Myth: Global Best Practices in Uranium Mining and Processing

Comments: "Global Best Practices in Uranium Mining and Processing" is a myth.
Uranium mining is dangerous, never been done safely anywhere in the world, please read another statement from the so call uranium company in VA: "Patrick Wales, a spokesman and project manager for the company, called the study a “clear road map” for safely mining uranium in Virginia. “The N.A.S. study states time and again that best practices now widely adopted by the industry have been effective at protecting water and air quality and overall public health,” Mr. Wales said in a statement"
Maybe study group had to throw a bone at the uranium company since they paid for the study. Listed below are the reasons, "Global Best Practices in Uranium Mining and Processing " does not work:  "The best regulations will not stop chronic radioactive waste seepage, ! Tell the gov of VA to Keep the Uranium Ban in VA!



Uranium mine tailings leave an enduring toxic legacy
June 8, 2012, 10:53 am

The Environmental Protection Authority’s approval of a uranium mine in Wiluna should concern all West Australians. This is no longer a theoretical discussion.

Research shows a serious risk that uranium mining will cause long-term harm to WA communities.

Uranium mining has caused a string of accidents across Australia and has proved impossible to regulate appropriately. Yet the highly radioactive waste produced by uranium mines — known as uranium mine tailings — remain radioactive for thousands of years.

The State Government has given a commitment to seek to regulate uranium mining through “world’s best practice”, including isolating uranium tailings for at least 10,000 years.

This is a worthy commitment but it is unclear how it will be achieved, especially when it is apparent that no uranium site in Australia has successfully accomplished this for even 10 years.

The best regulations will not stop chronic radioactive waste seepage.

Preventing tailings contamination even after a uranium mine has closed has proved impossible in every uranium mine in Australia to date, according to mine expert Dr Gavin Mudd, of Monash University, who has studied uranium mines in Australia and overseas.

Dr Mudd’s research shows that there is no former Australian uranium mine that has been rehabilitated successfully — all are still radioactive no-go zones because of radionuclide dispersal from waste stockpiles and water seepage.

The radioactivity in the tailings includes the uranium decay product Thorium-230 which has a half life of about 75,000 years.

Therefore, a vast amount of toxic, radioactive waste rock and dust is the legacy of any uranium mine.

Even at Ranger in the Northern Territory, which has boasted “world’s best practice”, there have been a string of failures relating to tailings management and human error, including contamination of groundwater beneath Kakadu National Park.


We will be fooling ourselves if we think that “best practice” regulation can somehow contain tens of millions of tonnes of finely powdered carcinogenic wastes for thousands of years.

Alison Xamon is a WA Greens MLC and water spokeswoman

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/opinion/post/-/blog/13904615/uranium-mine-tailings-leave-an-enduring-toxic-legacy/

 

 

Appeals lodged against first WA uranium mine

 

Dangerous uranium mining in WA fails 'world best practice test', CCWA claims.

Two separate court appeals have been lodged against environmental approval for WA's first uranium mine, potentially delaying the controversial project.

In a landmark decision, the state's independent Environmental Protection Authority last month approved mining company Toro's $280 million project to mine uranium near Wiluna in the South-West.

However last night, the Conservation Council of WA lodged an appeal in the WA Environment Court.

Aboriginal elder and Wiluna resident Glen Cooke also lodged a separate challenge.

CCWA director Piers Verstegen said there were numerous "critical deficiencies" in the ERA's decision.

"Importantly, the state government has made commitments to 'world's best practice' regulation of uranium mining in WA, but their own independent report has found that the current system fails that test," Mr Verstegen said.

"We do not believe that the EPA assessment adequately deals with critical environmental risks including the management of radioactive mine tailings, contamination of groundwater and the transport of radioactive material through WA communities."

"Given this experience West Australian's have little confidence that far more dangerous materials like uranium will be handled and transported safely. These concerns are echoed by conservation groups in Alice Springs and Darwin."

However there remained uncertainty over the likelihood of projects getting off the ground until Labor changed its long-held ban on uranium mining when Mark McGowan took over the leadership in January.

The opposition now opposes any new mine but has said it would not close down any mine that already had government approval.

The Toro project still requires final state government approval, which is expected

http://news.migage.com/articles/Appeals%20lodged%20against%20first%20WA%20uranium%20mine_1146414_22.html

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Statement by Wales:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/us/virginia-warned-of-hurdles-on-uranium-mining.html