What is Environmental Remediation

Contamination may occur at nuclear legacy sites where radioactive materials were used in the past but are no longer in operation or have been decommissioned. This includes contamination from early nuclear power plants, nuclear research and development, nuclear testing and waste disposal sites, uranium mining and processing, as well as from radiological accidents, such as Chornobyl.

Contamination may also occur in non-nuclear industries, such as oil and gas extraction, which can bring naturally occurring radioactive material to the surface.

Around the world, environmental remediation programmes address contamination from:

• Former uranium mining and milling sites
• Industrial sites with naturally occurring radioactive material
• Legacy nuclear industry sites
• Military and nuclear testing sites, and
• Sites that experiences nuclear and radiological accidents.

Effective remediation is closely linked with nuclear decommissioning. Careful planning and execution of decommissioning activities help prevent or minimize the spread of contamination, reducing both the scope and cost of subsequent remediation. By managing radioactive materials and exposure pathways during decommissioning, sites can be safely restored, allowing for future reuse.