Mining

29 March 2004

Full Investigation needed into Kakadu Uranium Leaks

Environmental groups have called for urgent Federal and Northern Territory government investigations into whether Rio Tinto's Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu has breached its operating license following recent serious contamination incidents.

The mine has been closed since Wednesday after its drinking water supply was contaminated with uranium levels four hundred times greater than the maximum Australian safety standard.

Since then the company has confirmed a further major leak of around 150,000 litres of contaminated water from the mine into a feeder creek system of Kakadu's World Heritage listed wetlands.

Environmentalists believe that the recent incidents are in breach of the mining company's formal operating licence. A key Environmental Requirement of this license states that all mine process water "must be contained within a closed system".

Environmental groups maintain that the recent contamination incidents show that mine operator Energy Resources of Australia (68% owned by Rio Tinto) has failed to properly manage its wastes and have called for the prosecution of any license breach.

"Contamination from Ranger poses a threat to mine workers and the Kakadu environment," said ECNT coordinator Peter Robertson. "The system at Ranger is failing, the impacts of mining are growing and ERA must be held accountable." The Ranger mine has a long history of trouble with over 120 incidents, leaks and spills since it opened in 1981.

Last October a detailed Senate investigation into the mine found a persistent "pattern of underperformance and non-compliance" and described the regulation of the site as "flawed, confusing and inadequate."

The Federal government has not implemented any of the Inquiry recommendations aimed at improving the mines performance.

"The Ranger mine must remain shut until a full and public investigation has taken place into what is happening and whether ERA has broken its license," said ACF nuclear campaigner Dave Sweeney.

"Kakadu deserves better than broken pipes and broken promises and the regulators must now act to protect this area and it's people."

Further information and comment:
Peter Robertson ECNT coordinator 0409 089 020
Dave Sweeney ACF nuclear campaigner 0408 317 812
Email: ecnt@octa4.net.au

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