West Australia Nuclear Free Alliance 2011 Statement

“We Can’t Close the Gap by Digging a Deeper Hole”

The Western Australia Nuclear Free Alliance (WANFA), made up of Aboriginal Traditional Land Owners from the Pilbara, the Kimberley, the Goldfields, the Great Victoria Desert, the Central Desert, the Gascoyne, Perth and the South West and their allies, met from 2-4 April 2011 on Noongar lands near Perth.

Since the beginning of time, Aboriginal people have been the proud custodians of our land Australia.  Still today, with new technology, new ways and new friends, Aboriginal people continue looking after country.  In Western Australia looking after country means preventing uranium mining.

Uranium mining is not like any other mining.

Uranium mining poisons water, land and life through releasing radiation.  The mining industry and the government are trying to make people believe uranium mining is inevitable.  The industry and the government are trying to make people believe it is safe.  Both are trying to make people believe that uranium mining is the way to bring economic benefits.  We Say No.

WANFA believes that the costs of uranium mining far outweigh any short term cash payment. We can’t close the gap by increasing the number of radioactive holes in the ground.  Aboriginal people should not have to sacrifice the country of future generations, for basic health, education and infrastructure. There are far more jobs and opportunities in a conservation and culture economy, and in caring for country.

We have learnt from the experience of the Mirarr people who have paid the price of the Ranger uranium mine which routinely leaks radioactively contaminated water into Kakadu National Park.  We have learnt from the hard lessons learned by the Arabunna, Kokatha and Spinifex people who have survived but continue to be displaced, marginalised  and suffer health impacts from the nuclear bomb tests at Maralinga and the Olympic Dam uranium mine in South Australia which divides their community, depletes their water and pollutes their land with radioactive contamination forever.

We acknowledge that the Pilbara and Ashburton people of Western Australia also suffered the effects of the British nuclear weapons tests at Monte Bello Islands.

Like most Australians we are devastated that Australian uranium sold to TEPCO in Japan is likely to be part of the nuclear disaster in Fukushima.  WANFA condemns Premier Colin Barnett’s proposal to compensate uranium mining companies for impacts on the industry arising from Fukushima as a vulgar misunderstanding that it is the Japanese people who will continue to suffer for generations, not the industry.

Our job is to stop uranium from our country contaminating people and lands here and overseas.  We take this job seriously.  We came together to share information, plans and strategies to stop uranium mining companies like BHP, Toro Energy, Mega Lake Maitland, Energy Minerals Australia, Cameco and Mitsubishi that are exploring for uranium on our land, dividing our communities and already contaminating our land, animals and water with drilling for uranium.

We are determined to stop the poison of uranium mining in Western Australia by:

-          Sharing information and our stories to educate people about the true risks of radiation;

-          Peaceful protest to demand the truth from government;

-          Challenging the state and federal government mining approvals processes;

-          Challenging the Australian Uranium Association’s Indigenous Dialogue Group who are representing the industry rather than a true Aboriginal community view;

-          Challenging and exposing anthropologists, archaeologists and pro industry consultants that cover up, excuse the industry or silence us;

-          Demanding that our Land Councils, Native Title representative bodies, Native Title service organisations, be accountable, transparent and represent our views as they are legally required to do;

We call for

-          Governments and the nuclear industry to tell the truth about radiation.  There is no safe level of radiation.  Some radiation lasts for thousands of years.  Stop minimising and trivialising the dangers. Stop pretending optimism is a scientific method.

-          The WA government to commission an open and independent public inquiry into uranium mining.

-          The Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, to block any proposed uranium mining project in Western Australia.

-          The WA government to immediately act to protect Aboriginal health, including conducting base line health studies in regional areas and publicly release data, to identify the root cause and address the current Aboriginal health problems in Western Australia.

-          The Western Australian ALP to stand firm on their prudent and popular policy against uranium mining in our state. With this clear policy declaration, mining companies must understand any investment in uranium is an unnecessary risk as there is no bi-partisan political support for this industry and it is strongly contested by Aboriginal people.

-          Those who finance the uranium industry to avoid the uncertainty and contamination of this trade and instead invest in renewable, clean energy.

West Australia Nuclear Free Alliance

Protest BHP Billton- Uranium is a bad investment

Tell BHP Billiton Uranium mining is bad investment!

In 2006 BHP Billiton bought up Western Mining Corporation and with it their uranium mine assets at Olympic Dam in South Australia and Yeelirrie in Western Australia. Since then people around Australia and internationally have been calling on BHP to back out of uranium, an expensive, toxic industry which produces radioactive waste and weapons usable material.

Uranium mining is different, uranium is radioactive and mines leave behind radioactive tailings on country. Uranium is the beginning of the nuclear chain which at each stage, uses up clean water, produces CO2 emissions, and produces radioactive wastes. Nuclear wastes and depleted uranium are also implicated in the production of depleted uranium munitions and nuclear weapons. Tell BHP Billiton and their shareholders uranium mining is a bad investment.

Across the globe from uranium mines to coal, nickel and copper BHP have a trail of bad human rights records, poor working conditions for workers, environmental damage and dodging responsibilities. Come along to the BHP Annual General Meeting and find out more about BHP Billitons record and dish out a spoonful of corporate responsibility to world’s largest diversified resources company.

“Here you are, BHP, the biggest mining company in the world, and here we are the oldest peoples in the world. Y ou should be listening to us about this land and the water. BHP, don’t go ahead with the expansion, we all know how dan­gerous it is. We don’t know if you shareholders understand the impacts of what you’re doing to the Arabunna people, the Kokatha peo­ple and other tribes around that area. You don’t understand what you’re doin g t o the land and the culture.” Uncle Kevin Buzzacott, an Arabunna Elder from Lake Eyre South, South Australia.

The BHP Alternative Annual Report will be publicly available on the 16th of November 2010 at this site.

For more information:

www.protestbhpb.wordpress.com

www.anawa.org.au

www.uraniumfree.wordpress.com

www.foe.org.au/anti-nuclear

www.energyscience.org.au/factsheets.html

Due 22nd September – Submissions on Kintyre Uranium Project- Environmental Referral

To download a word doc to print and send or fax:

Sign on Submissions_Kintyre_Cameco_Mitsubishi

Approvals and Wildlife Division

Department of the Environment, Water Heritage and the Arts

GPO Box 787

Canberra ACT 2601

Epbc.referrals@environment.gov.au

Fax 02 6274 1789

The Chair

Environment protection Authority

Western Australia

Perth WA 6842

submissions@epa.wa.gov.au

Fax 08 6467 652

Re: Kintyre uranium project

I am concerned about the approval and development of the Kintyre uranium mine due to the likely cumulative impacts on a number of environmental and social aspects. The environmental referral released by Cameco Australia lacks scientific data and baseline studies. Such studies are vital for the proper assessment of environmental risk and prediction of long-term outcomes. I call on the EPA to initiate a Public Inquiry into uranium mining in WA, as this environmental referral raises a number of questions and issues which are relevant to future proposals for uranium mining in WA, including impacts on the environment of the Rudall River National Park, water resources, communities, workers and global implications through the production of weapons-usable fissile material and high level radioactive waste.

The Kintyre uranium project should at the very least be subject to approvals under the EPBC Act. This requirement would have previously been standard procedure but current Government discussion on regulations throws doubt on this vital part of the process. In addition the proposal should be subject to an open and transparent public inquiry addressing cumulative impacts, transport, water consumption and contamination, refer to the challenges and failures of uranium mining in Australia thus far, and address the wider global implications of weapons proliferation and radioactive waste production and management.

Tailings management

Tailings dams at Australia’s existing uranium mines have a track record of to leaching into the environment.  Tailings at decommissioned uranium mines pose ongoing environmental threats and are a cost burden to tax payers. Considering the elements that will be present in tailings that are radioactive for thousands of years, there needs to be a stronger commitment from Cameco Australia to take responsibility and to be accountable for long term maintenance and rehabilitation of the Kintyre site.

Cameco Australia are considering putting tailings in mined pits, this involves temporary storage on the surface before disposing of tailings in pits. The major concern is for finer tailings and possible contamination of groundwater. There needs to be further surveying of groundwater flows through pits so as to mitigate any contamination of groundwater. Considering the number of applications for uranium mining, there should be a State and National review on tailings management based on the known risks and longevity of the risks. ERA’s Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory should be considered, with over 100 known leaks and spills and ERA’s commitment to isolate tailings from the environment for 10,000 years.

Water

The amount of water required for this mine proposal is relatively high for the amount of uranium expected to be produced. There should be further analysis of the value of the water resources in the region, underground flows and groundwater recharge. These factors should be considered in relation to possible groundwater contamination.

There should also be an analysis of the cumulative impacts on water resources in the region, especially considering the other operating mines in the, including the Telfer and Nifty gold mines, Rippon Hills and Woodie Woodie. Cameco Australia have suggested that pit dewatering provide the bulk of water requirements, further studies should be conducted to establish how much dewatering water will be available per day and the radionuclide content of that water.

Stygofauna

There is limited understanding about Stygofauna and groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) and how they may be affected by mining and radiation. These ecosystems and species should not be sacrificed for the development of a project with short term profitability and long term impacts. Stygofauna and GDE’s should be studied further with baseline data collection prioritised to monitor any impacts on these species and ecosystems.

Flora and Fauna and conservation values

The Kintyre uranium deposit was excised for the Rudall River National park, now the Karlamilyi National Park. It was the only arid river system in Australia contained within a National Park this is now compromised due to the excision. The area has high biodiversity values, including (as reported by ENVIRON Australia Pty Ltd) 92 bird species, 66 reptile species, 51 mammal species – 21 which are of conservation significance and a few that are critically endangered.

The Karlamilyi National Park including the environment at the Kintyre site, are biologically diverse and unique as a ‘transition zone’ where the Great Sandy Desert, the Eastern Pilbara region and the Little Sandy desert meet. With the rare biodiversity values of flora and fauna in the Kintyre site, a review of the decision to excise the area from the national park should be conducted, to establish under what conditions, agreements, rationale the area was excised.

Radiation Management

This project’s impacts pose public health risks through radiation and dust pollution.  Cameco Australia has used language throughout the referral document which denies the human health risks associated with the proposed Kintyre uranium mine; this raises concern for the seriousness of which they intend to enforce radiation management plans and safety. There needs to be more rigorous base line studies of background radiation at different areas including Punmu, Punngurr (Cotton Creek), Nifty, Telfer, Balfour Downs and Wandanya. There should also be further studies and evaluation of wind charts in the region and pathways for dust pollution from the Kintyre site.

Considering the stage of development there should be more information in the Environmental Referral about the current protective clothing worn by workers during exploration and monitoring programs for workers. That this is not included raises concern about the capacity of Cameco Australia to comply with the required safety regulations set for uranium mining. The establishment of a National Radiation Dose Register for uranium mine workers is still not operational raising concern for the health and safety of workers. Federal Resource Minister Martin Ferguson promised this register would be operating by the end of 2009 but is still only being trialled in one mine.

Radiation dose limits need to be reassessed in light of recent scientific research on the risks associated with radon progeny including polonium. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has publicly stated that ‘radon gas deliver’s twice the absorbed dose to humans as originally thought’, and consequently, the IARC is currently reassessing the permissible levels. Nuclear practitioners and expert bodies including the Medical Association for the Prevention of War have indicated that previous dose estimates to miners need to be approximately doubled to accurately reflect the lung cancer hazard. I also note here that the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War at their International Meeting in Basel in August 2010 unanimously declared that based on health standards uranium mining should be banned internationally.

Transport

The risk assessment for transport in the environmental referral does not exist. There has been no consideration of the total km of transport of the proposed yellow cake product.  Cameco is confident that their record and BHP’s record on transport incidents is very good that there will be no accidents. However, this is not a satisfactory risk analysis. No other uranium mines have to transport uranium oxide approximately 4,300km’s.

The suggestion of temporary storage at Parkeston north east of Kalgoorlie is unacceptable as it is within a few hundred meters of residents at Ninga Mia Aboriginal Community; there have already been Government admissions, that transportation of yellow cake through Kalgoorlie is too dangerous (Norman Moore, ABC news, May 21^st 2010). If it is too dangerous for Kalgoorlie then it is too dangerous for Ninga Mia.

There should be some further assessment of the distance to Darwin and Port Adelaide from Kintyre with a ‘per kilometre’ risk assessment, identifying road and rail accidents in WA, not the track record of Cameco Australia and BHP Billiton. There is no mention of current truck accidents or train derailments in WA, SA or the NT. Truck accidents and train derailments occur and it is again negligent for Cameco Australia not to consider these realities at this stage of project development.

Global Implication of Uranium exports from Australia

In the ERMP there must be an analysis of the broader global implications of uranium exports from Wiluna. This should include a total life cycle analysis with consideration of the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and the production and management of long lived high level radioactive wastes. It is irresponsible for the producers of uranium, such as Cameco Australia, not to take responsibility for the by-products of the nuclear industry, weapons usable fissile material and long lived radioactive waste.

In summary, the issues around tailings management, water consumption and contamination, stygofauna and GDEs, radiation management, transport, and global implications from the production of WMDs and radioactive wastes are issues that should be considered on a mine by mine basis but also must be evaluated as a whole industry’s impact and WA’s role in facilitating the mining and exports of uranium. Again I call on the EPA and the Western Australian Government to hold a Public Inquiry in to the overall impacts of uranium mining in WA.

Yours Sincerely

Name:

Signature:

Date:

Address:

Fax 08 6467 6522

Dodgy Dealings continue in the Uranium Industry

This week the Barnett Government announced that the Australian Centre for Geomechanics has won a tender to form an ‘independent panel on uranium mining regulations’. Sitting on the panel are pro-nuclear lobbyists and behind the scenes are corporate sponsors including some that are anything but independent. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are two of the sponsors − companies with operating uranium mines in Australia and uranium interests in WA.

There are now over 140 companies with uranium interests operating in WA, three proposed mines in the environmental approvals process, and many more companies exploring, negotiating and sometimes even fighting over uranium deposits. But the industry’s record in Australia should give us pause for thought.

BHP Billiton is proposing the Yeelirrie uranium mine in WA. BHP Billiton also operates the Olympic Dam uranium mine in South Australia and enjoys a raft of indefensible exemptions from the SA Environment Protection Act, the Natural Resources Act, the Aboriginal Heritage Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

Photos taken by an Olympic Dam mine worker in December 2008 show radioactive tailings liquid leaking from the ‘retention’ system. The company’s response to the whistleblower’s evidence was to threaten “disciplinary action” against any mine worker caught taking photos of the mine site. Last year, a whistleblower released documents which suggest that the company uses manipulated averages of workers’ radiation exposures and distorts sampling to ensure its ‘official’ figures slip under the maximum radiation exposure levels set by government. There is still no National Radiation Dose Register for uranium mine workers in Australia despite promises from federal Labor that the Register would be in place by the end of 2009.

Rio Tinto owns the Ranger uranium mine bordering the Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory. There have been well over 100 leaks and spills at the mine. The independence and track record of the mine’s regulator − the Office of the Supervising Scientist − has been hotly contested for many years. One incident which attracted widespread attention occurred in 2004, with 150 workers exposed to drinking water containing uranium levels 400 times greater than the Australian safety standard. ERA (a Rio subsidiary) was fined $150,000 − a rare example of a uranium mining company being prosecuted for breaching operating conditions.

The pattern of secrecy, poor performance and inadequate regulation is all too evident in the 2003 report by federal parliament’s Senate References and Legislation Committee. The Committee found “a pattern of under-performance and non-compliance” in the uranium mining industry, it identified many gaps in knowledge and found an absence of reliable data on which to measure the extent of industry’s environmental impacts.

Already problems are evident in WA. There have been many complaints made by pastoralists and Traditional Owners who have not been informed about uranium projects on their country. Traditional Owners who are connected to specific areas have been left out of heritage surveys; pastoralists have been ignored by companies and not informed about projects that affect their property and water supplies.

Environmentalists, unions, Indigenous and public health groups have been calling on the Barnett Government to hold an open and transparent public inquiry into uranium mining. To date the government has refused that request and the prevailing culture of secrecy is further evident with the refusal by the Department of Mines and Petroleum to publicly release the full terms of reference for the newly-formed ‘independent’ panel.

We still do not know whether or how key issues − such as workers’ health and safety, tailings rehabilitation, transport, and groundwater impacts − will be addressed by the panel. We fear that crucial issues – such as impacts on workers health and communities and nuclear weapons proliferation − will not be addressed at all. The panel excludes experts in relevant areas such as occupational health and safety, transport, Aboriginal heritage and native title, non-proliferation and safeguards.

Mia Pepper is the Nuclear Free Campaigner with the Conservation Council of WA.

Read CCWA submissions to the EPA on the Lake Maitland and Wiluna Uranium Mine proposals

The proposed Lake Maitland uranium mine owned by Mega Uranium Pty Ltd have released their scoping document to the EPA

The proposed Wiluna uranium mine owned by Toro Energy Limited has also released their scoping document to the EPA. 

Submissions for these proposals are now closed. You can download CCWA’s submissions on these proposals here:

CCWA_ACF_TWS_Lake Maitland_U_Mine_Mega

CCWA_ACF_TWS_Wiluna_U_Mine_Toro

Rally against the AUSTRALIAN URANIUM CONFERENCE 21st July Esplanade Hotel, Marine Parade, Fremantle- 8am

to download printable file Australian Uranium Conference Rally- poster

The Australian Uranium Conference is a meeting that brings together industry, government and investors to plan and facilitate the exploitation of Australian uranium. It’s time to stand up and say NO to uranium mining in WA, let’s keep WA nuclear free.

Uranium mining in Australia is a bad investment for many many reasons; just a few of these include:

Uranium is radioactive and the mining of it leaves behind highly radioactive tailings which stay in our environment for hundreds of thousands of years- a management nightmare!

Uranium mining is a thirsty business, the Olympic Dam Uranium mine alone uses 35 million liters of water every day! This is an unsustainable and irresponsible use of our water.

Despite popular belief there are communities of people that live all through Australia’s vast outback, these communities are significant and have rights to clean water, clean air and the the right to say NO to uranium mining in their backyard.

The end result of uranium mining is weapons grade material and radioactive waste.

There is still no National Radiation Dose Register for uranium mine workers, despite a promise from Mines Minister Martin Ferguson in September 2008 to have one established by the end of 2009! since which time there have been two leaks at Ranger Uranium mine and polonium scare at Olympic Dam Uranium mine…

At the moment WA is in the spot light with over 137 uranium mining companies with uranium interests in WA, and many uranium deposits. There is still no operating commercial uranium mine in the State and there never has been, now’s the time to turn this around and keep WA Nuclear Free…. come along to the rally, hear speakers from unions, green groups and politicians against this toxic industry… get creative put on a silly suit and head down to the Esplanade 21st July 2010 from 8am.

For more information e-mail mia.pepper@conservationwa.asn.au

Public Health Forum- 6th July 7pm University of WA health consequences of uranium mining

health forum poster- to download a printable version of the poster

Public Health Forum- the health consequences of uranium mining

The Conservation Council of WA, in partnership with Doctors for the Environment and the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, have organised this forum to investigate the health consequences of uranium mining. There will also be a panel of experts in the area of mine safety and health to answer questions from the audience. The Key note speaker will be Dr Bill Williams, President of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, and the panel discussion will be chaired by the Hon Peter Dowding SC, former Premier of WA.

What: Public Health Forum- the health consequences of uranium mining

When: Tuesday 6^th July 2010, 7pm- 8.30pm

Where: Alexander Lecture Theater, University of WA (Car park 3 enter off Hackett Drive)

Take the Twinkle out of the Industry’s eye- Australian Uranium Summit

Help us launch our postcard campaign at the Australian Uranium Summit

When: Tuesday 11th May 8.30am…

Where: Parmelia Hillton Hotel, 14 Mill Street Perth

Take the twinkle out of the Industry’s eye- speak out at the Australian Uranium summit! Come and speak out at the Australian uranium summit and let the industry and the WA Liberal party know that West Australians don’t want uranium mining, that we are not interested in a radioactive future. In response to the aggressive push by the industry to fast track uranium mining in WA we will be launching a postcard campaign highlighting the dangers of uranium mining, weapons proliferation and waste storage.

The Australian Uranium Summit is an annual forum where mining executives, managers and the like meet with contractors, invertors and governments. Keynote speakers include The State Minster for Mines and Petroleum, Norman Moore, the Federal Minister for Primary Industry, Kontantine Vatskalis, the General Manager External Relations for ERA (Energy Resources Australia), David Paterson, the General Manager Yeelirrie, BHP Billiton, Andrew Shook and the General Manager of Energy Resources Team KEPCO,Jae-wan Chung.

For more information

ANAWA or Conservation Council WA Nuclear Free Campaign

For more information about the postcard campaign or to help with distributing the postcard please contact Mia at <mia.pepper@conservationwa.asn.au> or go to Conservation Council WA

Welcome to the website of the ‘Uranium Free Western Australia’ campaign.

Cons Council slams MacTiernan over uranium push

MEDIA RELEASE:
Alannah Mac Tiernan – another nuclear elephant in the room

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DON’T NUKE THE CLIMATE

The Don’t Nuke the Climate bloc at Perth’s Walk Against Warming which coincided with theInternational “Don’t nuke the climate!” action day! Up to 90,000 environmental campaigners turned out for the Walk Against Warming rallies in the nation’s capital cities and regional centres on Saturday 12 December 2009

Meanwhile on the other side of the world 100,000+ people hit the streets in Copenhagen calling for  decisive and urgent action on climate change with REAL solutions not false solutions like nuclear power. Despite dodgy tactics by police the demonstration was very peaceful and included many Australian’s including the Progressive Bogans joined by the Conservation Council’s favourite Numbat, Director Pier’s Verstegen.

IMAGE: Don’t Nuke The Climate bloc at Walk Against Warming, Perth, Australia. Saturday 12 December. Photo: Robin Chapple

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CHECK OUT THE DAY OF ACTION TO MAKE BHP BILLITON ACCOUNTABLE

Thursday 26 November 2009

BHP Billiton’s Head Office
152-158 St Georges Terrace, Perth

DOWNLOAD the BHP Billiton Alternative Annual report!

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‘URANIUM  FREE WESTERN AUSTRALIA’ CAMPAIGN

A campaign of the Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA). CCWA is working in alliance with Aboriginal, union, environmental, health, youth, faith-based groups and concerned citizens  – keeping uranium in the ground and WA nuclear free.

We need people like YOU to join the campaign to keep WA Uranium Free and send a strong message to Barnett’s radioactive donkey cart and to keep uranium in the ground.

Wongutha kids with Elder Geoffrey Stokes holding portraits from the Inhabited Exhibition and saying "No Uranium Mining on our Lands". Wongutha Cultural Day, Kalgoorlie, October 2009. Inhabited portraits by Jessie Boylan. Photo by Nat Lowrey.