urg:::Ran-Jab Review News

[Gavin Mudd]

Posted: Wed, 5 Jun 2002 9:15 ACST

Traditional owners concerned at depth of Govt mine review


The traditional owners of the Jabiluka and Ranger uranium mine sites
surrounded by Kakadu National Park say a Northern Territory Government
review of the mining operations will not go far enough.

The Resources Development Minister, Paul Henderson, is commissioning an
independent technical review into the environmental regulations at both mine
sites, operated by Energy Resources of Australia (ERA).

The Office of the Supervising Scientist released a report in April which
said the internal management of ERA had failed, after seepage from an ore
stockpile in February.

The Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation's Andy Ralph welcomes the Territory
Government's response to public concerns, but he says it is not enough.

"We need a full and independent Senate inquiry," Mr Ralph said.

"You must also remember uranium is a nationally prescribed mineral and the
Office of the Supervising Scientist is responsible for assessing the
soundness of the science implored in the mine sites.

"Often they also test the results of the mining company and the NT
Government so they should also be in the spotlight as well," Mr Ralph said.


© 2002 Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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Posted: Tue, 4 Jun 2002 12:35 ACST

NT Govt commissions uranium mine review


The Northern Territory Government says it is commissioning an independent
technical review into the environmental regulations at the Ranger uranium
mine and the Jabiluka mining site.

Resource Development Minister Paul Henderson says he wants an independent
assessment of the mechanisms put in place at both sites to protect the
environment and workers.

Mr Henderson say he has no problem with the environmental management at the
Ranger mine, despite the concerns raised earlier this year.

"It's all of the issues in terms of the monitoring program, all of the
issues in terms of how Ranger manages ore at the site, how it processes that
ore, it really is a technical review to make sure that Ranger have the best
possible mine," he said.


© 2002 Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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04-Jun-2002

ERA to participate in NT Government review


Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) today acknowledged the Northern
Territory Government's intention to independently review the environmental
regulation and reporting systems applied to the Company's operations.

The Ranger mine and the Jabiluka site are subject to some of the most
rigorous reporting regimes in Australia.

The review has been triggered in part by events earlier this year involving
the process of reporting temporarily elevated uranium levels recorded within
the Ranger mine site and communicating these levels to stakeholders in the
appropriate context.

These events did not result in any harm to the surrounding environment of
Kakadu National Park, any harm to people or any breaches in environmental
regulations.

ERA looks forward to the opportunity to express its views to the Northern
Territory Government review process on the effectiveness of these reporting
regimes and the changes and improvements that the Company would like to see
adopted.

- ends

For further information :

Scott Walker - 08 8922 5200 - 0419 801 349


© 2002 Energy Resources of Australia unless otherwise stated.