In 2001, remediation was initiated at priority sites in Johanngeorgenstadt and Breitenbrunn
Under the terms of the Wismut Act of 1991, funds earmarked for remediation were strictly limited to those sites for which Wismut was responsible in 1990. This meant that no federal funding was available for a great number of sites abandoned by SAG/SDAG Wismut during the fifties and sixties. Also, there was no legal requirement for the Free State of Saxony, or registered landowners such as communities, counties, business establishments, or private individuals to take remedial measures.
After 1992, baseline environmental studies were undertaken to identify the relicts of early uranium mining, now designated by the term of abandoned industrial sites. Based on an agreement concluded between the German federal government and the Free State of Saxony, remediation was initiated at priority sites in Johanngeorgenstadt and Breitenbrunn in 2001, with the project management assured by Wismut.
The political, legal, and financial differences with the "Wismut Project" notwithstanding, this project is aimed at initiating work to rehabilitate radioactive sites from the early years of uranium mining.
Concluded between the German federal government and the Free State of Saxony in September 2003, an administrative agreement settled the funding of the rehabilitation of abandoned Wismut sites in Saxony. A total of 78 million euros was spent on this undertaking until the year 2012.
Signing of administrative agreement in 2013
Administrative agreement 2013
Following the signing of a supplemental administrative agreement on April 24, 2013 additional funds of 38 million euros have been made available until 2022. The federal government and the Free State of Saxony each contribute 50 per cent to these funds.
Second Administrative Agreement 2019
With the signing of the Second Administrative Agreement on July 5, 2019, the complete remediation of abandoned Wismut sites in Saxony is sealed. The Federal Government and the Free State of Saxony will provide an additional 229 million euros in funding between 2021 and 2035. Since 2003, a total of 445 million euros has thus been made available for the remediation of abandoned bismuth sites in Saxony.
Wismut is be the project executing organisation for the task of rehabilitating abandoned uranium sites in Saxony. Under the terms of the administrative agreement, at least fifty percent of that total is to be outsourced to third parties by public invitation to tender in a bid to give fresh impetus to regional development.
Signing of second administrative agreement 2019
