A waste containment dam break spilled 160,000 cubic meters of coal ash into the Partizanskaya River and the Nahodka Bay watershed from a ring dike disposal site near Partizansk in the Russian Far East 200 kilometers east of Vladivostok in May 2004. Observations and Selected Photos have been compiled to identify concerns raised during a site visit by Research Director Paul Robinson at the request of ISAR-FE (Institute for Social Action in Russia - Far East) and colleagues in the region. Partizansk Information on the Web provides additional background on the Partizansk area.

"Comments and Recommendations Submitted to Environmental Assessment Panel Reviewing Decommissioning Proposals for the Elliot Lake Uranium Mine Tailings Management Areas" is a ten point analysis of the closure plans for the large uranium waste sites in Ontario prepared by Paul Robinson in 1995 for the Canadian Environmental Assessment Panel Hearings on the Decommissioning. The "Comments" includes a critique of the sub-aqueous disposal aspects of the Elliot Lake decommissioning proposals. These comments were prepared on behalf of Northwatch, a community-based environmental organization with general offices in North Bay, Ontario.

"A Model Mine Shows Its Cracks: An Independent Report on Environmental Problems At The Kubaka Gold Mine in the Russian Far East," by Julie Edlund, David Gordon and Wm. Paul Robinson for Pacific Environment and Resources Center, with technical assistance from Southwest Research and Information Center.

Press Release announcing Right-to-Know lawsuit filed by Southwest Research and United Steelworkers of America, Local 890 on September 15 against Phelps-Dodge related to inadequate reporting of toxic release.

Copy of technical paper by Research Director Paul Robinson on long-term groundwater contamination at two uranium mill tailings sites in New Mexico titled: GROUNDWATER RESTORATION LONG BEYOND CLOSURE AT THE HOMESTAKE-MILAN AND UNITED NUCLEAR-CHURCH ROCK URANIUM MILL TAILINGS PILES, NEW MEXICO, USA: FULL-SCALE PROGRAMS REQUIRING MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF ACTIVE TREATMENT (24k document) in: "Proceedings of Conference on Uranium Mining and Hydrogeology - II", Claudia Helling, et. al. editors, Technical University - Freiberg, Saxony, Germany, September, 1998

Copy of Statement by Research Director submitted to House of Representative Subcommittee in support of expansion of Radiation Exposure Compensation Act titled "MORE THAN RADON IN THE URANIUM DUST: (30k document) An Overview of the Basis for Uranium Miners and Millers Exposed to Non-Radioactive Hazards and Radioactive Hazards other than Radon Decay Products to be Included in US Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Program. The statement was provided in support of testimony presented to US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims Hearing on Uranium Workers Health Effects and Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments on June 25, 1998 in Washington DC.

Copy of research paper on uranium and thorium mines in the Chita region of Siberia and their associated environmental and health problems on behalf Baikalwatch, a project of the Earth Island Institute and the Baikal Center for Ecological and Citizen Initiatives in Irkutsk, Russia titled: "Environmental Damage and Policy Issues in the Uranium and Gold Mining Districts of Chita Oblast in the Russian Far East: A Report on Existing Problems at Baley and Krasnokamensk and Policy Needs in the Region" (91k document) completed November 1996.

Copy of technical paper by Research Director Paul Robinson on innovative aspects of the remediation and restoration of a mine and mill complex in northern New Mexico titled: "Innovative Administrative, Technical and Public Involvement Approaches to Environmental Restoration at an Inactive Lead-Zinc Mining and Milling Complex Near Pecos, New Mexico" (48k document) in "Proceedings of Waste Management '95", University of Arizona/DOE/WEC, Tucson AZ, March 1995. Proceedings on CR-ROM from WM Symposiums, Inc.

"Review of Recent Uranium Production and Market Trends" prepared by Wm. Paul Robinson on behalf of Saskatchewan Uranium Committee, June 13-14, 1996 (15k document).

EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY CHANGES PROPOSED FOR THE LA OROYA SMELTER COMPLEX IN CENTRAL PERU: FINAL REPORT February 1, 1999. Submitted to: Sociedad Peruana de Derechos Ambientales (SPDA).

Synopsis of trip can be found in The Workbook.

Update of Mining Activities by SRIC can be found in the SRIC News "Chino Mines and Molycorp's Questa Operation" and SRIC's Co-hosts Statewide Mining Workshop.