Assessment of the Jabiluka Project : report of the Supervising Scientist to the World Heritage Committee
Johnston, A.; Prendergast, J. B.; Bridgewater, Peter
E-Publications; E-Books; PublicationNT; Supervising Scientist Report; 138
1999
Alligator Rivers Region
Main report--Appendix 2 of the Main Report. Submission to the Mission of the World Heritage Committee by some Australian Scientists ... --Attachment A. Johnston A. and Needham S. 1999. Protection of the environment near the Ranger uranium mine--Attachment B. Bureau of Meteorology 1999. Hydrometeorological analysis relevant to Jabiluka--Attachment C. Jones, R.N., Hennessy, K.J. and Abbs, D.J. 1999. Climate change analysis relevant to Jabiluka--Attachment D. Chiew, F and Wang, Q.J. 1999. Hydrological anaysis relevant to surface water storage at Jabiluka--Attachment E. Kalf, F. and Dudgeon, C. 1999. Analysis of long term groundwater dispersal of contaminants from proposed Jabiluka mine tailings repositories--Appendix 2 of Attachment E. Simulation of leaching on non-reactive and radionuclide contaminants from proposed Jabiluka silo banks.
English
Uranium mill tailings - Environmental aspects - Northern Territory - Alligator Rivers Region; Environmental impact analysis - Northern Territory - Jabiluka; Uranium mines and mining - Environmental aspects - Northern Territory - Jabiluka; Jabiluka - Environmental aspects
Environment Australia
Canberra (A.C.T.)
Supervising Scientist Report; 138
1 volume (various pagings) : illustrations, maps
application/pdf
642243417
Copyright
Environment Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/264982
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/462402
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/462403; https://hdl.handle.net/10070/462400; https://hdl.handle.net/10070/462405; https://hdl.handle.net/10070/462406; https://hdl.handle.net/10070/462408; https://hdl.handle.net/10070/462409; https://hdl.handle.net/10070/462411
68 in table 5.3.3 and by multiplying the exceedence probability values by the risk of occurrence of an earthquake. The results are presented in figure 5.3.5. From these data it can be seen that the risk of radiation exposure of members of the public would be extremely low. At the 1 in 10,000 level of probability, the estimated radiation exposure is about 30 Sv. The highest calculated exposure, which is less than one tenth of the internationally accepted limit, has an extremely small exceedence probability. For an earthquake that occurs in the Wet season, the probable maximum area of the Magela floodplain within which any ecological impact would be expected to occur can be calculated as outlined above for the case of overtopping of the dam. The exceedence probability versus affected area is shown in figure 5.3.6. Also shown is the area beyond which one can be confident no effects will occur. Figure 5.3.6 Probability versus the affected area of the Magela floodplain for a severe earthquake. Beyond the safe area, no adverse effects are expected. Adverse effects on invertebrates are expected inside the effects area. Between the two areas, some residual effects may occur. Hence the maximum area that should be affected is about 1.5 km2 but the probability of this occurring is extremely small. The area affected at the 1 in 10,000 level of probability is less than 0.5 km2 which is less than 0.3% of the floodplain area. At the same level of probability, residual effects may occur for some species of invertebrates out to an area of about 5 km2. Even within these areas the impact would be very small (for example, fish should not be affected) and the system would fully recover following flushing by the natural waters of the Magela system. If an earthquake occurred in the Dry season, the depth of water in the Magela floodplain would be less than that assumed above and the area of impact would be greater. Nevertheless, the probability of an impact remains small and the system would recover during the following Wet season. 5.3.5 Contingency measures ERA has described in the EIS, the Supplement to the EIS and in the PER contingency procedures that would be adopted in the case of extreme events occurring that affect the Affected Area of Floodplain (km2) 0 5 10 15 E xc ee de nc e P ro ba bi lit y 10-9 10-8 10-7 10-6 10-5 10-4 10-3 Effects Area Safe area