From: waterhouse
[waterhouse@tsn.cc]
Sent: Friday, 9 August 2002 6:08 PM
To:
ecita.sen@aph.gov.au
Subject: Submission to the Sernate Inquiry into
the Environmental Regulation of Uranium Mining
The
Secretary
Peter, Christine, Katherine and David
Waterhouse
Senate ECITA References
Committee
589 Hannam Vale Road
Parliament
house Stewarts
River
CANBERRA NSW
2043
ACT
2000
Submission To the Senate Inquiry into
the Environmental Regulation of Uranium Mining.
Dear sir
I am writing to express my family's
unity with an increasing ground swell of public opinion that all is not well in
the uranium mining industry and to join our concern that at this time
there are glaring deficiencies in the implementation of the required
environmental safety procedures. We further believe that for political and
economic expediency these protection measures are woefully inadequate.
We request that on our behalf and that of our
children's inheritance that the following matters are implemented as
recommendations of the Committee.
- At Beverly and Honeymoon ISL
mines.
- The Federal and South Australian Governments to commit to protection of
groundwater - including no discharge of mine waste to groundwater, to prohibit
underground leaks into connected aquifers and to require rehabilitation of
mining impacts on groundwater.
- The Inquiry to recommend increased monitoring of operations and public
reporting of all radioactive leaks.
- The Inquiry to recommend a new public environmental assessment of the
management of mine wastes.
At Kakadu mines.
- The Federal and NT Governments to facilitate the rehabilitation, lease
relinquishment and incorporation of the Jabiluka and Koongarra mineral leases
into Kakadu National Park.
- Rio Tinto and relevant government agencies to support a phase out, exit
and rehabilitation strategy for Ranger, including aiding the establishment of
a viable Aboriginal economy independent of mining.
- The Inquiry to articulate a credible action plan to prevent the
development, rehabilitate the impacts and incorporate the mineral lease of the
Jabiluka site, in order to protect the region' s World Heritage property and
values.
- The federal and NTGovernments-to act to reduce environmental impacts
of operations at Ranger, and for monitoring, reporting and regulatory regimes
be strengthened to include more event based monitoring, increased monitoring
scope and trigger points, and enhanced reporting.
Terms of reference
- That the Senate Environmental, Communications, Information Technology and
the Arts References Committee inquire into and report on the regulatory,
monitoring and reporting regimes that govern environmental performance at the
Ranger and Jabiluka uranium operations in the Northern Territory and the
Beverley and Honeymoon ISL operations in South Australia, with particular
reference to :
- The adequacy, effectiveness and performance of existing monitoring and
reporting regimes and regulations.
- The adequacy and effectiveness of those Commonwealth agencies responsible
for the oversight and implementation of these regimes and
- A review of Commonwealth responsibilities and
mechanisms to realise improved environmental performance and transparency of
reporting.
Yours
faithfully,
Christine Waterhouse,
For Peter, Christine, Katherine and David
Waterhouse.