National Uranium Company Bucharest is set up by
government decision no. 785/1997
• All uranium ore mining activities are ensured by the new
company
• 2004 – the geological survey activities are all transferred to a
new company named“S.C. Radioactiv Mineral Măgurele S.A.”
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STEI BRANCH – BIHOR MINES
The mining for uranium ores was cancelled atAvram Iancu mine since 1998
Since then closing out and remediation activitieswere undertaken
A government decisiton ensures the funding fromstate budget
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uranium ore was mined during the 1952 – 2008 period
after 2008 only closing out and remediation activities were carried out at the 2 mines , Baita Plai and Avram Iancu
the technical project for remediation was issued only for Avram Iancu underground mine
THE BIHOR MINING BRANCH
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THE CLOSING MINES DEPARTMENT
1998 -The new closing mines department was set up at the
National Uranium Company Bucharest
The aim was to ensure the closing out activities carried out
at the former closed uranium mines ( Bihor and Banat
mines)
The department ensures the link with the Ministry’s of
Economy mines closing out ,,CONVERSMIN,, organization.
The department ensures the monitoring programme at the
closed mines
REMEDIATION WORKS AT THE AVRAM IANCU
EAST WASTE ROCK DUMPS
•The waste rock dumps
The gamma dose rate at the surface of old dumps have low values
with a maximum one at 1,9 µSv/h.
• Dump at adit G XII
Relocation of some material on a surface of 10 m2 where dose
dose rate is 0,45 µSv/h
•Dump at adit G 1
Relocation of some material from a surface of 70 m2 having
gamma dose at 0,40-0,65 µSv/h.
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G 16 Adit and Dump
DUMP no. G XVI bis
Surface with gamma values of 0,40-0,85 µSv/hwas 2000 m2
The contaminated material has to be relocatedin underground.
•MINE WATERSOnly from the left side of the Aries River areflowing some mine waters having a specific flowof 1.5 liters per second and an uranium contentof 0.105 mg per liter for the adit no. XII ( level1153 m )
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Dismantling works1)Demolishing old buildings and facilities:
-materials from demolishing
-scrap iron and wood
-railway iron elements
2)Dismantling undergrouns equipments and facilities:
-scrap iron including contaminated scrap
-cables
-wood
-old concrete
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REMEDIATION WORKS
-inhancing old dumps stability
-surface reshaping works
-works for access roads
-transport of relocated contaminated rock material
-works for ventilation in underground
-measurements for the contaminate materials
-backfilling and concrete capping of old adits.
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1)Assessment of suplimentary doses received by the personnel
working on old waste rock dumps:
The radiological impact study made for the characteriztion of
the surface of the old dumps within th surfaces e Avram Iancu Mine,
underlines some surfaces having values in exces of 0,30 µSv/h.
The contaminated surfaces (G XII=10m2, G 1=70m2, G 6=100m2, GXI
nou=75m2, GXVI bis=2100m2 ) were subject of material relocation, the
resulted waste volume is V= 2300 m3.
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ENVIRONMENT MONITORING AND EXPOSED
PERSONNEL MONITORING
Monitoring the remediation activities involves different tasks as:
- temporary tasks
-specific tasks for each location
-specific tasks for a technical process
Environmental monitoring
Together the local environment authority, CNCAN and CONVERSMIN approves the monitoring annual programe with analysis for uranium, radium, gamma dose, measurement for the collected samples.
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h
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Nr
crt
Locul de recoltare Activitatea ANALIZE
Gamma Sol Vegetatie Sediment Apa
1 Raul Aries 100m aval zona ind. inchidere - - - Semestrial Lunar
2 Apa sc. Gal. Noroc Bun-
Poiana(720m)
inchidere - - - - Lunar
3 Apa sc. Gal. 23-spre Poiana inchidere - - - - Lunar
4 Crisul Negru 100m aval zona ind. inchidere - - - Semestrial Lunar
5 Halda Atelier Poiana inchidere - Semestrial Semestrial - -
6 Halda Atelier Poiana inchidere Semestrial - - - -
7 Baita Plai-bariera Cons. partial Lunar Lunar semestrial
8 Halda V.Plaiului-platforma Cons. partial Lunar Lunar
9 -baza halda Cons. partial Lunar Lunar - - -
10 Halda V.Plaiului-zona silozuri vechi-
platf.
Cons. partial Lunar Lunar
11 -baza halda Cons. partial Lunar Lunar - - -
12 -zona sita comerciala Cons. partial Lunar Lunar
13 -zona sita necomerciala Cons. partial Lunar Lunar semestrial - -
14 Halda V.Calului1-platforma1 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar semestrial - -
15 Halda V.Calului1-platforma2 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar -
16 Baza halda -aval Cons.partial Lunar Lunar
17 Baza halda amonte Cons.partial Lunar Lunar
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18 Halda V.Calului2-platforma1 Cons.partial lunar Lunar
19 -platforma2 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar semestrial -
20 -platforma3 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar - -
21 -baza halda 1 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar semestrial -
22 -baza halda 2 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar semestrial -
23 -baza halda 3 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar - -
24 Halda Complex Nou-drum acces halda Cons.partial Lunar Lunar - -
25 -baza cladire complex Cons.partial Lunar Lunar - -
26 Platforma butca 1 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar - -
27 Platforma butca 2 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar - -
28 Halda V.Mica-platforma halda Cons.partial Lunar Lunar semestrial -
29 -baza halda Cons.partial Lunar Lunar - -
30 Halda Complex Vechi-platforma halda1 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar semestrial
31 Halda Complex Vechi-platforma halda2 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar -
32 -baza halda Cons.partial Lunar Lunar semestrial -
33 Halda Gal.45-platforma halda Cons.partial Lunar Lunar semestrial -
34 -baza halda 1 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar - -
35 -baza halda 2 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar - -
36 Halda P.Lupului-platforma halda Cons.partial Lunar Lunar semestrial -
37 -baza halda Cons.partial Lunar Lunar semestrial -
38 Platforma gal.23-gura galeriei Cons.partial Lunar Lunar semestrial -
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39 -incinta galeriei Cons.partial Lunar Lunar semestrial - -
40 Halda P.Stancii-Platforma halda Cons.partial Lunar Lunar semestrial - -
41 -baza halda1 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar semestrial - -
42 -baza halda2 Cons.partial Lunar Lunar - - -
43 Apa gal. XI Cons.partial - - - semestrial Lunar
44 Baita Plai-zona locuita bl.4-5 Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
45 -zona cantina bl.3 Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
46 -zona locuita bl.1-2 Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
47 -zona fosta sectie Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
48 Halda club-drum acces Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
49 -platforma Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
50 -baza halda spre V.Calului Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
51 -baza halda spre V.Albiorii Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
52 Halda C-platforma Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
53 -baza halda Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
54 Platforma energetic Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
55 Halda B(actual drum)-partea stanga Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
56 Halda B(actual drum)-partea dreapta Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
57 Halda13-platforma halda Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
58 Halda14-platforma halda Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
59 Halda gal.49-platforma halda Cons.totl lunar lunar - - -
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60 Platforma pod basculant Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
61 Halda gal 23 NW-platforma halda Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
62 -baza halda Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
63 Halda Complex Nou-platforma halda Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
64 -baza halda Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
65 Halda Gal.15-platforma halda Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
66 -baza halda Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
67 Halda Gal.38-platforma halda Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
68 Platforma baia miniera Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
69 Platforma gal.23bis Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
70 Halda Gal.8-platforma halda Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
71 Halda Gal.Pacea-platforma halda Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
72 -baza halda Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
73 Halda gal.19-22;52-platforma halda gal.19 Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
74 Halda gal.19-22;52-platforma halda gal.52 Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
75 -baza halda gal.19 Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
76 -baza halda gal.52 Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
77 Halda gal.7-15;-platforma gal.7 Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
78 -platforma gal.15 Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
79 -baza halda gal.7 Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
80 -baza halda gal.15 Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
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81 Statie auto Baita sat Cons.total lunar lunar semestrial - -
82 Statie auto Nucet Cons.total lunar lunar semestrial - -
83 Statie auto Fanate Cons.total lunar lunar semestrial - -
84 Statie auto Campani Cons.total lunar lunar semestrial - -
85 Statie auto Harsesti Cons.total lunar lunar semestrial - -
86 Lunca intersedtie DN76 cu DN75 Cons.total lunar lunar semestrial - -
87 Gara CFR-STEI Cons.total lunar lunar anual - -
88 Bariera cale ferata DN76-iesire Stei Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
89 Centru Stei-sediu Cons.total lunar lunar anual - -
90 Incinta industriala(Moara4)-bariera Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
91 -depozit carbune Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
92 -platforma buncher descarcare auto Cons.total lunar lunar semestrial - -
93 -cantar CFR Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
94 -platforma garaj auto Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
95 -platforma magazie materiale Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
96 -platforma magazie reactivi Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
97 -zona mlastinoasa Cons.total lunar lunar - - -
98 Valea Plaiului-aval de comfluent cu V.Albiorii Cons.total - -semestrial Lunar
B. Monitoring of the exposed personnel
MEASUREMENT of doses at the work places:
a) Has the aim of registering the dose taken by the personnel;
b) To give informations in oreder to allow lowering the doses .
For efficieny the measure shall allowing :
- Assessment of the main exposure sources;
- Verification of the ways to lower the doses;
- Finding these devices or work places which are exposure higher
sources;
MONITORING OF RADIOACTIVE EXPOSURE:
• The external radioactive exposure is ensured for every work place by
measurement of the gamma dose using devices easy to handle
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DEVICE FOR MONITORING
The monitoring of the work places at the Stei Branch is done
using a radiometer EBERLINE FH 40 F2 type having an 0,02 µSv/h
precision.
For surface and underground a 1 m distance from the rock
ussually ensured when gamma exposure is done.
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RADON ACTIVITY MEASUREMENTThe ALPHAGUARD type device uses measurement times of 10 and 60 minutes
RADON DAUGHTERS ASSSESSMENTPylon AB 5 device is used having an AEP-47 suplimentary
device and a pump VFB-65.A membrane type filter with porosity of 0,8 µmis used.
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Remediation activities
• Photos for the remediation activities
undertaken within the Avram Iancu East
former underground uranium mine (2012)
• The production of uranium ore ended for
both Baita Plai and Avram Iancu mines
since December 2008.
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U concentration in water samples average per month for the 2011-
2014 period
Ian Febr Mar Apr Mai Iun Iul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Noroc Bun adit ( level 720 m) 0,193 0,041 0,030 0,209 0,190 0,276 0,062 0,235 0,126 0,163 0,150 0,134
Adit 23 – Poiana side 0,110 0,040 0,044 0,194 0,102 0,050 0,095 0,021 0,032 0,010 0,021 0,013
Adit 23 - Băița side 0,124 0,031 0,041 0,012 0,131 0,031 0,134 0,316 0,151 0,158 0,121 0,123
Adit XI Băița 0,098 0,068 0,036 0,036 0,119 0,184 0,096 0,136 0,100 0,115
Plaiului River Valley - Fence Băița Plai 0,021 0,019 0,076 0,008 0,022 0,024 0,068 0,026 0,045 0,069 0,049
Dump of Valea Calului - Energetic B 0,029 0,010 0,139 0,007 0,086 0,076 0,026 0,008 0,011 0,004 0,062 0,005
Crișul Negru River 100 m downside mine area 0,077 0,075 0,023 0,018 0,018 0,015 0,005 0,009 0,006 0,020