urg:::NT REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION OF JABILUKA AND RANGER

[Justin O'Brien]

June 3 2002

Paul Henderson MLA
Minister for Business, Industry and Resource Development

REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION OF JABILUKA AND RANGER

An independent technical review into the environmental regulation of Ranger
uranium mine and the Jabiluka site will be commissioned by the NT
Government, Resource Development Minister Paul Henderson announced today.

Mr Henderson said that recent events had led to concern over operational
aspects at both sites, and he wanted an independent assessment of the
mechanisms in place to protect the environment and the health of workers and
the public.

"Previous reports from the NT and Commonwealth Scientists indicate that
there has been no unacceptable environmental impact at Ranger and Jabiluka.

"Nevertheless, as Minister responsible, I want to ensure that the
authorisations issued by the Northern Territory Government contain all the
right environment and health protection measures."

An independent review is also timely now due to the commencement of the
Northern Territory Mining Management Act 2001, which commenced this year.
Under the Mining Management Act (which repealed and replaced the Uranium
Mining (Environment Control) Act) all mining management plans, including
those for Ranger and Jabiluka, are due to be reviewed and finalised by the
second half of this year.

"This independent review will look at the authorisations approved under the
previous legislation  to ensure they continue to meet best practice in
environmental protection", Mr Henderson said.

Mr Henderson said that the Terms of Reference for the Review would be:

*	The adequacy of the existing authorisations issued by the NT
Government to protect the environment and the health of workers and the
public;
*	The adequacy and timeliness of monitoring and reporting systems
including the role of the NT Government in ensuring the company's compliance
with the authorisations; and
*	Whether the NT is meeting its obligations to the Commonwealth under
an agreement reached in November 2000. This agreement was titled "Agreement
between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Northern Territory of
Australia in relation to principles to be applied in the regulation of
uranium mining in the Northern Territory of Australia".

Mr Henderson said that an independent expert would be appointed as soon as
possible to conduct the Review and that he expected to receive the report by
the end of September.