Although the extraction and processing of uranium can produce negative effects on the environment, a report from the General Audit Office (AGN, for its acronym in Spanish) found that since 2002 no studies of the impact this activity has on the flora and fauna are made in the Mining Manufacturing Complex near the Sierra Pintada, a property located in the town of San Rafael, Mendoza.

According to the study, the body that should carry out these measurements is the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), an autonomous body that depends on the Ministry of Energy, under the aegis of the Ministry of Federal Planning.

The Audit adds that the CNEA also did, in Sierra Pintada, studies on arsenic, a substance that, like the uranium can be "capable of generating negative impacts on the environment, as expressed by the World Health Organization.”

Sierra Pintada

For over a decade, the establishment from Mendoza provided the uranium needed to power nuclear power plants, such as reservoir, where the entire Cobalt 60 used in the country is obtained, and the research reactors.

Despite the prominence of the mining complex, "domestic production of uranium concentrate has been interrupted since 1997 due to economic circumstances," says the audit, referring to the low international price of the input occurred at that time.

In fact, the Watchdog said that Sierra Pintada "is not operating at the moment", although it retains a staff of 90 people "who perform maintenance tasks."

More broadly, the AGN said that together with the activities related to uranium "large quantities of solid and liquid waste that must be managed safely to control the negative impact that may have in the environment," adding "both the tailings of the mineral as well as the potent effluents are a potential source of contamination of the surrounding areas, if proper treatment is not done."

From these certainties it was that the auditors examined the work of the CNEA in managing environmental liabilities of Sierra Pintada.

The Commission is, in fact, responsible for the implementation of Law 25018, Radioactive Waste Management and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management.

Liquid Waste

One of the most important findings of the audit is that "there has not been any progress in the management of environmental liabilities" in Sierra Pintada.

In support of such an assessment, the report argues that "no priority liabilities have been treated (quarry water) or solid waste (arranged temporarily in drums), although progress has been made in the execution of works that would enable their treatment."

With regard to liquid waste, technicians examined the documentation provided by the CNEA itself, in which there are results of monitoring of the composition of the quarry water from various sectors of the complex (Tiger I and III, the terrace, and Gaucho I, among others).

These studies show that "uranium values exceed the permitted levels for water discharge referred to in Res.DGI No. 778/96, as well as in some cases the (limits) of the Radio exceed."

The excesses do not seem a minor issue, especially when you consider that, in October 2012, one of the quarries of Sierra Pintada uranium showed a concentration of 3612.23 ug / l (microgram per liter), "surpassing the Tipping limit allowed 100 ug / 1", compares the audit.

And as for the radio, it was detected in September 2010 in another of the quarries of the property a concentration of 52.15 pCi / L (picocuries per liter She used to measure the radioactivity of the water-) when only permitted amounts 5 pci / l.

The Mystery of the 68 Drums

Moreover, the solid waste of the property is stored in drums, some of which come from Cordoba, sent by a company called Dioxitek, which controls a uranium production plant in the province.

To try to determine certain issues like content, but especially the number of drums that are in the lot, the Watchdog requested documentation to the National Atomic Energy Commission.

So that is how the CNEA delivered a folder marked "Registering Income" contained in, contrary to expectations, spreadsheets detailing expenditures with barrels from Cordoba to Mendoza.

The Watchdog went even further. "With the claim of some shortages and mismatches between some data," the Commission presented the "Acts of Closure Trench and Metal Drums details." Those papers express the amounts to 5,291 barrels.

Yet another document from the CNEA, entitled "Number and Location of Solid Waste" in the manufacturing center, said that the number of barrels is 5,223, "emerging accordingly a difference of 68 drums that were not covered by any documentation "not even –adds the audit – in the resolutions of the Mendoza Ministry of Environment and Public Works (which also speaks of 5,223 containers).

Given this, the report of the AGN plays a response from the Commission finally noted the "existence of 5,223 drums" and added: "The difference (in figures) is that (containers) were used to test processes "they were not registered in the aforementioned form Metal Drums detail.

Beyond the quantity, and to complete the idea, the Watchdog says, "it has not identified the contents of all the drums buried in the Sierra Pintada Industrial Mining Complex".

Conclusion

The audit concludes its work noting that "the CNEA has identified and prioritized the environmental liabilities of Sierra Pintada, but has not obtained the approval of a comprehensive plan with goals and deadlines set by the implementing authority."

In addition, it was recommended "to speed up the completion of the works for the proper quarry water treatment and disposal of solid waste buried in the complex." It added: "public disclosure and transparency of actions taken by the CNEA to achieve the necessary confidence of the people, especially the inhabitants of the hinterland of Sierra Pintada, is central."