WA’s largest National Park threatened by uranium mining

.Warning of a ‘stagnant, over supplied’ uranium market, the company has announced it will ‘decrease activities in Australia’.

Public comment on the mine plan closes on Friday 14 February. More than 2500 submissions opposing the plan have been sent to the state EPA.

Uranium plan threatens WA’s biggest National Park http://www.acfonline.org.au/news-media/media-release/uranium-plan-threatens-wa%E2%80%99s-biggest-national-park-0 February 13, 2014 National and state environment groups have called on the WA Environment Protection Agency to reject the plan by Canadian company

Cameco to mine uranium at Kintyre in the Pilbara, describing the area as too precious to mine and the economics as too marginal to matter.

The call follows confirmation this week that Cameco has revised its growth projections in response to the depressed global uranium price Warning of a ‘stagnant, over supplied’ uranium market, the company has announced it will ‘decrease activities in Australia’.

“The area that contains the Kintyre uranium deposit is one of the most unique and diverse ecosystems in the country and is directly adjacent to Karlamilyi (Rudall River), WA’s largest National Park,” said Conservation Council campaigner Mia Pepper.

“There is a lot a stake at Kintyre, including the fate of 28 endangered, vulnerable and priority species,” Ms Pepper said. “Cameco’s plan for a permanent 1km wide, 1.5km long open pit only 500 metres from the Yanadagodge Creek could have devastating impacts on this fragile desert ecosystem.”

The proposed mine site is nestled between two branches of the Yandagoodge creek, which feeds springs and lake systems throughout Karlamilyi National Park and provides water for the communities of Punmu and Parnngurr. The CCWA, ACF and Friends of the Earth Australia have contributed to a detailed project analysis which has been presented to the WA EPA today.

“The EPA should reject any application for a toxic uranium mine in this unique and fragile environment – the stakes are too high for the National Park and for the WA taxpayer, given the increasingly marginal economics of uranium mining,” said ACF campaigner Dave Sweeney.

“Much has changed since the first proposal to mine the Kintyre deposit, including a severe and sustained slump in the uranium price and increased pressure on nuclear power from the growth in renewable energy and concerns fuelled by the continuing Fukushima crisis.

“Uranium poses unacceptable and unnecessary risks to the environment and public health. The mine plan is a long way from being economically viable or environmentally approved – Cameco knows this and the EPA’s decision should reflect it.

“Now is not the time – and Kintyre is certainly not the place – to give a green light to yellowcake.”

Public comment on the mine plan closes on Friday 14 February. More than 2500 submissions opposing the plan have been sent to the state EPA.