Turning a Problem into a Resource: Remediation and Waste Management at the Sillamäe Site, Estonia

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

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2. Introductory Material: The Situation at Sillamäe

   1. Industrial Complex in Northeast Estonia: Technical, Economic and Environmental Aspects

      • Mihkel Veiderma

      Pages 1-4

   2. Uranium Processing at Sillamäe and Decommissioning of the Tailings

      • E. Lippmaa, E. Maremäe

      Pages 5-14

   3. Sillamäe-A Common Baltic Concern

      • Jan Olof Snihs

      Pages 15-20

   4. Master Plan for Remediation of the Sillamäe Tailings Pond and Technical Design Project

      • Tõnis Kaasik

      Pages 21-25

   5. Site Monitoring

      • Vladimir Nosov

      Pages 27-30

   6. Stability of the Dam at the Sillamäe Tailings Pond

      • M. Mets, H. Torns

      Pages 31-46

   7. Process Flow Sheet

      • V. Petrenko, A. Siinmaa

      Pages 47-56

   8. Rare Earth Production at the Sillamäe Plant, 1969–1991 and the Possibility of Scandium Extraction from Loparite

      • V. D. Kosynkin, V. J. Nikonov

      Pages 57-61

   9. Indoor Occupational Exposure to Radiation at the Silmet Plant in Estonia

      • Raimo Mustonen, Mika Markkanen, Eero Oksanen, Raivo Rajamäe

      Pages 63-68

3. Experience with Uranium Tailings in Other Countries

   1. Remediation of the Former Uranium Mine Ranstad

      • B. Sundblad

      Pages 69-74

   2. Remediation of Tailings Dams

      • A. G. Benckert

      Pages 75-79

   3. Remediation Concepts for Uranium Mining Operations in CEEC

      • Jan Vrijen

      Pages 81-92

   4. Wismut Experience in Remediation of Uranium Mill Tailings Ponds

      • A. T. Jakubick, M. Hagen

      Pages 93-105

   5. Post-Remediation Monitoring and Maintenance Experience at Uranium Mill Tailings Sites, United States

      • Charles A. Jones, Carl L. Jacobson, Mark P. Plessinger, Russel Edge

      Pages 107-116

   6. Current State of Remediation of Tailings Ponds and Their Surroundings in Hungary

      • I. Benkovics, J. Csicsák, M. Csövári, ZS. Lendvai

      Pages 117-128

   7. The Environmental Impact of Former Uranium Mining Activities at the Novoveska Huta Site, Slovakia

      • Miroslav Košík

      Pages 129-131

   8. A “Heritage” from Uranium Mining in Poland

      • Z. Waclawek, J. Koszela, W. Charewicz

      Pages 133-138

   9. A Field Study of Capillary and Hydraulic Barriers in Landfill Covers Varying in Slope at Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

      • J. W. Nyhan, T. G. Schofield, J. A. Salazar

      Pages 139-152

4. Regulatory and Legal Issues

   1. Estonian Radiation Protection Requirements and the Sillamäe Site

      • Enn Realo

      Pages 153-163

In its present condition, the dam of the tailings pond is less stable than is recommended by international practice. A surveillance system has been established to observe both vertical and horizontal soil movement and the buildup of stresses in the soil. The stability of the dam depends primarily on erosion by shore processes and the consequent reduction of the counterbalance, as well as the reduction in strength of the Cambrian clay underlying the dam caused by creep and by water percolating to the bottom of the pond. The most critical need is to enlarge the counterbalance and to stop erosion. The surveillance system should be supplemented with a system of inclinometers. Monitoring of coastal processes should be continued. At present, the hydrodynamic stress on the dam is minimal because the pebble layer allows drainage of water out of the tailings pond and into the sea. The regulatory requirement to end emissions into the Baltic Sea must be met without causing undesirable hydrodynamic stresses on the dam. This could be done by covering the pond and diverting precipitation water. 9. References I. Report on Topographic-Geodetic Studies at the Tailings Pond. 1965, No. A-4-01187 (in Russian). 2. Report on Geotechnical Studies at the Tailings Pond of Plant PO Box 22. 1965, No. 64691 (in Russian). 3. Report on Topographic-Geodetic and Geotechnical Studies at the Thennal Power Plant's Ash Impoundment. 1976, No. 15740 (in Russian). 4. Technical Report on Topographic Planning of the Thennal Power Plant's Ash Impoundment. 1979, No.

• Ammonium
• Tantal
• development
• emissions
• environment
• production
• terrestrial pollution

• Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, USA

  Cheryl K. Rofer

• ÖkoSil Ltd., Tallinn, Estonia

  Tõnis Kaasik

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