Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    Decorative image

    Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme

    Guiding energy-efficient design and construction for a net-zero future

    Find out more about NatHERS

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Decorative image

    Juukan Gorge response

    Read the Australian Government's response to the destruction at Juukan Gorge and the recommendations

    Read the response

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Science and research
  3. Supervising Scientist
  4. About the Supervising Scientist Branch

Sidebar first - EN - Science

  • Supervising Scientist
    • About the Supervising Scientist Branch
      • Staff profiles
    • Ranger Mine
      • Closure and rehabilitation
      • Monitoring
        • Early detection monitoring
        • Assessment of long-term ecosystem level responses
      • Environmental research
      • Supervision and assessment
    • Other uranium mines
    • Keeping the community informed
      • Committees
      • Consultation with indigenous communities
    • SS publications
      • Internal Reports
      • Key Knowledge Needs

About the Supervising Scientist Branch

Image of Wasp visiting Boronia lanuginose

Wasp visiting Boronia lanuginosa

The position of the Supervising Scientist was established under the Commonwealth Environment Protection (Alligator Rivers Region) Act 1978 in response to a recommendation of the Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry final report (also known as the Fox Report) in May 1977. This followed the first Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry report in 1976.

The first Supervising Scientist, Mr Robert Fry, was appointed on 29th June 1978. The role of the Supervising Scientist is currently held by the Assistant Secretary of the Supervising Scientist Branch (SSB). SSB is part of the Heritage, Reef and Marine Division in the Department. SSB’s office and research/laboratory facility is located in Darwin. SSB also maintains a Field Station at Jabiru, Kakadu National Park, which supports our environmental monitoring program.

Functions of SSB

The Supervising Scientist ensures protection of the Alligator Rivers Region (ARR) from the effects of uranium mining, and does so by undertaking environmental research and developing standards and practices for environmental protection. SSB has four key functions with respect to mining activities in the ARR:

  • Research
    • Undertake research into the environmental effects of uranium mining, and to inform uranium mine rehabilitation.
    • Provide a rigorous scientific basis for the development of environmental standards, practices and procedures, including environmental monitoring programs.
  • Supervision
    • Supervise uranium mining operations, including oversight of the regulatory process, to ensure regulation is adequate, effective and consistent with Commonwealth requirements.
    • Assess exploration plans, mining activities and rehabilitation planning and implementation to ensure statutory requirements are achieved.
  • Monitoring
    • Conduct a comprehensive and independent environmental monitoring program to detect effects of uranium mining on people and the environment.
    • Provide data to inform the Research and Supervision functions.
  • Public Assurance and Advice
    • Advise relevant Ministers, regulators, stakeholders and the general public of environmental monitoring outcomes to provide assurance that people and the environment remain protected from uranium mining activities.
    • Ensure the relevant Ministers, regulators and stakeholders are informed of environmental risks related to uranium mining operations and rehabilitation, and understand how environmental standards ensure protection.

Regulation

The Authority to mine uranium at Ranger is issued under s41 of the Atomic Energy Act 1953, which is administered by the Commonwealth Minister for Resources and Northern Australia. The Authority also provides the Commonwealth’s environmental protection conditions, which are set out in the Environmental Requirements of the Commonwealth of Australia for the Operation of Ranger Uranium Mine (the Environmental Requirements). The Environmental Requirements outline key objectives and environmental standards for mining operations and rehabilitation.

Under agreement, regulatory power over uranium mining in the Northern Territory is delegated to the Northern Territory Government and given effect under the Mining Management Act, administered by the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Resources (DPIR). The Supervising Scientist provides independent advice to the regulators, both the Commonwealth Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, and the Northern Territory Minister for Primary Industry and Resources.

Find out more

  • Alligator Rivers Region
  • Publications
  • SSB Annual Technical Reports
  • Staff Profiles
  • Ranger Mine
  • Other uranium mines in the Alligator Rivers Region
  • Uranium mining in the Alligator Rivers Region

Contact us

For more information please contact the Supervising Scientist Branch on:

Phone: +61 8 8920 1100

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 03 October 2021

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.