Critical analysis of the waste management performance of two uranium production units in Brazil - part I: Pocos de Caldas production centre

    Authors

    H. M. Fernandes; M. R. Franklin;L. A. Gomiero

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Environ. Manage.

    Keywords

    uranium mining; environmental management; remediation; acid drainage; MILL TAILINGS; IMPACT; ROCK; Environmental Sciences

    Abstract

    Waste management strategies in mining projects will depend to a large extent on the characteristics of the operational process, the type of ore and prevailing socio-environmental conditions, amongst other issues. The expenditures required by the management scheme and the implementation of remediation programs will be determined by the extent that the above issues were considered in the planning phase of the project. Several works have been published in the literature concerning the analysis of waste management programs and environmental impacts associated with uranium projects around the world. However, the vast majority do not report a comprehensive assessment integrating the various relationships among operational process, environmental impact, remediation strategy and costs. This study, divided into two papers, presents a detailed critical analysis of the waste management strategies adopted in two uranium production centres in Brazil, i.e., the Pocos de Caldas Project (Part I) and the Caetite Project (Part 11). The operational processes are described and the environmental impacts of the generated wastes as well as the adopted management strategies and costs are examined. Also, in Part 11, a comparison between both production centres is made emphasizing the impacts of environmental and social-economical issues on the overall assessment. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Environmental Management

    Volume

    87

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2008

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    59

    Last Page

    72

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000253486100006

    ISSN

    0301-4797

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