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Category: Uranium Mining / Industry

EPA approves Vimy Resources uranium mine

Monday, 15 Aug 2016 11:31:24

Vimy Resources wants to mine up to 4.5 million tonnes of uranium a year. (Supplied: Vimy Resources)

A new uranium mine in Western Australia's Goldfields has been recommended for approval by the state's environmental watchdog, just weeks after a similar proposal in the area was knocked back.

The Environmental Protection Authority [EPA] granted the approval for Vimy Resources' Mulga Rock uranium project, which is 240 kilometres east-north-east of Kalgoorlie, subject to a range of conditions.

Final approval is still required from both the state and federal environment ministers.

The company plans to mine up to 4.5 million tonnes of ore per year from four deposits, to produce up to 1,360 tonnes of uranium oxide concentrate (UOC) each year, for 16 years.

It wants to transport the concentrate from the site by road to Port Adelaide in sealed steel drums within a secure shipping container.

Earlier this month, the EPA rejected Cameco Australia's Yeelirrie Uranium project after it deemed there was too much risk to the area's subterranean fauna.

The Canadian company had sought to mine up to 7,500 tonnes of UOC per year from the Yeelirrie deposit, about 420 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and 70 kilometres south-west of Wiluna.

The proposal had attracted protests, including from traditional owner and chair of WA nuclear free alliance Kado Muir, who argued there was no broad community support for uranium mining in WA.

Radiation exposure deemed acceptable

EPA chairman Tom Hatton said the board tested the Vimy Resources proposal against six key environmental factors, including potential impacts to flora and vegetation, terrestrial fauna, human health and inland waters environmental quality.

The EPA concluded radiation exposure to mine workers and the public would be within acceptable limits for human health.

Potential impacts to human health would also be regulated by the Radiological Council and the Department of Mines and Petroleum.

Mike Young Photo: Mr Young says there will be no significant residual environmental impact. (ABC News: Kathryn Diss)

More than 1,000 submissions were received during the 12-week public review period.

Vimy Resources CEO Mike Young said it was a fantastic outcome.

"This is a project which results in no significant residual impacts to the environment," he said.

"We set out how we would manage the project to achieve that outcome and now we have a positive recommendation with conditions that require us to do what we said we would do - and of course we will exceed those expectations."

Mulga Rock is the third largest undeveloped uranium deposit in Australia, according to Vimy Resources.

Two other WA uranium project's have received EPA and ministerial approval in recent years, including the Wiluna Uranium Mine and the Kintyre Uranium Project, 270 kilometres north east of Newman.

The EPA's report is open for a two-week public appeal period.

The Conservation Council of WA has been contacted for comment.

AustraliaPlus


 

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