Antinuclear

Australian govts: just a slap on the wrist for BHPB’s uranium plans?

Olympic Dam report raises hurdles
 The Australian Gavin Lower | August 25, 2009
 THE Rann government has admitted its concerns about BHP Billiton’s proposal to turn Olympic Dam into the world’s largest open-cut mine are not deal-breakers, inviting criticism that it is pushing for the project to go ahead at any cost.

Acting Premier Kevin Foley said yesterday the issues the government had raised in its 89-page response to BHP’s 4600-page draft environmental impact statement on the project were not insurmountable and could be resolved………………………..

South Australia’s EIS response raised concerns about the location and potential impact of a desalination plant the company proposes to build in the upper Spencer Gulf, the disposal of mine tailings, groundwater, radiation and air quality risks to workers and the town of Roxby Downs, and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Northern Territory government also released its response to the EIS yesterday, asking in a four-page letter for clarification on issues including air quality, radiation and transport.

The federal Department of the Environment has identified areas where it requires further information, but a spokesman for Environment Minister Peter Garrett said its correspondence with BHP would not be made public.

August 25, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, politics