Antinuclear

Conservation Council and Aboriginal Elder lodge appeals against Wiluna uranium mine

Appeals lodged against first WA uranium mine SMH, Courtney Trenwith June 7, 2012 –   Several appeals against the environmental approval for WA’s first uranium mine have been official lodged.
In a landmark decision , the state’s independent Environmental Protection Authority last month approved mining company Toro’s $280 million project to mine uranium near Wiluna in the South-West. ….However last night, the Conservation Council of WA lodged an appeal claiming the EPA’s decision contained numerous “critical deficiencies”.

Aboriginal elder and Wiluna resident Glen Cooke also lodged a separate challenge.

The appeals will be heard by an appeal convenor and considered by the Minister for Environment Bill Marmion, in line with the EPA decision. The state government is yet to make a final decision on the project.

CCWA director Piers Verstegen claimed the EPA had failed to properly assess the proposal before approving it. “Importantly, the state government has made commitments to ‘world’s best practice’ regulation of uranium mining in WA, but their own independent report has found that the current system fails that test,” CCWA director Piers Verstegen said.

“We do not believe that the EPA assessment adequately deals with critical environmental risks including the management of radioactive mine tailings, contamination of groundwater and the transport of radioactive material through WA communities.” CCWA also claims there was a denial of procedural fairness and the EPA failured to comply with their own procedures during the assessment process.

“West Australians rely on the EPA to prevent environmental harm, yet they have recommended approval for mining and transporting one of the most dangerous materials known to exist by a junior minerals exploration company that has never successfully mined anything and have not completed all necessary environmental management plans,” Mr Verstegen said….: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/appeals-lodged-against-first-wa-uranium-mine-20120607-1zxzz.html#ixzz1xFFVXxMn

June 8, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | legal, Western Australia