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3.3 | Management of technologically enhanced naturally occuring radiation (TENORM) waste |
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| In the environment, there is already a measurable background radiation due to the presence of radioelements which have been or are still being produced by various physical processes. Their concentration does not in general lead to any major hazard, obviating the need to take particular precautions against the radioactivity hazard. In France, exposure to natural radioactivity varies from region to region but is about 1 mSv/year. Definition of enhanced natural radioactivity: all materials naturally contain radionuclides. Some, such are rare earths, are particularly rich in uranium and thorium. Handling or transforming them can lead to expose the workers or the population. We then talk of enhanced natural exposure, insofar as the radionuclides are naturally present in the raw materials and are not used for their fissile, fusible or fertile properties, but the industrial activities then enhance exposure of the persons. The raw materials liable to lead to significant doses are commonly called NORM (Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Materials) or TENORM (Technologically Enhanced Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Materials) if the industrial process concentrates the radionuclides. | |||||
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3.3.1 Uranium mining waste | ||||
Uranium mines handle large quantities
of raw materials and thus generate large quantities of VLL waste with
enhanced natural radioactivity. These are the uranium mine residues, of
which 2 categories must be distinguished:
In France, the treatment residues represent 49 million tons (31 million tons of dynamic treatment residue and 18 million tons of static treatment residue) spread over 17 disposal sites, run as ICPE. The national inventory of uranium mining sites, produced as part of the MIMAUSA programme (Memory and Impact of Uranium Mines: Summary and Archive) run by the Ministry for Ecology and Sustainable Development, can be accessed on the www.irsn.fr website. Thinking about the safety review of former mining sites and the disposal of mining treatment residues, their long-term surveillance and the consequences of inappropriate future use of the land concerned is ongoing. Case of the Limousin region uranium mining sites: To encourage dialogue and debate around the Limousin region's uranium mining sites, the Haute Vienne prefect decided in April 2005 to set up a local information committee (CLI). The process to appoint the chairman and members of this CLI is ongoing. On 24 December 2004, the Regional Directorate for Industry, Research and the Environment (DRIRE) received Cogema's operating results, which although they meet all the requirements nonetheless need some additional work. The DRIRE therefore asked the licensee to have an external peer-review carried out. At the same time the Minister for Ecology and Sustainable Development, the Minister Delegate for Industry and the Minister for Solidarity, Health and the Family decided to set up a pluralistic expert group (GEP) to regularly monitor the third-party assessment and take part in its coordination (reviewing the rehabilitation of the various sites with a view to their future use and control of short and long term risks, site surveillance procedures, the possible use of materials outside mining sites, and so on). This GEP will consist of about ten French and foreign experts, who should be appointed in the first half of 2006. This GEP's mission will last a limited period of time and should end in early 2007. |
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