The impact of mining and cultivation of uranium ore on the surroundings of the area of Dolni Rozinka

Beginnings of uranium mining in the Czech Republic date back to 1945. At that time uranium mining developed rapidly and the demand for uranium ore rose. There were two new uranium deposits discovered near Rožná and Olší during the summer and autumn 1956, and in 1957 the excavation of R1 shaft near Rožná started. Since 1958 uranium ore has been mined from this deposit, located in the district of Žďár nad Sázavou in the Vysočina region. Nowadays it is the last exploited underground deposit of uranium in the Czech Republic. The end marketable product from the extraction and dressing process is uranium concentrate (so called yellow cake) in the form of ammonium diuranate and a by-product from the disposal of excess water from the dressing plant is marketable sodium sulphate. However, mining operations at the Rožná locality have affected the environment, caused changes in the relief, water regime, draining, vegetation and fauna. Moreover, this activity affected health and quality of life of miners, their families and all residents in this locality. Operations by GEAM Dolní Rožínka (a branch of the state enterprise DIAMO) and the impact on the environment is monitored in accordance with Section 18 of Act No 17/1992 on the environment. Annually, since 1990s, monitoring is conducted in accordance with documented monitoring programmes which are approved and their results discussed by the competent administrative authorities, professional supervisory bodies (the State Office for Nuclear Safety), and are available to the general public. Based on an evaluation of the results recorded to date in the regular monitoring of the environment, it was proved that the mining and processing of uranium ore in the Dolní Rožínka locality does not result into serious pollution or harm to the environment. Local inhabitants differ in their views. It can be caused by unsufficient information supply about mining and processing of uranium ore due to low interest or even concealing in the past.This publication should be used as a source of information for both general public and study purposes