Skip to main content

Rehabilitation of the Nabarlek uranium mine - Will close out ever be achieved?

  • Conference paper
Uranium in the Aquatic Environment
  • 272 Accesses

Abstract

The Nabarlek uranium mine commenced mining operations in May 1979 and ceased milling in 1988. It was retained on care and maintenance status from 1988 until decommissioning earthworks were completed during 1994 and 1995. The company gave only generalised commitments to rehabilitation in its EIS, and although this was noted, it was not identified as a serious problem by those who provided comments. A decommissioning working group was unable to agree on a revegetation standard for the mine and an independent expert was appointed be the arbiter of revegetation success. The expert’s 1999 report was rejected by some stakeholders and in 2002 the company remains unaware of what will be required to achieve close out and relinquishment of its lease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Adams Ecological Consultants (1999) Revegetation of the Nabarlek uranium mine, Final Report. Adams Ecological Consultants, Subiaco, Perth, WA. Unpublished confidential report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckley R (1987) Revegetation strategy, Nabarlek uranium mine, NT. Amdel report No 1656 for Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin P, Tims S, McGill R, Ryan B and Prendergast B (2001) Use of airborne gamma ray spectrometry for environmental assessment of the Nabarlek uranium mine. Unpublished report in progress.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris V, Jan G, Fox R, Sedman J (1997) Mine closure criteria. In Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Minerals Council of Australia Environmental Workshop: Demonstrating Environmental Excellence 97, 12-17 October 1997, Adelaide. Minerals Council of Australia, Canberra, 121-132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salama R and Verma M (1985) Nabarlek Deep Aquifer Models. Water Division of Department of Transport and Works, Northern Territory. Unpublished report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Queensland Mines Limited (1979) Final Environmental Impact Statement; Nabarlek uranium project, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waggitt PW (2000) The decommissioning and rehabilitation of Nabarlek uranium mine, Northern Australia, The Rehabilitation of Nabarlek Uranium Mine, Proceedings of a workshop, Darwin NT Australia 18-19 April 2000, Supervising Scientist Report 160. Environment Australia Commonwealth of Australia.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2002 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

McGill, R., Fox, R., Hughes, A. (2002). Rehabilitation of the Nabarlek uranium mine - Will close out ever be achieved?. In: Merkel, B.J., Planer-Friedrich, B., Wolkersdorfer, C. (eds) Uranium in the Aquatic Environment. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55668-5_85

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55668-5_85

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62877-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-55668-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics