Issues at Operating Uranium Mines and Mills - Ranger, Australia
(last updated 12 Jun 2010)
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Traditional Owners of Ranger uranium mine site alarmed by new spills into Kakadu National Park, call into question mine expansion project
Millions of litres of radioactive water from the Ranger uranium mine have flowed into internationally acclaimed and World Heritage-listed wetlands in Kakadu National Park.
Traditional owners say they will oppose plans for a huge expansion of the 30-year-old mine by Energy Resources of Australia, unless the company upgrades outdated environmental protection procedures.
The Rio Tinto-owned ERA has tried to play down an alarming and unexplained spike in contamination in water flowing from the mine into Kakadu's Magela Creek between April 9 and 11, 2010, The Age can reveal.
About 40 Aborigines live downstream from a site where a measure probe recorded up to five times the warning level of electrical conductivity, which is a measure of contaminants including uranium, sulphate and radium.
Environmental group Environment Centre Northern Territory has been shown evidence showing the spike, which ERA representatives said had originated upstream from the mine and was not ERA's fault.
But, asked about the contamination, ERA admitted the source ''could not be determined and investigations are continuing''. ''It is possible that these have come from the Ranger operations,'' it said.
ERA's handling of the spike and other environmental concerns about the mine have strained its relations with the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, which represents the Mirarr traditional owners.
In another unreported mishap at the mine, in December 2009 a poorly engineered dam collapsed, spilling 6 million litres of radioactive water into the Gulungul Creek, which flows into Kakadu.
Justin O'Brien, the Gundjeihmi corporation's executive officer, said unless the company changes its environmental procedures, the Mirarr will not support any expansion of the mine - that includes a heap leaching plant, a tunnel under flood-plains, a 1000-person accommodation village, 650 evaporation ponds and a one-square-kilometre tailings dam.
The expansion, costing hundreds of millions of dollars, would extend the mine's operation to at least 2021.
(The Age May 24, 2010)
The head of the Supervising Scientist Division, Alan Hughes, said his own monitoring showed the recently revealed spikes were magnesium sulphate and no other contaminants of note.
(Sydney Morning Herald May 26, 2010)
He said there was a spike in salinity levels because run-off water from a retention pond had spilled into a billabong connected to the creek, but no significant uranium was detected in the water.
"The uranium content of that retention pond is quite low. It's of the order of five micrograms per litre," he said.
(ABC May 27, 2010)
The company that operates the Ranger uranium mine has confirmed higher-than-normal salt levels in a creek in Kakadu National Park is a result of its operations.
Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) has investigated two salinity spikes in Magela Creek downstream of the mine in April.
Chief executive Rob Atkinson says run-off water from the mine had flowed into the creek.
(ABC June 12, 2010)
Uranium concentrations in tailings seepage at Ranger uranium mine 5400 times background; rehabilitation impossible
Contaminated water seeping from the Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu National Park has a uranium concentration more than 5,000 times the normal level, a Senate estimates committee 
has heard.
The Office of the Supervising Scientist today told the committee that water seeping from underneath the dam has about 5,400 times the level of uranium than the natural background level.
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam says the environmental regulator told the committee about 100,000 litres of water seeps from the tailings dam every day.
Mr Ludlam says the water has been leaking from the dam for years.
He says the regulator says it will be impossible to rehabilitate the site.
"The uranium concentation in the billabong surrounding the mine are about three to five parts per billion," he said.
"But the uranium in the processed water that is leaking from beneath the tailings dam is 27,000 parts per billion.
So it's roughly 5,500 times as much uramium in that water as there is the surrounding environment and that means the company has got a huge problem."
(ABC Feb. 9, 2010)
The reported uranium concentration in the seepage (equiv. to 27 mg/l) is slighthly higher than that to be used for a uranium byproduct recovery project in the Talvivaara nickel/zinc mine in Finland - conincidentally announced the same day. Maybe, ERA should contract this company to deal with this seepage...
> Download Transcript of Environment, Communications, and the Arts Committee, Feb. 9, 2010 (PDF)
Preliminary results of probe into tailings leak at Ranger uranium mine not made public
The Commonwealth supervising scientist of the Ranger uranium mine at Kakadu National Park says investigations are continuing into water contamination at the site.
Alan Hughes has told a Senate estimates committee that Energy Resources of Australia has conducted geophysical surveys to determine the impact and extent of leaking from a tailings dam at the mine.
Mr Hughes says the company has only preliminary results from the surveys and is not sure if ERA will make the findings public.
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam is demanding the report be made public as soon as possible.
(ABC Oct. 20, 2009)
> Download Transcript of Environment, Communications, and the Arts Committee, Oct. 20, 2009 (1.1M PDF)
Pit wall instability causes interruptions to operations at Ranger mine
In the September 2009 quarter, "total material mined was 4 percent lower than the June 2009 quarter due to some intermittent interruptions to operations to allow increased surveillance of a known and localised area of instability on the southern wall of the pit."
(ERA September 2009 Quarter Operations Review, Oct. 14, 2009)
Traditional Owners oppose extension of Ranger mine operation beyond 2021
The relationship between mining company ERA and traditional owners of the Ranger uranium mine site has showed signs of serious deterioration.
Senior traditional owner Yvonne Margarula says the company was lying about the timetable for the planned expansion at Ranger.
She fears any new works will mean that mining will continue beyond the scheduled completion date.
ERA is scheduled to finish mining at the Ranger site by 2021 and after rehabilitation to leave the site by 2026.
But after its annual general meeting on Wednesday, company chief executive Rob Atkinson left open the possibility that the timetable might extend.
(ABC Apr. 24, 2009)
ERA keen to keep Ranger uranium mine open beyond 2021
Energy Resources of Australia has told shareholders it would be delighted to extend the life of the Ranger Uranium Mine in Kakadu National Park.
Under current legislation, work at the mine has to stop in 2021.
The company's chief executive, Rob Atkinson, says there is no plan to extend it at this stage, but that could change if further resources are found.
"I think we've got an exciting exploration program in the future and really depending on that feasibility, that if there's efficient ore and that we can work with the key stakeholders, then I think that it would be a desirable option."
(ABC Apr. 22, 2009)
Traditional Owners of Ranger uranium mine site alarmed by new spills into Kakadu National Park, call into question mine expansion project
> View here
ACF slams approval of exploration decline at Ranger 3 Deeps
The operators of the Ranger Uranium Mine in Kakadu have been accused of trying to expand the mine by stealth after Environment Minister Peter Garrett approved a three-kilometre exploration tunnel.
The decision to approve the tunnel with no environmental conditions has angered environmentalists, who say it is the first step towards expanding the 30-year old mine, situated in the world heritage-protected Kakadu National Park.
The decision was quietly released on Sunday (May 17, 2009).
The tunnel will reach a depth of up to 350 metres underground and travel outside the existing environmental impact zone of the mine and under the important Magela Creek, which brings water to Kakadu's wetlands.
Nuclear campaigner for the Australian Conservation Foundation Dave Sweeney says details found in mine operator Energy Resources of Australia's proposal for the tunnel showed it was expansive enough to be later used or modified for commercial mining. The proposal has provision for the tunnel to follow any seams of uranium surveyors come across.
(The Age May 20, 2009)
ERA files application for exploration decline at Ranger 3 Deeps
On 16 July 2009, ERA received notification from the NT that its proposal to construct an underground exploration decline (tunnel) at its Ranger operations was unlikely to result in significant enviornmental impacts and does not warrent formal assessment under the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA). ERA had earlier received a determination from the Commonwealth that the proposed exploration decline was not a controlled action under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
On April 15, 2009, ERA announced that it had formally applied for statutory approval of an underground exploration decline at its Ranger operations.
ERA has lodged a referral of the exploration decline project with the Commonwealth Department of Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts ("DEWHA") under the Commonwealth Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. ERA has separately lodged an application for approval of the project with the Northern Territory Government.
> Download Referral Ref. No. 2009/4860 (DEWHA)
> View project details (ERA)
ERA files application for approval of heap leach project at Ranger mine
The Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport (NRETA) invites public comment on the Draft Guidelines for the Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement, Energy Resources of Australia Ltd Ranger Uranium Mine - Heap Leach Facility.
Closing date is 31 August 2009.
> Download Draft EIS guidelines
On April 15, 2009, and later on May 19, 2009, the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Water Heritage and the Arts and the Northern Territory Minister for Natural Resources, Environmental and Heritage had, respectively, determined that ERA's project to construct a heap leach facility and associated infrastructure, under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the Northern Territory Mining Management Act and Environemtnal Assessment Act was a controlled action under the EPBC Act and the Northern Territory EEA and will require formal environmental assessment under at the level of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
On 16 March, 2009, ERA announced that it has formally applied for statutory approval of a heap leach facility at its Ranger operations.
ERA has lodged a referral with the Commonwealth Department of Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts ("DEWHA") under the Commonwealth Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. ERA has separately lodged an application for approval with the Northern Territory Government.
If approved, the heap leach facility is expected to treat 10 million tonnes of low grade mineralised material per year, contained in stockpiles and the operating Ranger pit, to produce a total of between 15 to 20,000 tonnes of uranium oxide. ERA's pre-feasibility study into the heap leach facility is expected to be completed within the first half of 2009.
> Download Referral Ref. No. 2009/4794 (DEWHA)
> View ERA New Projects Heap Leach Referral
ERA expects massive uranium resource at extension of Ranger deposit
On Nov. 17, 2008, ERA announced that it expects to find 30,000 to 40,000 t U3O8 in the Ranger 3 Deeps area east to the current Ranger 3 operating pit. ERA has performed extensive exploration in the area over the last two years.
ERA to extend mine life of Ranger open pit mine to 2012
On Sep. 27, 2007, Energy Resources of Australia Ltd announced that it has approved an extension of the Ranger operating pit. The extension of the operating pit follows a detailed feasibility study which was announced in February 2007. The pit pushback, will extend mining at Ranger until 2012, and combined with optimisation of the existing pit, will add an additional 4,857 tonnes (10.7 million lbs) of contained uranium oxide [4,119 t U]. The majority of the additional production from the extension will occur in 2011. Processing at Ranger is due to cease in 2020.
ERA has also approved expenditure of A$10 million for a pre-feasibility study to examine options to extend the mine further and increase production from the processing plant. The study will commence immediately and continue in 2008.
Ranger tailings dam leaks 100 cubic metres per day
The Ranger uranium mine inside the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park is leaking 100,000 litres of contaminated water into the ground beneath the park every day, a Government appointed scientist has revealed.
Alan Hughes, the Commonwealth supervising scientist appointed to monitor the mine's environmental impact, confirmed at a Senate committee hearing that about 100 cubic metres a day — the equivalent of 100,000 litres or three petrol tankers — of contaminant were leaking from the mine's tailings dam into rock fissures beneath Kakadu.
Environmentalists and the Greens say the company should be forced to halt plans to expand the mine until it explains how it intends to recover the water and meet its obligations to rehabilitate the world heritage-listed area, 250 kilometres south-east of Darwin.
(The Age March 13, 2009)
Workers 'caked' in uranium at Ranger mill
More than a dozen workers were exposed to a "concerning" level of uranium during a clean-up operation at the Ranger mine near Jabiru.
The workers were not wearing their TLD monitoring devices at the time but urine tests showed they had been exposed to uranium oxide.
The incident is among 210 outstanding matters before the mine's safety committee, Australian Manufacturing Union (AMWU) state secretary Andrew Dettmer said.
Energy Resources of Australia business development manager David Paterson said the workers probably ingested uranium through their mouths after licking their lips while cleaning out the yellowcake.
The incident took place over three days in late October when workers were cleaning yellowcake out of a "hopper" where it was clogged after a rainstorm. Mr Paterson said they were wearing only paper overalls and face masks.
AMWU NT organiser Steve Milne said eight workers who were tested "were all over the acceptable limit for uranium".
(Northern Territory News Nov. 21, 2008)
ERA signs China uranium export deal
Energy Resources of Australia, which is 68.4 per cent-owned by Rio Tinto, says it has signed an agreement to supply uranium to a Chinese electric utility.
ERA, the producer of a tenth of the world's uranium, operates the Ranger mine 250 kilometres east of Darwin in the Northern Territory.
Rio Tinto chief executive of energy Preston Chiaro said ERA had "reached in principle an agreement for a contract to supply uranium oxide to an electric utility in China".
Mr Chiaro said that the agreement was reached after the signing of a bilateral safety agreement between the Chinese and Australia governments.
Rio Tinto said the supply agreement with the utility starts in the second half of 2008.
(The Australian July 25, 2008)
The first uranium shipment to China will be sent in the next few weeks.
(Northern Territory News Oct. 29, 2008)
High water level in Ranger pit affects uranium production
On Apr. 15, 2008, ERA announced that, currently, there is restricted access to higher grade ore, which is located predominantly in the bottom of the pit. This access should be re-established towards the end of the second quarter, with the mill currently processing stockpiled ore. As a result, average head grade in the second quarter is expected to be in the range of 0.20 to 0.25 per cent uranium oxide and processing of this lower grade will reduce drummed production in the second quarter.
On July 15, 2008, ERA reported that "uranium oxide production of 1,030 tonnes was 22 per cent lower than the first quarter of 2008, and 31 per cent lower than the corresponding quarter in 2007. This was due to restricted access to higher grade ore". "At the end of the wet season, although water levels in the pit were substantially lower than at the same time in 2007, there was still restricted access to higher grade ore, which is located predominantly in the bottom of the pit."
ERA halts mining at Ranger ahead of cyclone
Uranium producer Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) has ceased mining at its Ranger mine in the Northern Territory as the operation braces for Tropical Cyclone Helen. The milling operation continues on stockpiled ore.
(The Sydney Morning Herald Jan. 4, 2008)
Mining resumed on Jan. 7, 2008. (The Australian Jan. 7, 2008)
Heavy rainfall stops uranium mining at Ranger
Uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) has stopped mining at its Ranger mine in the Northern Territory following heavy monsoonal rain.
ERA said mining stopped on Feb. 27, 2007, and the processing plant closed on Feb. 28, 2007, after several days of heavy rain.
(The Age March 1, 2007)
Mining operations restarted at Ranger on Mar. 7, 2007. The processing plant is expected to restart within the next week. (ERA Mar. 7, 2007)
The shutdown and re-start of the processing plant resulted in the loss of approximately 300 tonnes of uranium oxide production. In addition, the elevated water level in the mine resulting from the high rainfall will restrict access to ore in the second half of 2007 and into 2008. This will have an impact on production in the second half of 2007.
Based on currently available water treatment and disposal capacity, production in 2007 is likely to be similar to 2006, while production in 2008 is likely to be 25 per cent to 35 per cent lower than 2006.
(ERA Apr. 2, 2007)
Uranium production in the first quarter of 2007 (1006 t U3O8) was 28% lower than in the first quarter of 2006. (ERA Apr. 16, 2007)
It is now expected that Pit 3 will be emptied of water by November 2007. This will allow mining of ore at the bottom of the pit and, subject to experiencing a normal wet season, should allow production in 2008 to be restored to normal levels. (ERA Sep. 27, 2007)
ERA to construct processing plant for stockpiled lateritic ore at Ranger mine
Energy Resources of Australia Ltd will spend $27.6 million in 2007 to construct a plant at the Ranger mine in the Northern Territory to process lateritic ore, a material containing a high proportion of clay minerals.
The laterite processing plant will contribute approximately 400 tonnes per annum of uranium oxide to ERA's production over seven years from 2008 through to 2014. This production is already included in ERA's current processing plan, and the lateritic ore forms part of current stated reserves.
Approximately 1.6 million tonnes of lateritic ore have been stockpiled since the mine began operating to allow for the optimum processing method to be developed. Because of the claylike nature of this material, it has to be introduced into the main processing plant through a dedicated handling facility.
Construction of the plant will commence in April 2007 with the first lateritic ore scheduled for processing in the first quarter of 2008.
(ERA Nov. 29, 2006)
Study finds almost doubled cancer rate among Aborigines near Ranger mine
Cancer cases among Aborigines near the Ranger uranium mine appear to be almost double the normal rate, according to a study by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), the Federal Government's leading indigenous research body.
The study also found there had been no monitoring in the past 20 years of the Ranger mine's impact on the health of local indigenous people. Yet since 1981 there have been more than 120 spillages and leaks of contaminated water at the mine, located in the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park.
The study compared Aborigines diagnosed with cancer in the Kakadu region with the cancer rate among all Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory from 1994 to 2003.
It found the diagnosis rate was 90 per cent higher than expected in the Kakadu region, with 27 cases reported. If the diagnosis rate had been proportional to the territory's overall Aboriginal population, there would have been 14 cases.
A spokeswoman for federal Health Minister Tony Abbott said the study's findings on cancer rates were questionable.
NT health department chief executive Robert Griew was also sceptical. "The excess cancers found are not typical of cancers caused by radiation but rather cover the range of cancers that reflect lifestyle issues such as smoking, diet and infection."
(The Age Nov. 23, 2006)
On Nov. 23, 2006, the AIATSIS chairman stated that the "draft discussion paper entitled Aborigines and Uranium Mining in the Northern Territory authored by Professor Colin Tatz et al [...] was neither commissioned nor authorized by the Institute's Governing Council and [...] does not represent a finalized report."
ERA plans to mill more stockpiled low-grade ore, extending operational life of Ranger mill by six years
Since mining operations began at Ranger, material with a grade greater than 0.02% U3O8 and below the economic cut-off grade of 0.08% U3O8 has been stockpiled separately. Recent increases in the market price of uranium oxide have warranted a review of these stockpiles. Technical studies have established that smaller sized mineralised fragments are of higher grade than the larger fragments. Through a screening process, it is projected that 15 million tonnes of material containing 11,100 tonnes uranium oxide at an average grade of 0.074% U3O8 can be economically processed.
ERA has previously stated that mining at Ranger was expected to continue until at least 2008, with milling operations continuing until at least 2014. The processing of this screened material is now expected to occur from late in 2014 to 2020, adding six years to the predicted operational life of Ranger.
Mining of the present estimated reserves at Ranger is still expected to cease in 2008.
(ERA Oct. 25, 2006)
The Environment Centre of the NT (ECNT) said the extension posed a real and significant threat to world heritage-listed Kakadu National Park. "Any extension will exacerbate existing tailings and water management problems. Tailings from approved mining and milling plans are already enough to fill the pits, and ERA has already had to apply for new land application areas to manage contaminated water," said ECNT uranium campaigner Emma King. (AAP Oct. 26, 2006)
Serious production setback at Ranger mine
"Mill head grade was 30 per cent lower than the corresponding quarter in 2005 although it was 5 per cent higher than that processed in Q2. This was due to the elevated water level in the pit resulting from the unusually high rainfall throughout the wet season. As previously advised, the elevated water level prevented access to high grade ore earlier in the quarter but the water has been successfully drawn down and mining is now focused in areas of higher grade ore.
The lower mill head grade resulted in drummed production that was 31 per cent lower than the corresponding quarter in 2005 but 85 per cent higher than second quarter production. As a result of the operational difficulties experienced in the first half of the year and the impacts of the high water level, production for 2006 is forecast to be significantly lower than in 2005."
(ERA, Third Quarter Operations Review, Oct. 18, 2006)
"Drummed production for the quarter was 596 tonnes uranium oxide [505 t U] (2005: 1,250 tonnes uranium oxide [1060 t U]). This was lower than the corresponding period last year due to wet weather associated with cyclone Monica and unusually high rainfall throughout the wet season that prevented access to high grade ore. Production was further impacted by a reduction in the volume of ore treated due to difficulties experienced in bringing the acid plant back to full production after a planned maintenance shutdown."
(ERA Quarterly Production and Exploration Report to 30 June 2006, July 19, 2006)
Ranger uranium mine shut down for cyclone warning
Uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) has shut down its operations in the Northern Territory ahead of the arrival of Cyclone Monica.
(The Age April 24, 2006)
Discount sell-off of 25% stake in ERA raises concern re unsufficient Ranger mine decommissioning trust fund
On Dec. 6, 2005, Cameco, Cogéma, and Japan Australia Uranium Resources Development Co Ltd. (JAURD) sold their combined 25% stake in Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) at a steep 27.6% discount - at just A$9.50 a share. That compares with ERA's closing price ahead of a trading halt on Dec. 6, 2005, at A$13.13. (Australian Dec. 7, 2005)
It appears that the former shareholders have no confidence in a development of the Jabiluka deposit in the foreseeable future and, in view of the Ranger deposit soon to be depleted, are leaving a sinking ship. This raises concern regarding the unsufficient financial guarantees covering the decommissioning cost of the Ranger mine (see below).
ERA fined over Ranger mine safety breach
ERA was fined A$82,500 in the Darwin Magistrate’s Court on Oct. 28, 2005, after having pleaded guilty to a charge brought by the Northern Territory’s Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines under the Mining Management Act. The maximum fine for the charge was A$275,000 and the minimum was A$27,500.
The charge relates to an incident in July 2004 when a fitter was injured in the Ranger mine processing plant.
(ERA Oct. 28, 2005)
Ranger uranium mill life to be extended by three years
The Ranger uranium mine operators say the rising price of uranium will allow them to keep processing lower grade ore for another three years.
The Ranger mine in the Northern Territory is due to close in 2008 and the processing facility was meant to shut down in 2011.
Changes in the world uranium price have led ERA to reduce the grade of ore they will process.
In the past, the economic cut-off grade for uranium oxide was 0.12 per cent, but ERA says ore with a grade of just 0.08 per cent is now worth processing.
That has increased reserves at the mine by more than 6,000 tonnes, or just over 10 per cent.
ERA managing director Harry Kenyon-Slaney says that will keep the processing plant open until 2014, and up to 200 Jabiru residents in a job.
(ABC 27 Oct. 2005)
ERA, the operator of the Northern Territory's Ranger uranium mine says it could cost A$176 million to close the mine down.
The Ranger uranium mine, surrounded by Kakadu National Park, is expected to cease operations in 2008, with processing to continue until 2011.
ERA has informed the stock exchange it has developed a mine closure model which provides estimates of the technical, environmental and social costs.
"Currently ERA has $41.4 million in a government-administered trust fund for this purpose, with a further $23.6 million available through a bank guarantee," the company said.
(ABC, The Australian, July 22, 2005; see also ERA Half Year Results 2005, July 22, 2005)
ERA fined A$150,000 for Ranger breaches
On June 1, 2005, ERA was fined A$150,000 in the Darwin Magistrate’s Court after having pleaded guilty on 6 May 2005 to charges brought by the Northern Territory Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development under the Mining Management Act.
Two charges related to the incident concerning the connection of the drinking and process water systems at the Ranger uranium processing plant in March 2004 (one of which was dismissed), and one charge related to mobile equipment radiation clearance incidents between November 2003 and March 2004.
(ERA, ABC, Australian, June 1, 2005)
ERA may lengthen Ranger mine's life
Energy Resources of Australia is considering further exploration that might extend the life of its Ranger operation in the Northern Territory.
Last month, the Rio Tinto subsidiary announced it had increased its reserves by 5972 tonnes of contained uranium.
ERA said mining at Ranger, which is in Kakadu national park, was expected to continue until at least 2008 with milling operations continuing until at least 2011.
The company said the increase in reserves was not expected to result in an extension to mining operations, but might extend milling operations by up to a year. In addition, ERA has revised its mining plan to include the edges of pit No 3, and this would provide the basis for an extension to milling.
It is understood the company is also considering appraisal drilling of known uranium outcrops nearby that could be processed through the Ranger plant.
(Australian Feb. 18, 2005)
Supervising Scientist: Ranger mine safety improvements must be made law
A Commonwealth-appointed scientist has urged the Federal Government to legislate to ensure Energy Resources Australia fixes problems at the Ranger uranium mine.
The scientist, Arthur Johnston, says in his annual report, released on Nov. 9, 2004, that ERA has become "complacent" about radiation dangers at the mine and has not provided enough protection for workers.
He criticises ERA for playing down radiation exposure before properly assessing leaks at the mine.
While ERA has made commitments to tackle problems, Dr Johnston believes "measures to address these issues should be made requirements of the company under legislation".
(Sydney Morning Herald Nov. 10, 2004)
> Download Supervising Scientist Annual Report 2003 - 2004
After taking uranium showers earlier this year, Ranger mill workers now get dried in airstream containing yellow cake...
A spokeswoman for Energy Resources Australia Limited last night said material that "appeared to be yellow cake" had leaked from a compressed air tool in the packing plant where uranium oxide is put in drums for export.
Northern Territory Government regulators will investigate how yellow cake
came to be in the compressed air system in an area of the mine that is
supposed to be highly regulated.
The spokeswoman said a worker in the immediate area, wearing protective
clothing, was not exposed to radiation.
(The Age Oct. 30, 2004)
Northern Territory launches legal action against Ranger
The Northern Territory Mining Department is proceeding with legal action against the operators of the Ranger Uranium Mine over a contamination incident earlier this year.
A formal complaint has been lodged with the Darwin Magistrates Court.
It alleges two separate breaches of the Mining Management Act by Energy Resources of Australia (ERA). (ABC Sep. 29, 2004)
Ranger mine operations suspended after Investigation Reports criticize the mine's radiation clearance measures and water systems as inadequate
On Aug. 30, 2004, the Supervising Scientist Investigation Report on the drinking water incident that occured on March 24, 2004, at the Ranger uranium mine was released. A further report examined an incident in February 2004 where two bobcat earthmovers had been returned in a mildly contaminated condition to Jabiru.
The two reports found the mine's radiation clearance measures and water systems were inadequate. Supervising Scientist Arthur Johnson found leaking pipes and broken and corroded valves were common around the mill.
In response, ERA said it would temporarily suspend mining and processing from Aug. 31, 2004, for several days to address the issues raised by the reports.
(AAP Aug. 30, 2004)
Mine operation was resumed on Sep. 3, 2004. (ABC Sep. 3, 2004)
> Download: Investigation of the potable water contamination incident at Ranger mine March 2004, Supervising Scientist Report 184, 2004 (Department of the Environment and Heritage)
> Download: Investigation of radiation clearance procedures for vehicles leaving the Ranger mine, Supervising Scientist Report 185, 2004 (Department of the Environment and Heritage)
Ranger mine shut down after workers drank contaminated water and took uranium showers
The Ranger mine was shut down on March 24, 2004, following a uranium scare affecting 20 staff. The scare occurred after workers coming off the night shift complained the water in the showers was making them itchy. The water was found to contain levels of uranium up to 8 mg/ltr (400 times safe drinking levels).
(The Australian Mar. 25, 2004)
The contamination occured when a flexible hose was connected between the process water system and the drinking water system. The hose was supposed to increase supply to the process water, but it had the opposite effect. The offending hose has been removed. (The Australian Mar. 26, 2004)
The mine restarted on 31 March 2004, but the mill did not resume operation yet (ABC Apr 1, 2004).
Some workers even drank 3-4 liters of the contaminated water after mine managers failed to warn them. (The Age Apr 5, 2004)
On April 6, 2004, full operations at the mine and mill have resumed upon receipt of NT Government approval. (ABC Apr 6, 2004)
Energy Resources of Australia should be prosecuted after drinking water at its controversial Ranger Mine became contaminated with uranium, a NT government report has found. Mines and Energy Minister Kon Vatskalis said a report found the Rio Tinto company had breached NT legislation, and recommended prosecution. The report has not been made public. (The Age May 19, 2004)
Government Report Clears Ranger Uranium Mine Operations
The Federal Environment Minister, David Kemp, says the Ranger uranium mine has been cleared of allegations it breeched environmental regulations five years ago.
However, the report does make two technical recommendations for possible improvements in the mine's chemical monitoring program and the assessment of discharges of water from the region south of its tailings dam.
In April 2002, former Energy Resources Australia employee Geoffrey Kyle raised claims that during his five years at Ranger tailings spills were under-reported and water quality tests had been misreported.
(ABC 26 Sep 2002)
> View Federal Environment Minister, David Kemp, Release 26 Sep 2002
Evaluation of Alleged Deficiencies in Management of the Ranger
Uranium Mine Between 1996 and 1998 ,
Supervising Scientist Report 171
Supervising Scientist & Northern Territory Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development.
Environment Australia, 2002
Supervising Scientist criticizes ERA's environmental management
On April 23, 2002, the Office of the Supervising Scientist released a report which said the internal management of the company in charge of the mine had failed when a uranium leak occurred earlier this year.
Investigation of the Stockpiling and Reporting Incidents at Ranger and Jabiluka 2002, Supervising Scientist, Environment Australia, 2002
> View summary and download full report
Supervising Scientist to Investigate Allegations
Dr Arthur Johnston, the Commonwealth's Supervising Scientist for the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory, will investigate new allegations of inadequate environmental management at the Ranger uranium mine.
> View News release 9 April 2002
Senator criticizes ERA's use of sandbags at Ranger to slow uranium-contaminated flow into Kakadu National Park
Energy Resources of Australia, for the fourth wet season in a row, is using a sandbag wall to slow uranium-contaminated flow from retention pond No. 1 at its Ranger mine into the environment.
Northern Territory Labor Senator Trish Crossin has condemned as inadequate the sandbag wall for raising the height of a retention pond spillway.
According to ERA, the bags were an effective way of reducing water flow into the park while an inquiry was underway into elevated uranium levels in the pond.
(ABC March 20; Advertiser March 21, 2002)
ERA revises down Ranger uranium resources
Energy Resources of Australia has revised-down its contained uranium resources at its Ranger No.3 deposit: since June 30 2000, the total resource has decreased by 15,197 tonnes of uranium to 65,054 tonnes at end-December. Approximately half the reduction is from milling of ore while the remainder is due to the application of tighter inferred ore parameters.
(The Age Feb. 6, 2002)
"On 14 November 1999 the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources issued a new Section 41 Authority allowing the continued operation of the Ranger project for a further 21 years from 9 January 2000. Although the term of the lease is assured, the NLC has reserved the right to renegotiate the environmental and financial terms of the lease at a later date." (ERA - Half Yearly Profit, Production & Exploration Report to 31 December 1999, 28 January 2000 )
On December 14, 1998, Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) announced a production cut at its Ranger mine from 5500 to 4000 tonnes uranium per year, due to the low uranium market price. The cut will become effective March 31, 1999.
Truck rollover causes 17,000 litres acid spill
Environmentals are concerned about the impact a chemical spill - believed to be one of the largest in recent history - could have on the Top End's international significant wetlands.
Police say up to 17,000 litres of sulphuric acid was spilled last night when a truck rolled over on the Arnhem Highway, near the turn off for Fogg Dam.
The acid leaked from the rear trailer into a culvert on the side of the road, and hazmat crews have spread neutralizing agent to contain the spilled acid.
The road train was heading for the Ranger uranium mine, which sits in the middle of Kakadu National Park.
The Friends of Fogg Dam's president Heather Boulden says the spill should prompt a review of the transport of dangerous liquids through wetland wilderness areas.
(ABC Jan. 2, 2009)
Spill halts Ranger's processing plant
20 litres of process chemicals - an organic kerosene-like material containing small amounts of uranium - have spilled out of a contained area on the site. While mining is continuing, the processing plant was shut down - only one day after it had resumed operation after an outage in response to a government report criticizing the mines water system (see above). (ABC Sep 4, 2004)
Overflow of process water into creek at Ranger
There was an overflow of 150 cubic meters of water on the night of Tuesday 23 March 2004 from a holding tank about a kilometre from the airport on the Ranger mine lease. The water is believed to have contained elevated uranium levels of 108 µg/ltr (four times the safe drinking water guideline).
"We are now concerned however about the traditional owners living downstream and we're concerned about any effects that could have taken place on the environment," Supervising Scientist Dr Johnston said.
(ERA,ABC,Mirrar March 26, 2004)
Uranium leak at Ranger reported late
A uranium leak at the Ranger Mine sent water contamination levels soaring to unprecedented levels. It was one of four breaches of the company's regulations since January 2002.
Incorrect stockpiling of low-grade ore in a catchment area at Ranger is believed responsible for the contamination of Corridor Creek, which is within the lease and connects to the Magela River system used by Aborigines.
According to tests taken by ERA early last month, but not reported to stakeholders until later in February, uranium levels in the creek reached almost 2000 parts per billion – 4000 times the drinking water standard.
(The Australian, March 6, 2002)
Leak at Ranger mine kept secrect for weeks
Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) has kept secret a leak of 2000 cubic meters of manganese contaminated water from its Ranger mine to a nearby wetland for several weeks. The leak was detected by ERA on April 5, but was not reported to the authorities until April 28, 2000. This delay meant the leak was not public knowledge when the Federal Government reported to the United Nations on April 15 on the sensitive subject of Ranger's successor, Jabiluka.
ERA did not know when the leak started because wet season flooding from late December prevented testing of the area. (The Age 3 May 2000, Sydney Morning Herald 4 May 2000)
> View North news release 2 May 2000 · ERA news release 4 May 2000
> View Minister for Industry, Science and Resources news release 3 May 2000
In a report released on 27 June, 2000, the Supervising Scientist "concluded that the leak of tailings water had no adverse ecological impact on Kakadu National Park", but ERA did not comply with the reporting requirement. During the investigation, evidence was obtained that a similar event probably has taken place one year earlier.
> View Federal Environment Minister news release June, 27, 2000
> Download report: Investigation of tailings water leak at the Ranger
uranium mine , Supervising Scientist, Environment Australia, June 2000
History of Spills at Ranger mine (1979 - 1996)
Infringements of the Ranger uranium mine environmental requirements - Appendix 2.9 of the Report of the Senate Select Committee on Uranium Mining and Milling, Canberra, May 1997