Melani Hermanus
Topic: Critically evaluate the arguments for and against the mining and export of uranium
Thesis: Mining and export of uranium is harmful for Australia
Issue 3: Environment
It has been argue that for decrease the environmental damage caused by uranium mining, the rehabilitation method and strict regulation are should be carried out by every mine owners in Australia. One of the previous study also showed that the Ranger uranium mine has fulfilled the proper tailing control and has had great water management system for every Northern Territory’s mine companies to cover the tailings and waste rock produced by uranium grounds (Harries, et al, 1997). In addition, by this rehabilitation method it could modify the prior environment hazards, for instance it was found an uranium mines was reinstated under modern accurate environmental controls in Nabarlek, Northern Territory (Hancock, et al, 2006).
Despite the fact that there is a rehabilitation method and strict regulation enforced by Australian Government with the aim to control the environmental damage, nevertheless nowadays the environmental problem from uranium grounds still exist, the improvement for reduce the damage was not completely success. It has been proofed that the water level to release the uranium wasted was 450 times higher than entire Australian drinking water level (Wu, et al, 2007). Furthermore, critics said the rehabilitation method was a successful story, where this statement could not be verified. For a case, the restoration of Radium Hill uranium mine in South of Australia still contaminated by soil which this caused hugely unpleasant effect on animals and the worst case it result in death of some contaminated animals. Another evidence stated the harmful of uranium mining for environment is there reported an accident of the leaking of toxic tank happened and it automatically envenomed the whole environment around the mining spot (The ABC news, 2013).