From:	Tony Mohr [tmohr@bigpond.com]
Sent:	Wednesday, 7 August 2002 11:18 PM
To:	ecita.sen@aph.gov.au
Cc:	Northside Greens E-Group
To the Secretary, Senate ECITA References Committee, Parliament House,

Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Environmental Regulation of Uranium Mining

The Northside Greens support this inquiry as a postive first step in adressing the longstanding failings of the nuclear industry. In particular, the inquiry should raise poor environmental performance of uranium mines at Beverly, Honeymoon, Ranger and Jabiluka. We ask that the enquiry recommends:

* The Beverly In Situ Leach (ISL) mine is the only mine in the western world to use the controversial ISL method. It had four leaks last year alone. The Federal and South Australian Governments must make a commitment to protect our valuable ground water. Legislation should prohibit leaks into connected aquifiers and require re-habilitation of mining impacts. 
* Increased monitoring of operations, increased event based monitoring, increased monitoring scope and trigger points, and public reporting of all radioactive leaks, spills and contamination.
* High financial penalties for radioactive leaks and spills, plus addtional penalties for failure to report leaks and spills.
* A new public environmental assessment of the management of mine wastes 
* Incorporation of the Jabiluka and Koongarra mineral leases into Kakadu National Park. In particular, World Heritage Areas and National Parks must have strong protection from the impacts of uranium mining, including activity in neighbouring areas which could affect the Parks. 

Just minimising the destructive impact of current mining operations will require significant changes in current practices. However, uranium mining lies at the start of a dangerous nuclear cycle that is unsustainable, with negative environmental, social, health and economic impacts. For the benefit of future generations, the final reccomendation should be to end all further uranium mine licenses. 

I look forward to the inclusion of the above in the Inquiry's recommendations when it reports on December 5.

Yours sincerely, 

Tony Mohr
Secretary of the Northside Greens NSW

Unit 6, 23-25 William St
Hornsby  NSW  2077
02 9482 5302