Discover how Milestone Environmental Contractors and PBN Nuna Contracting leveraged local collaboration to overcome environmental, logistical, and radiation-related hurdles in Northern Saskatchewan to restore a former uranium mill site.
By Wayne Harris
Environmental mine remediation projects are always complex—but working on this type of project in an extremely remote area adds even more challenging layers.
The remediation of a former uranium mill was one of those kinds of projects with multifaceted challenges. Taking place in Northern Saskatchewan, it required strategic collaboration and meticulous planning with an emphasis on ensuring environmental health and safety standards due to extreme radiation risks.
The project involved the remediation of an approximately 18-hectare mine tailings area.
Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc., based in Langley, B.C., led the restoration of the Lorado Former Uranium Mill in collaboration with PBN Nuna Contracting.
“The project involved addressing substantial tailings material with key components, including installing an earthen cover system over existing tailings to mitigate environmental impact and operating a water treatment system to cleanse contaminated water and neutralize a local lake’s pH levels,” explained Wayne Harris, project manager at Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc.
Covering an 18-hectare tailings area and addressing ten contaminated satellite sites, the project demanded rigorous planning, coordination and even some unconventional transportation methods to mobilize resources to the remote location.
Logistical hurdles to overcome
One of the most unique challenges on this project was the remote location of the site, particularly for transporting resources in Northern Saskatchewan. Access was limited to ice roads, barges, and fixed-wing aircraft, requiring meticulous planning for transporting labour, materials, and equipment. Milestone Environmental Contracting systematically mobilized resources to the site by setting up a staging area in Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan.
“Tackling the challenges of working in such a remote location meant making sure that, even in the far reaches of Northern Saskatchewan, we had everything we needed right where we needed it,” said Harris.
Project resources were transported from a staging area located in Stony Rapids, SK, utilizing ice roads, barges, or fixed-wing aircraft.
Collaboration with personnel in the Athabasca Basin was central to overcoming these logistical challenges. Milestone Environmental Contracting and PBN Nuna Contracting actively engaged with Uranium City and Fond-du-Lac communities to secure essential resources. On a complex remote remediation project, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship with local communities is a key factor to a successful project as it opens doors to local suppliers and contractors who bring specialized knowledge of the region’s terrain and climate. These unique relationships ensure that logistical operations run smoothly and efficiently.
24-Hour operations required
The project required 24-hour staffing for continuous water treatment operations. Managing shift crossovers required meticulous planning in order to ensure that team members could take over for each other without service disruptions or setbacks in water treatment.
Making worker safety a priority around the clock was another key consideration. With night operations, it was critical to maintain emergency readiness in those dark hours by keeping open and effective communication lines and ensuring everyone was aware of safety protocols and procedures.
Radiation risk management
The site had a history of uranium processing, which presented radiation concerns. Milestone developed a Radiation Protection Plan (RPP) that was compliant with Radiation Protection Regulations and the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. This plan included comprehensive training programs, continuous radiation monitoring, and environmental contamination controls. Field workers received training on radiation safety measures, and radiation levels were monitored continuously to ensure exposure stayed within safe limits.
The project scope included the installation of an earthen cover system over existing tailings and supply and operation of a water treatment system.
“We kept detailed records of radiation protection procedures, dose records, and survey results to ensure compliance and safety throughout the project,” explained Harris.
Environmental stewardship ensured
Working on a site with potential health and environmental hazards means that maintaining responsible environmental stewardship throughout the project was not only a goal, but a necessity.
Milestone and PBN Nuna Contracting developed an Environmental Procedures Manual, identifying potential health and environmental hazards—particularly for spill management—establishing clear procedures for stopping, containing, and cleaning up hazardous material spills.
Close collaboration and engagement were established with local Athabasca Basin personnel and businesses, encompassing the hiring of local talent, acquisition of equipment, and procurement of necessary supplies.
Personnel were trained and equipped to handle hazardous materials safely, with comprehensive training programs and access to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). These measures ensured operations were completed responsibly and in compliance with environmental regulations. These procedures and precautions ensured quick response to minimize environmental impacts.
Every complex layer of this project came down to one key principle: collaboration. Between radiation concerns, the remote location of the site, and continuous operations, effective communication between everyone involved was a priority throughout the project.
Wayne Harris is a project manager at Milestone Environmental Contracting.
Featured image credits: Milestone Environmental Contracting.
