Successful Northern Community Collaboration – Waste Management and Diversion from Uranium Mining and Milling Facilities in Northern Saskatchewan May 13, 2016 Camille Pouteaux & Walter Smith Environmental Services Liaison & PBN Manager of Training and Community Development Cameco Corporation cameco.com
Agenda ● Company Background and Location ● Cameco Waste Management History ● Forming a Partnership with a Northern Community ● Understanding Radiation ● Waste Management at Uranium Mining & Milling Facilities ● Economics of Managing Waste from Remote Northern Cameco Operations ● Waste Management Activities ● Cameco Success ● Community Success
Cameco Background ● Cameco is one of the world’s largest uranium producers, providing about 18% of world uranium production. ● Cameco has four uranium operations in Northern Saskatchewan including: o McArthur River and Cigar Lake, the world’s largest high grade uranium deposits and mines; o a uranium milling facility at Key Lake, and; o A mine and mill at Rabbit Lake (Cameco’s longest-running operation ) which is now moving towards care and maintenance Go to: “Insert > Header & Footer” to insert your title on all slides 3
PBN Background ● Pinehouse Business North (PBN) is a northern Saskatchewan Aboriginal-owned and operated company specializing in civil earthworks, labour services and waste management for the mining industry. ● PBN was started in 2007 by the people of Pinehouse Lake to create wealth, employment & infrastructure for their community. ● The company enjoys preferred supplier status with Cameco and has the advantage of long-standing relationships with the mining industry in Northern Saskatchewan. ● Building sustainable wealth will have a positive impact within Pinehouse. ● Since its inception, PBN has grossed revenues in excess of $20 million and currently employs over 125 local people. ● Our goal is to raise the service standard as a Preferred Northern Contractor, diversify our business portfolio, develop strategic long-term partnerships and lead the way in community owned wealth creation. Go to: “Insert > Header & Footer” to insert your title on all slides 4
Saskatchewan map (Athabasca Basin cut out)
Pinehouse, SK Population: 1500 Distance to nearest Cameco facility: 223 Km Go to: “Insert > Header & Footer” to insert your title on all slides 6
Waste Management – A History ● Two Cameco operations were developed in late 1970s to early 1980s (Rabbit Lake and Key Lake) and have been in operation since. ● The McArthur River mine began operations in the late 1990s and the Cigar Lake mine has been in development since the mid 2000s but only recently became fully operational due to past flooding events during development. ● Kitchen/domestic waste is managed appropriately to avoid wildlife interactions. ● Industrial Waste from Mining and Milling operations was stockpiled on site. ● The issues: – Everyday industrial waste – that could otherwise be recycled – sits in stockpiles. – Material has to be scanned for radioactivity before leaving site. – Process requires time and resources and creates bottlenecks. – It is time-consuming and costly to manage industrial waste material. – Landfills at sites have limited capacity. 7
Stockpiling Example 8
Stockpiling Example 9
Stockpiling Example - Before 10
Stockpiles Cleaned Up - After Go to: “Insert > Header & Footer” to insert your title on all slides 11
Partnering to protect the environment ● Cameco and PBN faced challenges and found solutions ● Result is improved environmental stewardship and better waste management practices ● Supporting business development and employment opportunities in northern Saskatchewan. Go to: “Insert > Header & Footer” to insert your title on all slides 12
Understanding Radiation ● What is Radiation? – Any energy traveling through space ● This radioactive release can either be harmful or not: – Non-ionizing radiation – does not have enough energy to cause damage to living tissue (example WiFi in your home) – Ionizing radiation – has enough energy to cause damage to living tissue Go to: “Insert > Header & Footer” to insert your title on all slides 13
Understanding Radiation ● Background radiation comes from:
Radiation Exposure ● Radiation dose at each of Cameco’s operations is controlled through well- 25 managed Radiation Protection Cameco’s Exposure Limit Programs (RPP) 20 ● Radiation dose measured in 15 mSv (millisieverts) 10 ● CNSC (Canadian Nuclear Safety 1.6 0.26 5 Commission) annual target is 0 < 50 mSv Surface U/G ● Cameco annual target < 20 mSv Average effective radiation dose for workers in 2015 ● (i.e.) Average exposure of UG worker at McArthur River is 1.6 mSv Source: 2015 McArthur River Annual Report ● Average background radiation in Canada is 2 – 4 mSv
Radiation Exposure ● For Comparison – Flight Crews typically receive an average exposure of 2-4 mSv/per year. – Dental x-ray exams will provide an average dose of 1.6 mSv – Mammograms will provide an average dose of 2.5 mSv – CT scans will expose the body to many times more radiation than what a nuclear energy worker experiences. Depends on where the CT scan is conducted and the length of exposure however the dose can range between 2-50 mSv 16
Waste Management at Uranium Mining and Milling Facilities ● Cameco follows the ALARA Principle – As Low As Reasonably Achievable – This is an internationally recognized standard by which radiation control measures are evaluated. – Radiation programs are in place for the protection of all workers. ● Part of ALARA is Zone Control – Because Cameco’s business is to operate uranium mining and milling facilities, materials will come in contact with radioactive materials on a routine basis. – Zone controls (zone 1-4) have been established at the sites classifying the expected level of radiation exposure within each work area e.g. The camps or permanent residence facilities are not in contact with any radioactive material, therefore they are c lassed as zone 1. 17
Waste Management at Uranium Mining and Milling Facilities ● Waste is categorized in a similar fashion and it is automatically classed as contaminated if it comes from a zone 2-4. – Non-Contaminated or Domestic Waste (Zone 1) – Contaminated Waste (Zone 2-4) Note: Zone 2&3 working areas are not normally expected to contain radioactive material. Zone 4 waste is expected to be radioactive and must be scanned 18
Waste Management at Uranium Mining and Milling Facilities – Cameco scans all items leaving site (zones 2-4) – even though the majority of the zone 2-3 items are expected to be clean. – This is done to ensure the public that material leaving the site is not contaminated. – This applies to all industrial recyclable material. 19
Waste Management at Uranium Mining and Milling Facilities ● This additional level of effort for managing waste is unique to the uranium industry. ● Challenge – Develop the most cost effective way to collect, scan, clean, prepare, transport and manage all potentially recyclable materials to extend the life of Cameco’s existing landfills and avoid the need for additional landfill space during the life of our operations. The following was evaluated: Current Recycling Levels and Programs Transportation Costs to Offsite Recycling Facility Scanning Bottlenecks Minimizing Repeated Handling 20
Waste Management at Uranium Mining and Milling Facilities ● Solutions – Create a centralized transfer station area for site employees to bring various industrial recycling materials to be processed. – Partner with a northern community to have dedicated personnel responsible for all aspects of industrial recycling and thus gaining efficiencies. – Provide training for those people. – Bulk up shipments to reduce transportation costs. – Effectively implement program changes within Cameco to support the diversion of as much recyclable material from the landfill as possible. 21
Creation of a Transfer Station 22
Transportation ● Materials are shipped offsite in bulk shipping containers to increase the volume diverted from sites and reduce backhaul charges 23
Enhanced Recycling Program to try to Improve Diversion ● Cameco sites started recycling like most industries and focused on common recycled materials such as paper/cardboard ● All sites are at different stages in the implementation of their enhanced waste management processes. ● The partnership with PBN allows the sites to collect and manage more recyclable materials by removing the bottleneck in scanning and recyclable shipment preparation. ● Enhanced recycling includes: lightbulbs, batteries, ink and printer cartridges, waste electronics, kitchen grease, aerosol cans, pallets, tires, scrap metal, HSWDG, mixed blue bin materials (i.e. plastic, tin, glass, paper, cardboard, beverage containers), etc.
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