Environmental remediation for the upstream of Yotsugi Mill Tailings Pond, Ningyo-toge Uranium Mine

Saito, Hiroshi; Sato, Yasushi*; Sakamoto, Atsushi*; Torikai, Kazuyoshi; Fukushima, Shigeru ; Sakao, Ryota ; Taki, Tomihiro

Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center has been conducting environmental remediation of the Ningyo-toge Uranium Mine, after decades of mine-related activities were terminated. Its purposes are to take measures to ensure safety and radiation protection from the exposure pathways to humans in future, and to prevent the occurrence of mining pollution. As part of the remediation, upstream part of the Yotsugi Mill Tailings Pond, the highest prioritized facility, has been remediated to fiscal year 2012. Multi-layered capping has been constructed using natural material, after specifications and whole procedure being examined in terms of long-term stability, radiation protection, economics, etc. Monitoring has been carried out to confirm the effectiveness of the capping, in terms of settlement, dose and radon exhalation rates, etc. Monitoring of drainage volume of penetrated rainwater is planned. Accumulated data will be examined and used for remediation of downstream part of the Pond.