Uranium mining licensing A South Australian perspective

Transcription

1 South Australia s Environment Protection Authority Uranium mining licensing A South Australian perspective Keith Baldry Director Mining Radiation and Regulatory Support IAEA Seminar on Governance of Uranium Production Activities København Danmark May 2014

2 South Australian planning process Development Act, Mining Act Normal submission Major Project (Dev Act s46) or project under the Mining Act (Dev Act s75) Federal government EPBC Act referral Case management of mining projects On the advice of the regulator and planning agencies, the Minister determines the level of assessment Environmental Impact Statement Public Environmental Report Development Report This determines the level of public involvement Bilateral agreement Federal-State governments on assessment

3 Assessment and authorisations Understanding the impacts Science based assessment Providing advice and direction to the planning process Ultimately a decision to authorise operation with conditions

4 Licence example: Four Mile (ISR)

5 Code of Practice: Radiation Protection and Radioactive Waste Management in Mining and Mineral Processing Staged approvals Construction Commissioning Operation Decommissioning / rehabilitation Process changes Radiation Management Plan Radioactive Waste Management Plan Capability and competency Optimisation including best practicable technology Reporting Training and supervision

6 Radiation management plan 2 Introduction 2.1 Overview of Operation 2.2 Infrastructure and Operations 2.3 The Infrastructure Required 2.4 Baseline Radiation Information 2.5 Operation and Decommissioning 3 Workforce Information 4 Main components of operation, radiation exposure and control measures 4.1 Wellfield 4.2 Solid Waste Management 4.3 Liquid Waste Management 5 Administrative controls 5.1 Designation of Areas 5.2 Classification of Designated Workers 5.3 Signage 5.4 Standard Operating Procedures 5.5 Work Instructions 5.6 Safety Meetings 5.7 Radiation Safety Officer 5.8 Supervision 5.9 Inspections 5.10 Emergency Planning and Response 5.11 Risk Management and Control 5.12 Radiation Work Permit (RWP) 5.13 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 5.14 House-Keeping Measures 5.15 Personal Contamination Monitoring 5.16 Shower and Change Facilities 5.17 Radiation Clearances 5.18 Investigation and Action Level 5.19 Incident and Accident Investigations 5.20 Procedures for Visitors 5.21 Minimum Age Limit to Work

7 Radiation management plan 6 Radiation Monitoring 14.1 Calibration of equipment 7 Occupational dose assessment 14.2 Inspections 7.1 Radiation Exposure to Members of Public14.3 Procedures 8 Transport of Radioactive Materials 14.4 Preventive Maintenance 8.1 Samples 8.2 Bore Hole Logging Sources 14.5 Review and auditing Appendix A: Dose Assessment Methodology 9 Personnel and resources 10 Integration into Operation 11 Education and training 12 Risk assessment and control 13 Record keeping and reporting 13.1 Reporting 13.2 Weekly and Monthly Radiation Reports 13.3 Quarterly Occupational Radiation Report 13.4 Annual Occupational Radiation Report 14 Quality assurance

8 Radioactive waste management plan Outline of the processes Description of wastes Description of the environment Baseline radiological characteristics System for waste management Facilities and procedures for treatment, storage and disposal Prediction of environmental concentrations and radiation doses to people Management practices Demonstration that requirements will be met now and in the future Monitoring program Contingency plans Reporting schedule Plan for decommissioning and rehabilitation Periodic assessment and review

9 Program for Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation (PEPR) South Australia Mining Regulations 2011 (Part 7) EPA Mines Department Four Mile (Heathgate Resources) PEPR 2 Description of the Natural, Social and Economic Environment 3 Description of Mine Construction, Operation and Closure 4 Results of Stakeholder Consultation 5 Management of Environmental, Social and Economic risks 6 Mine Closure and Rehabilitation Plan 7 Management Systems and Capability 8 Radioactive Waste Management Plan 9 Approval Conditions Appendix C Bond Calculations Radiation Protection Act Rad waste management Mining Act Mining operation Closure Program for Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation Google Four Mile PEPR

10 Outcome based criteria Outcome (including mine completion outcomes) No loss of abundance or diversity of native vegetation on or off the Lease through: unless prior approval under the relevant legislation is obtained. Outcome Measurement Criteria (including mine completion outcomes) Biennial monitoring of native vegetation abundance and diversity through (stated method) at selected impact sites adjacent to operation and at control sites remote from mining operations Annual monitoring at area specified in (Fig X) demonstrates that total area of native vegetation cleared does not exceed the approved area What will be measured and form (method) of measurement Native vegetation abundance and diversity through (insert appropriate method of measurement) Native vegetation clearance using (e.g. aerial and/or ground surveys) Target Value No loss of abundance or diversity Total area cleared does not exceed the approved area Control or baseline data Vegetation baseline survey Baseline aerial and/or ground surveys

11 Closure and rehabilitation Key features for achieving successful mine closure: Integrate planning and review process over all mine life commencing at Feasibility Study phase Effectively engage with stakeholders to establish mutually acceptable closure outcomes to be achieved in the long term Apply risk based approaches Addressing critical assumptions early in the planning stage (e.g. management of AMD, long term waste facility stability) Reduce assumptions and unknowns underpinning closure strategies reduce data gaps, re-calibrate models Timing of finalising closure plans should be commensurate with the mine life. Ensure operational capability to meet the management challenge of the closure process over the mine life

12 Closure and rehabilitation Release from regulatory control Implications of relinquishment of mining lease other legislation applies Long term monitoring requirements The problem with care and maintenance versus de facto abandonment

13 Tak Belair South Australia