Jabiluka Mill Alternative

Assessment Report No 26

Public Environment Report
Environmental Assessment Report and Recommendations
by the Environment and Heritage Division
Department of Lands, Planning and Environment
July 1998

Contents
		Executive Summary
		Summary of Recommendations
1.0		Introduction and Background
		1.1   Environmental Assessment Process
		1.2   Environmental Assessment History and Legislation
		1.2.1   Background
		1.2.2   Jabiluka Assessment Process
		1.3   Major Issues
		1.4   The Region
2.0		The Proposal
		2.1   Objectives of the Project
		2.2   The Need for the Project
		2.3   The Mine and Associated Infrastructure
		2.3.1   Construction Activities
		2.3.2   Mining
		2.3.3   Ore Processing
		2.3.4   Tailings
		2.3.5   Other Infrastructure
3.0		Assessment
		3.1   Overview
		3.2   Issues Raised in Submissions
		3.3   Project Baseline Studies
		3.4   Alternatives to the Project
		3.5   Major Environmental Issues, Potential Impacts and Safeguards
		3.5.1   Water Management
		3.5.1.1   Surface Water Management
		3.5.1.2   Groundwater Management
		3.5.2   Tailings Management
		3.5.3   Radiation Management
		3.5.3.1   Worker Exposure
		3.5.3.2   Public Exposure
		3.5.4   Transport Management
		3.5.4.1   Operational Access Road
		3.5.4.2   Construction Access Road
		3.5.4.3   Product Transport
		3.5.5   Flora and Fauna Management
		3.5.5.1   Flora Management
		3.5.5.2   Fauna Management
		3.5.6   Monitoring
		3.5.7   Rehabilitation
		3.6   Other Issues
		3.6.1   Management of Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods
		3.6.2   Fire Management
		3.6.3   Air Quality Impacts
		3.6.4   Noise and Vibration
		3.6.5   Sewerage and Waste Disposal
		3.6.6   Insect Disease Vectors
		3.6.7   Visual Impacts
4.0		Social Issues and Impacts
		4.1   Social Impacts
		4.2   Heritage and Cultural Values
5.0		Conclusion
		Abbreviations and Acronyms
Figures
1		Location of the Jabiluka Project (68KB)
2		JMA Project Layout (174KB)
3		JMA Mill Layout (140KB)
Appendices
1		List of Public Respondents to the Jabiluka PER
2		Public Examination places for the Jabiluka PER
3		Issues raised in submissions on the Jabiluka PER

Back to Top

Executive Summary

This report assesses the environmental impact of the Jabiluka Mill option for the proposal by Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) to establish and operate an underground uranium mine at the Jabiluka Number 2 uranium prospect, 230 km east of Darwin and 20 km north of Jabiru, in the Northern Territory.

In 1996, ERA submitted an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the development of the Jabiluka Number 2 Uranium Mine. This proposal addressed the development of an underground mine at the Jabiluka site and the transport of mined ore to the Ranger mine for processing. Environmental assessment of the proposal was completed in 1997. This Public Environment Report (PER) further addresses the option of processing the Jabiluka ore at a mill constructed on-site at Jabiluka. Many of the issues addressed in the EIS remain directly relevant to this proposal and are not repeated in the PER. The PER addresses only those aspects of the project that have changed from the original proposal (1996 EIS).

The proponent has given a broad overview of the technical aspects of the proposal on the basis that, within the general requirements of the environmental protection arrangements, specific design and operational measures will be formulated as project planning proceeds. The proponent has now undertaken much of the baseline work necessary for the project that had not been undertaken in the EIS, due to the reluctance of the Northern Land Council and Traditional Owners to grant access to the site for ERA to undertake such surveys.

Major issues associated with the development and operation of the Jabiluka Project raised during the review of the PER, public comments and comments by government advisory bodies are listed below and are the focus of the contents of this assessment report.

• Alternatives to the Proposed Development Option
• Surface and Ground Water Management
• Tailings Management
• Radiation Management
• Transport Management
• Flora and Fauna Management
• Social Impacts
• Heritage and Cultural Values

This assessment concludes that the JMA (amended layout) has significant environmental advantages over the JMA (original concept). The proposal is considered the most environmentally acceptable option for the development of an on-site milling operation subject to resolution of the following two issues.

There are concerns about the chemical stability of the cemented paste tailings and the formation of leachates that could contaminate groundwater. Further investigations are required to establish the suitability of this technology for the treatment and disposal of uranium tailings.

Another concern is the location of the tailings pits in an area where there appear to be fractured and weathered zones associated with the groundwater aquifer. There is the potential that leachates from the tailings can contaminate the groundwater aquifer and in the longer term, Swift Creek. Further investigations are required to establish the suitability of the proposed location for the tailings pits and whether appropriate control measures, such as grouting or the use of barriers, can overcome potential leachate problems.

The proponent should further investigate these matters and demonstrate to the supervising authority that the cemented paste technology and location of the tailings pits constitutes Best Practicable Technology for the management of uranium tailings and potential leachate.

This assessment also notes that should the RMA option become viable through the agreement of the Traditional Owners, the RMA is considered overall to have the least environmental impact and to be the environmentally preferred option for development of the Jabiluka mine.

Back to Top

Summary of Recommendations

Subject to approvals and authorisations which permit the Jabiluka Project to proceed, the primary recommendations resulting from the assessment are set out below. Unless otherwise stated, additional material (report, study or assessment) required by a recommendation shall be submitted to the Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy.

It is important, for the purposes of interpretation, that the highlighted recommendations in this report are not considered in isolation, as the text contains a number of identified concerns, suggestions, and some considerations to assist decision-making.

It is acknowledged that during detailed implementation of proposals outlined in the PER, flexibility is necessary and desirable to allow for minor and non-substantial changes to the designs and specifications which have been examined as part of this assessment. It is considered that subsequent statutory approvals for this proposal could make provision for such changes, where it can be shown that the changes are not likely to have a significant effect on the environment.

Introduction

Recommendation 1

Subject to Recommendation 2 and other authorisations required for the Jabiluka Mill Alternative to proceed, the proposal can be implemented in accordance with:

• the environmental commitments and safeguards identified in the Jabiluka Mill Alternative Public Environmental Report, or as modified in this Assessment Report;
• the approved Mine and Environmental Plans; and
• the relevant commitments and safeguards identified in the Ranger Mill Alternative assessment.

Recommendation 2

Prior to the grant of an export licence, the proponent shall conduct investigations identified in Recommendations 8 and 9 and demonstrate to the supervising authority that the cemented paste technology and location of the tailings pits constitutes Best Practicable Technology for the management of uranium tailings and potential leachate.

Back to Top

Alternatives to the Proposed Development Option

Recommendation 3

Any proposal to expand the mining operations (as proposed in the PER), or to expand the processing operations (to extract gold) shall be subject to further assessment under the appropriate environmental assessment legislation.

Surface and Ground Water Management

Recommendation 4

The proponent shall review the extent of the TCZ to ensure that all potential sources of surface water contaminants are contained within the TCZ. This review should be submitted as part of the environmental management plan for the approval of the supervising authority.

Recommendation 5

The proponent shall develop an Acid Generation Management Plan for the Jabiluka site for the approval of the supervising authority.

Recommendation 6

The proponent shall reassess the location and/or the design of stockpile #2 to ensure that all runoff from stockpile #2 is completely contained within the SCZ and discharges through the sediment basins. Outcomes of the reassessment shall be presented to the supervising authority for approval.

Recommendation 7

The proponent shall undertake further investigations into the potential effects of mine dewatering on the local groundwater (shallow and deep aquifers), particularly in respect to significant soaks (such as Boyweg) in the area. The outcomes of the investigations shall be presented to the supervising authority.

Recommendation 8

The proponent shall investigate the long term effect that both acid and alkaline groundwater at Jabiluka would have on the alkaline cemented paste tailings and the groundwater movement in and around the tailings mass. The outcomes of the investigations shall be presented to the supervising authority.

Back to Top

Tailings Management

Recommendation 9

The Proponent conduct further investigations into the chemical stability of cemented paste tailings and their suitability for disposal of uranium tailings in the Jabiluka environment. Results are to be presented to the supervising authority prior to approval of tailings disposal operations.

Radiation Management

Recommendation 10

The proponent shall develop an approved radiation protection program which should include, but not be limited to:

• the matters required in Recommendation 12 of Assessment Report 22; and
• measurement of radon emanation and gamma dose rates from the Jabiluka Mill and the tailings pits.

Recommendation 11

In developing the radiation protection program the proponent shall carry out further modelling to estimate the public radiation dose at Mudginberri incorporating the contribution from the Ranger operations and the mill and tailings pit at Jabiluka.

Transport Management

Recommendation 12

If required, a new alignment for the construction access track shall be discussed with the Northern Land Council and submitted to the supervising authority for approval as part of the Environmental Management Plan.

Flora and Fauna Management

Recommendation 13

The proponent shall investigate bird visitation to the tailings pits and bird deaths on the mine site. A record of bird deaths shall be kept on-site and included in the Jabiluka Annual Report.

If significant bird deaths attributable to tailings pit waters are recorded, the proponent shall instigate an appropriate management strategy in consultation with the supervising authority.

Back to Top

Monitoring

Recommendation 14

The Northern Land Council, as representative of the local aboriginals, shall be consulted during the development and implementation of environmental monitoring programs. Results of the monitoring programs should also be conveyed to the local aboriginals.

Rehabilitation

Recommendation 15

The proponent shall consult with the relevant authorities and the Northern Land Council, as representative of the local aboriginals, on the rehabilitation objectives, planning and implementation throughout the project’s life. All rehabilitation programs must be submitted for approval of the supervising authority.

Other General Issues

Recommendation 16

The proponent should be required to monitor vibration levels and ensure that they are maintained below the peak particle velocity set by the supervising authority.

Social, Heritage and Cultural Values

Recommendation 17

The proponent is to conduct stage 2 of the cultural, archaeological and heritage survey prior to construction of the Ranger-Jabiluka access road.

Back to Top

Abbreviations and Acronyms

 

ABS	Australian Bureau of Statistics	U3O8	uranium oxide (Yellowcake)
AEA	Atomic Energy Act	°C	degrees Celsius
APC	Aboriginal Project Committee	gm	grams
AS	Australian Standard	gm/t	grams per tonne
Au	Gold	ha	hectares
CRZ	Catchment Runoff Zone	kL	kilo-Litre
DLPE	NT Department of Lands, Planning and Environment	kL/day	kilo-Litre per day
DME	NT Department of Mines and Energy	km	kilometre
Dpp	Draft Jabiluka EIS page number	km/hr	Kilometre per hour
EIS	Environmental Impact Statement	kV	kilo-Volt
EMP	Environmental Management Plan	L	Litre
EPIP	Environmental Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974 (Commonwealth)	L/sec	Litre per second
ERA	Energy Resources of Australia Ltd.	m	metre
FML	Flexible Membrane Liner	m3	cubic metre
ICRP	International Commission on Radiological Protection	m3/d	cubic metres per day
KNP	Kakadu National Park	Mt	Million tonnes
KRSIS	Kakadu Region Social Impact Study	Mm3	Million cubic metres
NLC	Northern Land Council	mSv	milli Sieverts
NT	Northern Territory	mSv/a	milli Sieverts per annum
OSS	Office of the Supervising Scientist	mm	millimetre
PAWA	NT Power and Water Authority	mm/hr	millimetre per hour
pp	page number	mWL	milli Working Levels
RP	Retention Pond	pH	measure of acidity or alkalinity of a solution
RRZ	Restricted Release Zone	ppb	parts per billion
RUEI	Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry	t	tonne
SCZ	Sediment Control Zone	t/a	tonnes per annum
SAG	Study Advisory Group	t/m3	tonnes per cubic metre
Spp	Supplement page number	ug/L	micrograms per litre
TCZ	Total Containment Zone
THS	NT Territory Health Services
UMEC	Uranium Mining (Environmental Control) Act
USEPA	United States Environmental Protection Authority
WMS	Water Management System

The Adobe PDF documents linked to from this page may require a newer version of Adobe Reader than you are currently using. Click here to download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

 

back to top