Lafferty Report confirms Beverley uranium mine contravenes US mining
standards
The Government�s release of the report it commissioned on the
Beverley uranium mine has revealed that Senator Hill does not have
enough information to support approval of the mine located in north-
eastern South Australia. The mine has been conducted on a trial basis
throughout 1998.
�Senator Hill has been proved wrong in his decision that there is no
environmental reason to prevent granting of Commonwealth approvals
for the Beverley uranium mine. Critical environmental impacts and
associated risks can not be properly assessed due to the paucity of
information made available by the proponent� said David Noonan ACF
Campaigner.
�The Lafferty consultancy confirms Australia has for the last twelve
months been subject to uranium mining standards that are contrary to
best practice in the USA. Environment Minister Senator Hill and the
SA Minister for Resources Rob Kerin have breached US mining standards
in allowing operation of the Beverley �trial� without first requiring
adequate information from the proponent� Mr Noonan said.
The reports show that the Beverley aquifer has not been adequately
characterised by the proponent General Atomics and states world�s
best practice requires additional testing. The available baseline
environmental information does not substantiate General Atomics�
claim that the aquifer is contained vertically and laterally.
Combined with General Atomics� intention not to restore groundwater,
Lafferty states that impacted groundwater could serve as a source of
impact to other near surface aquifers if a hydraulic connection
exists.
Consultancy reports on the Beverley uranium mine produced by Ms April
Lafferty of American Geosciences Inc on 17 December were finally
released by the Commonwealth as part of its Environmental Assessment
of the Beverley EIS. For the last two months ACF has sought public
release of the reports under the Freedom of Information Act and was
within one week of an order for their release.
Based on the Lafferty advice Senator Hill has had to order a halt to
the discharge of liquid wastes, including radioactive and heavy metal
wastes, into the Beverley aquifer, a practice he had allowed
throughout 1998. He has, however, failed to order a halt to similar
discharge of liquid wastes into groundwater at the Honeymoon �trial�
uranium mine.
It is over 12 months since the ACF exposed Government�s intention to
pollute groundwater at Beverley with mine wastes. Now, faced with
independent US advice, Senator Hill has had to order further studies
into the world�s first commercial sulphuric acid in-situ leach
uranium mine, and to start to back-track on his flawed approvals.
While still failing to order restoration of groundwater at either
Beverley or Honeymoon, only a complete reversal of position could
restore proper process� said Mr Noonan.
David Noonan, ACF Campaign Officer 08 8232 2566 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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