Antinuclear

Lynas Corporation did apply to Australian regulators for shipping radioactive waste back to Australia

Lynas defends Malaysia project amid ongoing protests Australia Network News, 19 Nov 12 By Canberra correspondent Stephanie March “….Members of the Malaysian Stop Lynas Save Malaysia movement have also met with members of the minority Greens Party.

The Greens are concerned not only about the development in Malaysia but also the possibility of radioactive waste from the plant being shipped back to Australia.

Lynas has applied to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), a regulatory authority, for a permit to send the by-product back. “I think it is a ruse. I think the company has no intention,” said Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, the member for the area in Western Australia where the material would most likely be shipped back to.

“It is an alarmingly bad idea and I object to the idea they can hoodwink local residents that they have a safe dumping strategy for Australia, which we know would be difficult.”

Senator Ludlam said while it would be difficult for the company to get
the approvals required to ship the by-product back, it would not be
impossible. “In the correspondence we have seen from ARPANSA, they
acknowledged the legal procedures. I think it is unprecedented, I
don’t want the company to have this ‘get out of jail free card’ where
they tell residents ‘OK take back to Australia’ when in fact
formidable legal hurdles and opposition from Fremantle and elsewhere up the corridor.”
Lynas chief executive Nick Curtis says the company made the
application to ARPANSA in the hope of shipping the by-product back and
on-selling it to be recycled, but that is no longer the company’s
plan.

“We ceased looking for contracts in Australia because we think
shipping to Thailand or Indonesia is cheaper.”…..
Last week a Malaysian court dismissed an application to suspend the
company’s temporary operating licences.

The protesters have lodged an appeal to the decision.

“We are not worried about losing the battle: you win some, you lose
some. We will fight on until we carry Lynas from Malaysia,” said Tan
Bunteet, a member of the Stop Lynas Save Malaysia movement.  http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-19/an-protesters-to-demonstrate-outside-lynas-agm-in-sydneyprotest/4380590

November 21, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, rare earths, uranium