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
94 the daily supply for one security officer. This requirement will, therefore, not cause any increase in acidity in surface waters. The first concern recognises that, even in a well designed system with inbuilt first and second order levels of protection, occasional accidents can occur resulting in the unplanned release of contaminants. However, experience at the Ranger mine has shown that in every case where incidents have occurred, the total load of any metals released is extremely small compared to the natural load of metals in the soils of the floodplain. Hence, the impact of these accidental releases has been, and can with confidence be expected to be, insignificant compared to that arising from the naturally occurring metals in the soils of the floodplain. 7.6 Rehabilitation of the Jabiluka lease area The Commonwealth Government, in its environmental requirements for the Jabiluka mine, requires ERA to rehabilitate the mine site in a manner which will establish an environment in the lease area that reflects to the maximum extent that can reasonably be achieved, the environment existing in the adjacent areas of Kakadu National Park. The intention of the rehabilitation is that the rehabilitated area could be incorporated into the Kakadu National Park without detracting from park values. These requirements are the same as apply to the Ranger Project Area. The major objectives of rehabilitation are: (a) to revegetate the disturbed sites of the lease area with local native plant species similar in density and abundance to that existing in adjacent areas of Kakadu National Park, in order to form an ecosystem the long term viability of which would not require a maintenance regime significantly different from that appropriate to adjacent areas of the park; (b) to establish stable radiological conditions on disturbed sites of the lease area so that, with a minimum of restrictions on use of the area, the public dose limit will not be exceeded and the health risk to members of the public, including traditional owners, will be as low as reasonably achievable; (c) to limit erosion in rehabilitated areas, as far as can reasonably be achieved, to that characteristic of similar landforms in surrounding undisturbed areas. The Government has established secure mechanisms to ensure that these rehabilitation objectives will be achieved even if the company becomes insolvent and ceases operations prior to the completion of adequate rehabilitation of the sites. In accordance with the Ranger Uranium Project Government Agreement between the Commonwealth and ERA, a rehabilitation plan is submitted each year by ERA to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR). Its purpose is to provide the basis for estimating the appropriate size of the Ranger Rehabilitation Trust Fund, an ongoing contingency for the cost of rehabilitation of the Ranger Project Area if mining operations were to cease at the date of the preparation of the plan. The Supervising Scientist provides comment to the DISR on each rehabilitation plan. The Jabiluka Rehabilitation fund comprises a Bank Guarantee deposited with the NT Department of Mines and Energy to provide a basis for rehabilitating the site if operations were to cease. The amount of this Bank Guarantee is the estimated cost of rehabilitation plus a contingency factor. As with the Ranger Rehabilitation Plan, the Jabiluka Rehabilitation Plan was submitted to the Supervising Scientist for comment before acceptance.