First session
Vienna, 30 April-11 May 2007

Environmental consequences of uranium mining - Working paper submitted by Kyrgyzstan, on behalf of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

I.      Background: In the report of Main Committee III of the 1995 Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, it was noted that there have been exceptional instances in which serous environmental consequences have resulted from uranium mining and associated nuclear fuel-cycle activities in the production and testing of nuclear weapons. Similar language is contained in the Final Document of the 2000 Review Conference on the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
II.     Recommendations: The Preparatory Committee reiterates the appeal of the 1995 and 2000 Conferences to all Governments and international organizations that have expertise in the field of clean-up and disposal of radioactive contaminants to consider giving appropriate assistance, as may be requested, for radiological assessment and remedial purposes in these affected areas, while noting the efforts that have been made to date in this regard.