Introduction
Mining is a highly significant part of Western Australia’s economy. While in 2014–2015, declining commodity prices had a significant impact upon the contribution of mining to Western Australia’s economy, the resources sector continued to be a significant economic contributor to the State, worth $5.9 billion in royalty revenue (Department of Mines & Petroleum Western Australia 2014–2015).
Uranium mining in Australia has generated heated debate (Wu et al. 2008). Australia, along with Canada and Kazakhstan, is one of the world’s largest producers and is thought to have the largest known uranium reserves in the world (Commonwealth of Australia 2006). Uranium mining in Australia is governed by a complex regulatory framework of parliamentary acts, regulations, codes, and guidelines, administered at both a Federal and State/Territory level (Uranium Advisory Group 2012). In 2008, the Western Australian Liberal Government overturned an 8-year ban on uranium mining, instituted by a...
Abbreviations
- ARPANS Act:
-
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (Cth)
- ARPANSA:
-
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
- EIA:
-
Environmental Impact Assessment
- EP Act:
-
Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA)
- EPBC Act:
-
Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
- Mining Act:
-
Mining Act 1978 (WA)
- MSIA:
-
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 (WA)
- MSIR:
-
Mines Safety and Inspection Mining 1978 (WA)
- RCWA:
-
Radiological council of Western Australia
- RSA:
-
Radiation Safety Act 1975 (Cth)
- RSGR:
-
Radiation Safety (General) Regulations 1983 (WA)
- RWMP:
-
Radiation waste management plan
References
1994 Convention on Nuclear Safety. Adopted 17 June 1994, opened for signature 20 Sept 1994, entered into force 24 Oct 1996
1997 Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. Adopted 5 Sept 1997, opened for signature 29 Sept 1997, entered into force 18 June 2001
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 (Cth)
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Commonwealth Government of Australia (August 2013), ‘Australian National Report’
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (August 2005). Code of practice and safety guide: radiation protection and radioactive waste management in mining and mineral processing: Radiation Protection Series Publication No. 9
Commonwealth of Australia (December 2006) Uranium mining, processing and nuclear energy – opportunities for Australia? Report to the prime minister by the uranium mining, processing and nuclear energy review taskforce (December 2006)
Department of Mines & Petroleum Western Australia (2014–2015) Annual report 2014–2015. Available at http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/About-Us-Careers/Annual-report-1453.aspx. Accessed 16 Feb 2016
Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA)
Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (Cth)
Government of Western Australia Inter-Agency Working Group, Department of Mines and Petroleum (August 2009). Review of regulatory adequacy for uranium mining development in Western Australia
Mining Act 1978 (WA)
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 (WA)
Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 (WA)
Radiation Safety Act 1975 (WA)
Radiation Safety (General) Regulations 1983 (WA)
Uranium Advisory Group, Australian Centre for Geomechanics (April 2012). Independent review of uranium mining regulation: prepared for the department of mines and petroleum, Western Australia
Wu J, Garnett ST, Barnes T (2008) Beyond an energy deal: impacts of the Sino-Australia uranium agreement. Energy Policy 36:413–422
Wylynko B (2009) The regulation of Uranium mining in Western Australia: Ban Lifted. Mondaq Business Briefing. Available at http://www.mondaq.com/australia/x/86860/Mining/The+Regulation+Of+Uranium+Mining+In+Western+Australia+Ban+Lifted. Accessed 16 Feb 2016
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Herrmann, T. (2016). Australia, Western: Uranium Mining. In: Tiess, G., Majumder, T., Cameron, P. (eds) Encyclopedia of Mineral and Energy Policy. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40871-7_130-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40871-7_130-1
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