EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/860

(2004/C 78 E/0914)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3825/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 December 2003)

Subject: Abandoned mines

In various EU countries, including Portugal, there are mines which have been abandoned in a very bad state, with waste water leaching out and forming pools which pollute nearby watercourses and land, thereby presenting a threat to the environment and public health.

There are a number of particularly serious cases, such as the uranium mines in Portugal. There is in fact a programme for the recovery of mines, but financial resources are scarce and thus work to prevent environmental deterioration progresses very slowly.

Can the Commission therefore say:

1. what research has been done on abandoned mines in the EU Member States, in particular uranium mines, and what projects exist to prevent environmental damage and safeguard public health;

2. what support has been given to Portugal for this purpose;

3. what other forms of support will be possible in the short term, bearing in mind the serious situations in Portugal and the financial problems faced by the country?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(6 February 2004)

The Commission has, for many years, been well aware of the problems posed by uranium mining and milling sites once the economic activity at the site has come to an end. These abandoned mines, if they are not properly managed and subjected to remediation, can pose an important radiological risk to man and the environment.

The problem is particularly acute in a number of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and has been the subject of studies under the PHARE and related programmes. A number of Member States, that in the past were involved in uranium mining (including Germany, France and Sweden), have carried out research on the remediation of such sites. However, no Community-funded research has been carried out inside the Union during any of the recent research framework programmes.

The results of a study undertaken for the Commission and published in 1999 once again highlighted concerns about such sites (1). The report describes a methodology for radiological assessment, a characterisation of different restoration options in terms of performance and cost, and a decision aiding framework using multi-attribute utility functions as well as action levels for intervention referring to international guidance.

Under Article 53 of Council Directive 96/29/Euratom (2), it is the responsibility of the Member States to take the necessary steps to reduce the radiological effects of past practices — which includes past uranium mining activities-, such as the area demarcation, monitoring of exposures, implementation of intervention measures, etc.

In the framework of the PRIME programme, two studies relative to the uranium mines were proposed by Portugal and have already been approved. The total cost of these studies is EUR 2,754 million of which EUR 1,656 million will be co-financed by the Community through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The Portuguese authorities have informed the Commission that a further four projects related to rehabilitation of uranium mines are being studied for a total investment of EUR 12,86 million.

(1) Investigation of a possible basis for a common approach with regard to the restoration of areas affected by lasting radiation exposure as a result of past or old practice or work activity, ‘CARE’, available at http://europa.eu.int/ comm/energy/nuclear/radioprotection/publication/doc/115_en.pdf

(2) Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996 laying down basic safety standards for the protection of the health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionizing radiation, OJ L 159, 29.6.1996.