The Saskatchewan Research Council is making preparations to begin the cleanup of the former Lorado uranium mill site.
The facility located eight kilometers from Uranium City was in operation from 1957 to 1960, and was used to process ore from many mines in the region.
Saskatchewan Environment recently approved the council’s plan for the project, which had been under development for several years.
SRC Remediation Project Manager Dianne Allen says the site cannot be returned to its original state, but the level of radiation hazard can be reduced.
“It will never be pristine — the lake won’t support any fish for a number of years, we don’t think,” she says. “Eventually, there will be vegetation growing on the tailings. It might be a scar on the land for many, many years, but eventually there will be berries and animals will be making their homes on that area.”
Allen says the tailings will be covered with sand and earth to prevent humans and animals from coming in contact with the radiation.
The nearby lake has become very acidic and limestone will be added to raise the pH level of the water.
Allen says the task of covering the tailings will begin in June and the remediation of Nero Lake will start in July.
Over the next few years, the SRC will be working on the cleanup of 35 abandoned uranium mine and mill sites in northern Saskatchewan.