REMEDIATION OF WISMUT’S URANIUM TAILINGS PONDS AT SEELINGST腄T, GERMANY

摘要

As part of its mine closure program Wismut GmbH is remediating the Uranium tailings ponds Culmitzsch and Trunzig covering 3.6 km2 pond area including approximately 104 million m3 tailings. From 1960 till 1990 tailings were discharged into tailings ponds erected in a densely populated area. Contaminant leakage from the tailings enters the surrounding aquifers and the receiving streams. Dry remediation in situ started with first securing measures in 1991 and will last till 2020. The paper presents the conception for the entire remediation of the tailings ponds, the actual remediation status achieved to date and an outlook to the future.