Problems recorded at in situ leach uranium mines

Claims that in situ leach mining (ISL) is the most environmentally friendly mining method hide the reality of its environmental dangers. The Wise Uranium Project: Issues at Operating Uranium Mines lists more than 700 incidents on US uranium ISL mines extracted from the ADAMAS database of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

These include over 150 excursions (underground leakage of mine solution into aquifers), over 300 surface spills of uranium-bearing fluids, over 70 leaking boreholes, over 80 missed testing schedules, leaking evaporation ponds, damaged yellow cake drums, staff exposure to spilt yellow cake, yellow cake drums incorrectly filled, incorrect operation pressures and bleed rates, problematic daily records, gamma ray surveys and shipping papers, missing radiation work permits, topsoil not protected, missed daily inspections, problematic environmental, safety and health reports, unsecured radioactive storage facilities, illegal change of licence boundary, post-mining remediation problems, among others.