W.A’s Chamber of Minerals and Energy doesn’t want public inquiry on uranium mining
Chamber snubs uranium inquiry call ABC News February 4, 2010 The Chamber of Minerals and Energy has rejected the call for a public inquiry into proposed uranium projects in Western Australia.The Government yesterday upheld a decision by the Environmental Protection Authority to use an environmental and management review program to assess Toro Energy’s uranium project near Wiluna.
The Conservation Council of Western Australia wants a public inquiry, the highest level of assessment, and says it should be applied to all proposed uranium projects.
Chamber snubs uranium inquiry call – ABC North West WA – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Fremantle Anti Nuclear group (FANG) join international walk to the U.N.
Now Western Australian aborigines join the fight against uranium mining
ANAWA 29 Oct 09 “…………………Statement from the Western Australian delegation to the 9th annual Australian Nuclear Free Alliance meeting Quorn (Nukunu Country), South Australia.“Uranium mining has not happened in WA but there is a lot of talk that it could. Continue reading
Australian initiative to reduce medical radiation risks
Rethink on medical imaging radiation to cut risks AUSTRALIAN IT Jennifer Foreshew | October 27, 2009 Continue reading
Western Australian government’s “blind spot” about uranium mining
Greens sceptical about uranium mine assessment ABC News Oct 16, 2009 The Greens say they doubt the Western Australian Government will be swayed on the level of environmental assessment it is proposing for a uranium mine on the Goldfields.The Government last week extended the time available for public comment on the assessment level for BHP Billiton’s Yeelirrie mine by four weeks.
WA Greens’ Senator Scott Ludlam says while he encourages more people to respond within the consultation period, he is sceptical it will make a difference.”Nobody seriously believes this State Government or this Environment Minister is going to take a look at the evidence that the community will put on the table …………… Government has got a particular blind spot around uranium mining ……….
Greens sceptical about uranium mine assessment – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Narrow assessment will allow BHP’s uranium mine to go ahead
Public inquiry not possible on uranium mining
Perth Now
October 09, 2009
ENVIRONMENT Minister Donna Faragher has today ruled out holding a public inquiry into BHP Billiton’s proposal for a $17 billion uranium mine in WA. Continue reading
BHP is advised, but not COMPELLED to consult aborigines
Aboriginal ecology to be included in assessments
Amanda O’Brien | September 24, 2009 . The Australian
ABORIGINES are claiming a landmark victory after the West Australian government told BHP Billiton to incorporate their ecological knowledge into future land clearing at its giant Yeelirrie uranium prospect. Continue reading
Aborigines challenge mining registrar for equal treatment
Indigenous people power challenges mining might
Eureka Street Moira Rayner September 22, 2009A mining registrar in Western Australia has a hard decision to make. The Martu Idja Banjima Native Title claimants — the Martidja Manyjima people of the Pilbara — want him to hear their challenge to BHP Billiton’s claim for more mining leases on 200 square kilometres of their traditional land. BHP Billiton doesn’t. Continue reading
Uranium mining shareholders unaware of problems
Christina Macpherson 16 Sept 09
Mega uranium is to start operations in Western Australia, with some funding from the WA government
Commenting on this Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, said that Australian was “committed to mining uranium with safe hands and only supplying uranium to countries which use it with safe hands”.
But just how safe is Mega?
Mega Shareholders
Megames, African September 15, 2009
Are the shareholders aware of the loses incurred by the public officers because of negligence :1. US$ 35,000 (LOSS) – Legal Fees – Lost court battle in SA and Mega Uranium subsidiary was liquidated
2. US$ 54,000.00 (LOSS) – Cash in bank – Mega Uranium subsidiary was liquidated
3. US$ 246,000.00 (LOSS) – Drilling Machine – Mega Uranium subsidiary was liquidated
This equates to a loss of more than US$ 335,000.00 LOSS which is a lot less than creditors were owed in SA for which Mega Uranium refused to settle.
So is this the way shareholders funds should be used?
Uranium – bad news for Kimberley workers and environment
Uranium in the Kimberley
ABC radio Kimberley Mornings 01/09/2009 Development proposals for the Kimberley have been all about the Ord or the gas in the last year or so, but is uranium on the radar?
Robin Chapple, Greens MLC for the Pastoral and Mining Region thinks it is, and is giving a talk in Broome tonight.
“At a conservative estimate, there are 15 corporations currently operating in the Kimberley actively pursuing uranium and there are over 60 exploration lease, dotted all over the Kimberley. History shows us that anywhere else in the world where there has been uranium mining, we have health effects in workers and in the communities.”
Robin Chapple argues that the environmental legacy left by uranium mining is equally disturbing, with tailings dams and waste piles “which are radioactive for ten thousand odd years, and that’s not managed”.
As asbestos scandal is revealed, uranium threat develops
Uranium mining ‘poses Wittenoom threat’ to Kimberley
ABC News 2 Sept 09
A Western Australian politician says the Kimberley is in danger of becoming the next Wittenoom if the Federal Government allows uranium mining to go ahead.There are between 30 and 40 uranium tenements in the Kimberley, in the state’s north, and Greens’ MP Robin Chapple says there are at least 12 proposed uranium mines in the region.
Mr Chapple was in Broome for a uranium mining forum last night and says the community has been lulled into a false sense of security about the practice.He says in some cases, uranium mining in the United States and India has wiped out all of the male members of some families.”In terms of the health effects we know there’s approximately a cohort of 10 per cent cancers in the workforce after about 20 years – so similar sort of effects as asbestos and Wittenoom [in WA’s Pilbara],” he said.
Shortcomings of West Aust’s Yeelirrie uranium mine Environmental Review
Faragher urged to review uranium mine
ABC News Aug 28, 2009
Several appeals have been lodged against the planned environmental review of the Yeelirrie uranium mine in Western Australia’s Goldfields…………..The Greens joined the Conservation Council and seven others in seeking to change the way the environmental impact of the mine is assessed.Greens MP Robin Chapple says the Environment Minister, Donna Faragher, should conduct a ministerial review of the project.”………………
Mr Chapple says the Government needs to consider the overall environmental impact of uranium mining in WA.“Given that there’s a large number of uranium mines potentially going to be in that area that we actually need to be looking at a cumulative assessment as opposed to this one uranium mine in isolation,” he said.
Faragher urged to review uranium mine – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Aborigines stand up to BHP Billiton on damage to their resources
(Australian- about iron ore, OK – but implications for uranium) –
Lore of the land as Aborigines take on BHP
The Age Jan Mayman 3 August 09
If the mining warden agrees to hear their case, they will call a series of expert witnesses, including WA’s 2009 scientist of the year, Professor Jorg Imberger, a world authority on hydrology, as well as elders to explain their fears. They are especially concerned by the cumulative impact of mining on the Pilbara’s water resources,…………..………As mining plunges deep below the water table, with huge volumes of water pumped out to expose the orebody, the traditional owners are profoundly disturbed by the impact on underground aquifers that feed springs, billabongs and waterholes all over the region……………..
Counsel for the mining company, Perth barrister Peter Quinlan, argued that human rights and public interest issues were irrelevant to the mining lease applications………………
……….WA’s Native Title Act had been repeatedly criticised by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Human Rights Committee as being discriminatory and not adequately protective of indigenous land rights.
Uranium Mining Poisoning WA ’s Groundwater Forever
Uranium Mining Poisoning WA ’s Groundwater Forever
Dare to care, Dawn Jecks, 25 july 09
“…………..Described by Minister Garrett as being ‘world’s best practice’, the American owned Beverley Four Mile Uranium mine will use the controversial in-situ leach mining technique which involves deliberately pumping sulphuric acid into a public owned water aquifer to dissolve the uranium ore. Once the uranium is extracted from the surface the radioactive liquid waste from this process is then dumped into the aquifer. Given that the environmental regulators in the US refuse to allow this practice on their own soil, and the fact that aquifers in Eastern Europe have been heavily polluted by this practice why is our Federal government allowing it in Australia?Although Minister Garrett has talked about ’strict’ monitoring requirements ‘well after this South Australian mine ceases’, a long-term problem will undoubtedly arise from the fact that concentrated radioactive materials survive for thousands of years. How can the uranium mining company have ’strict’ monitoring for that length of time? Another WA proposal to mine uranium at the Yeelirie deposit some 550 kms east of Geraldton, will also be dependant on Minister Garrett’s approval.
As with all uranium mines enormous quantities of water are going to be needed to mine the Yeelirie uranium deposit…………………..
With more than one hundred uranium mining companies currently exploring in WA it is interestingly to note that the WA State Water Resources Minister Graham Jacobs has been urging WA householders to reduce their water consumption and to conserve our precious water resources through household sprinkler bans.Is polluting our groundwater aquifers with sulphuric acid on the one hand, and then asking householders to turn off their sprinklers, the Barnett Governments idea of being ‘water wise? I urge all West Australians to become acquainted with all the facts surrounding uranium mining before we find ourselves with a toxic legacy that never, ever goes away and the website for the Antinuclear Alliance of WA (ANAWA) is a good place to start.
Uranium Mining Poisoning WA ’s Groundwater Forever « Dare To Care – Dawn Jecks
Mega uranium in Australia
Mega steps up bid to beat BHP with WA’s 1st uranium mine
(Note from Christiona Macpherson – Is Mega Uranium involved in a court case in South Africa?)
PERTH, July 23 AAP
Trading Room By Rebecca Le MayJuly 23 2009,
The race to develop Western Australia’s first uranium mine has gained pace, with Mega Uranium Ltd entering a $US49 million ($A60 million) joint venture with a Japanese firm to progress the Canadian explorer’s Lake Maitland project.
Mega is vying to beat BHP Billiton Ltd’s Yeelirrie project as the state’s first uranium mine.
Both projects are situated in WA’s midwest region near Wiluna………………..Mega, which is expected to soon seek an Australian stock exchange listing, said on Thursday it had teamed up with Japan Australia Uranium Resources Development (JAURD) and Itochu to develop the project………………….
“JAURD’s shareholders – power companies Kansai, Kyushu and Shikoku, will have access to uranium produced at Lake Maitland and Itochu will participate in uranium off-take arrangements,” Mega chief executive Sheldon Inwentash said.
The transaction is subject to approvals required under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act.
Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, said on Thursday Australian was “committed to mining uranium with safe hands and only supplying uranium to countries which use it with safe hands”.
News: Australian Stock, Share & Commodity Markets News – Tradingroom.com.au
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