Antinuclear

Background information for submissions about proposed Kintyre uranium mine, W.A..

SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE 14^th FEBRUARY 2014 Send to:

Paul Vogel

Chairperson

Environmental Protection Authority
Locked Bag 33, Cloisters Square, Perth, WA, 6850

Ph (08) 6467 5419

robert.hughes@epa.wa.gov.au

Some basic points to think about for submissions: Mia Pepper 4 Feb 14

The proposed Kintyre uranium mine threatens WA biggest national park, Karlamilyi, just as the Ranger uranium mine is currently damaging the Kakadu National Park with three accidents in the past month alone. At a time when the uranium price is barely half the pre-Fukushima level, and more and more countries are turning their backs on nuclear power, a uranium mine that puts one of WA’s treasures at risk is economically unsound, environmentally risky and socially unacceptable.

Here is some background on the project

• ·         4,400 tonnes uranium oxide concentrate (U3O8 produced per year)
• ·         Open cut mining (selective and bulk mining)– 1km wide, 1.5km long, 220m deep. Situated just 500m to the west of the south branch of Yantikuji  Creek
• ·         Plan to leave the open pit as a permanent feature – turn into a lake
• ·         Overburden to ore ratio 37:1
• ·         Project area 1981 ha – land clearing 790 ha total (including roads)
• ·         3.1 million litres of water a day
• ·         7 million tonnes of tailings – two above ground tailing cells 35 ha – approx 1.5km from Yantikuji Creek South Branch and 2.2km Yantikuji Creek West Branch
• ·         6 million tonnes of mineralised waste rock
• ·         119 million tonnes of waste rock
• ·         Waste rock landform – 200ha 45m high
• ·         Ore transport – Kintyre – Port Headland – Newman – Meekatharra – Mount Magnet – Sandstone – Leinster – Leonora – Kalgoorlie – Norseman – Ceduna – Port Agusta – Port Adelaide  * 4,600km – up to 5 road trains per week but on average 100 per year.

Nuclear Free Campaigner

February 4, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | ACTION