International Symposium on Uranium Raw Material for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Exploration, Mining, Production, Supply and Demand, Economics and Environmental Issues (URAM-2018)

DEVELOPMENT, EVOLUTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION STANDARDS FOR URANIUM MINING IN THE AUSTRALIAN TROPICS

26 Jun 2018, 15:00

20m

M3 (Vienna)

ORAL Track 10. Health, safety, environment and social responsibility Health, Safety, Environment and Social Responsibility

Speaker

Ms Kate Turner (BSc)

Description

The Ranger uranium mine is surround by dual World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park. Kakadu is recognised for its significant cultural and environmental attributes. Because of this, the Ranger mine is subject to very stringent environmental protection standards. These standards are developed and overseen by the Australian Government through its Supervising Scientist Branch, which is part of the Department of the Environment and Energy. For 40 years the Supervising Scientist Branch has undertaken site-specific monitoring and research into the impacts of uranium mining on the sensitive environment surrounding the Range mine site. The collected data was used to derive site-specific water quality compliance objectives that have helped to ensure the protection of the environment from effects of mining operations. The data is now being used to develop closure criteria for the rehabilitation of the Ranger site, which is scheduled to be complete by 2026. This presentation will provide an overview of the Supervising Scientist Branch’s monitoring and research programs and demonstrate how the collected data has been used to ensure protection of the environment throughout the operation and after the rehabilitation of Ranger uranium mine.