Environmental regulation of uranium mining in Australia.

The regulatory regimes for underground, open-cut and in-situ leach uranium operations in the wet-dry tropical to arid desert zones of the Northern Territory and South Australia involve a complex mix of federal and state governments as well as traditional Aboriginal Landowners and other significant stakeholders. These different agencies and organisations work together to ensure that the mines are operated in accordance with the expectations of the community in terms of their environment, health and safety while still maintaining economic viability and operational efficiency. Following the environmental enquiry into the proposed development of the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory, the open-cut mine was developed although the underground Jabiluka project was subsequently terminated. In South Australia, the two established operations are the Olympic Dam underground mine and in-situ leaching at Beverley. The seven most significant Acts by which the Australian government regulates uranium mining are listed as well as the three Codes of Practice dealing with radiation protection. Legislation and regulation in each of the two uranium-mining states are discussed as well as environmental management and monitoring in the environs of the Northern Territory's Kakadu national park, with its wetlands and floodplains.
The regulatory regimes for underground, open-cut and in-situ leach uranium operations in the wet-dry tropical to arid desert zones of the Northern Territory and South Australia involve a complex mix of federal and state governments as well as traditional Aboriginal Landowners and other significant stakeholders. These different agencies and organisations work together to ensure that the mines are operated in accordance with the expectations of the community in terms of their environment, health and safety while still maintaining economic viability and operational efficiency. Following the environmental enquiry into the proposed development of the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory, the open-cut mine was developed although the underground Jabiluka project was subsequently terminated. In South Australia, the two established operations are the Olympic Dam underground mine and in-situ leaching at Beverley. The seven most significant Acts by which the Australian government regulates uranium mining are listed as well as the three Codes of Practice dealing with radiation protection. Legislation and regulation in each of the two uranium-mining states are discussed as well as environmental management and monitoring in the environs of the Northern Territory's Kakadu national park, with its wetlands and floodplains.