“It is necessary to take strict measures to prevent loss or environmental pollution caused by the residues and uranium-containing waste materials or disused articles generated from uranium mining and milling,” and “it is important to upgrade timely the monitoring plan for uranium mine radiation environment and effluent, and to implement it strictly based on the realistic situations during closure and shutdown,” MEE/NCRO recently presented the inspection conclusion and clear requirements for further rectification and improvements at Qinglong Uranium Mine, CNNC North China Uranium Industry Ltd during a special oversight inspection it organized during the Two Sessions of the country in 2019.

Qinglong Uranium Mine, located in Hebei Province, within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, is characterized by complex geography, hard rocks, multiple radiation risks, difficulty in managing radiation safety, and high social sensitivity. Therefore, it becomes one of key uranium mine facilities for MEE/NCRO to regulate in respect of radiation safety. By carefully considering the practical situations of the closure progress of this mine, this inspection highlighted the regulation over such matters as the establishment and implementation of management system, the operation and management of waste treatment facility, the monitoring of effluents and radiation environment, the emergency preparation for radiation accident, the management of residues and uranium-containing waste and articles. This inspection encompassed key facilities to be regulated such as heap leaching site, tailings impoundment facility, emergency water pool, waste treatment workshop, emergency generator room, emergency supply warehouse. This is a comprehensive examination for the mine’s radiation safety.

This inspection is the first time for MEE/NCRO Party Branch of Division of Radiation Environment Monitoring and Supervision to implement on-site radiation regulation task on a basis of completing its own job since MEE’s deployment titled with “what should I do for winning the tough battle for prevention and control of pollution”. The subsequent efforts will be focused on the special safety regulation inspection on Guyuan and other uranium mines in Hebei Province to ensure the radiation safety within Capital Circle and will contribute to winning the tough battle fighting against pollution in the field of nuclear and radiation safety regulation.