Alligator Rivers Region Technical Committee: Key Knowledge Needs: Uranium Mining in the Alligator Rivers Region

2017
Department of the Environment and Energy

Supervising Scientist Report 213

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Summary

The Alligator Rivers Region Technical Committee (ARRTC) Key Knowledge Needs (KKNs) articulate the relevant knowledge and tools required, primarily through research and monitoring, to ensure:

  1. the environment and people of the Alligator Rivers Region (ARR) are protected from the impacts of uranium mining; and
  2. upon reaching end-of-life, uranium mines in the ARR are rehabilitated to the standard required by the Commonwealth and the community.

The KKNs provide the basis upon which the stakeholders, primarily the Supervising Scientist and Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA), determine their environmental research programs. Whilst the KKNs also inform monitoring programs, the nature of these programs is also informed by regulatory requirements, operational investigations and emerging issues.

Scope

The KKNs encompass the knowledge needs for all past, present and prospective uranium mining activities in the ARR. These include the rehabilitated Nabarlek mine and mines of the South Alligator Valley, Jabiluka and exploration sites. However, the focus at present remains firmly on the operational Ranger uranium mine, in operation since 1981, and this emphasis is reflected in the KKNs.

The current KKNs supersede the 2008-2010 KKNs, which remained in operation until the current revision was completed.

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