Tuesday, March 12, 2013

High uranium levels in pond near Talvivaara mine

Comments:  best practices and regulations did not stop flood, leaks

News|

Finland's Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority STUK has measured high concentrations of uranium in a pond near the Talvivaara mine at Sotkamo. STUK has requested the mining company to investigate when and how the uranium made its way into the pond.

Työmiehiä Talvivaaran tyhjiin vuotaneen kipsisakka-altaan pohjalla.
The uranium may be from a gypsum pond leak that leaked waste water into the environment last November. Image: Heikki Rönty / Yle

Measurements by STUK found close to 600 micrograms of uranium per litre in the mid-depth and bottom waters of the nearby Salminen pond.

"At this point, these are personal thoughts about how to proceed. In any case the water, as it is now, must be prevented from flowing on further. This will take a few more days of consideration," Ikäheimonen told Yle.

The Talvivaara Mining Company has started an investigation into the matter.

The first phase of a leak from one of the mine's gypsum holding ponds in November spilled around 20,000 litres of unprocessed waste water into the surrounding area.

http://yle.fi/uutiset/high_uranium_levels_in_pond_near_talvivaara_mine/6533252