Legislation

The Environment Protection (Alligator Rivers Region) Act, 1978 is the primary legislation under which the Supervising Scientist operates. The key functions of this legislation are:

Establish the position of the Supervising Scientist with the following functions:

To devise, develop, coordinate the implementation of, and assess programs for research into the environmental effects of uranium mining in the Alligator Rivers Region
To devise, develop and promote standards and practices in relation to uranium mining operations and rehabilitation in the Alligator Rivers Region;
To coordinate and supervise the implementation of legal requirements, under any relevant legislation, associated with environmental aspects of uranium mining in the Alligator Rivers Region; and
To advise the Minister for the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts on environmental matters within and beyond the Alligator Rivers Region.
Establish the Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist to undertake research into the environmental effects of uranium mining in the Alligator Rivers Region, and into other environmental issues as appropriate;
Establish the Alligator Rivers Region Advisory Committee as a formal forum for consultation on matters relating to the environmental effects of uranium mining in the Alligator Rivers Region;
Establish the Alligator Rivers Region Technical Committee to consider and review research programs on the effects of uranium mining in the Alligator Rivers Region.

Other relevant Commonwealth legislation includes:

Instruments under the Atomic Energy Act 1953, including the Ranger Environmental Requirements issued under Section 41.
Instruments issued under the Commonwealth Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974 including:
- Requirements of the Proponent arising from the assessment of the 1997 Jabiluka Project Environmental Impact Statement
- Requirements of the Proponent arising from the assessment of the 1998 Jabiluka Public Environment Report
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
The Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974 has been replaced by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976
The Customs (Prohibited Export) Regulations 1958
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987

Northern Territory government legislation that regulates uranium mining includes:

The Mining Act 2003 and the Mining Regulations 2003
The Mining Act 1990 and Regulations have been replaced by the Mining Act 2003 and the Mining Regulations 2003.

Schedule 3 to the Mineral Lease, previously under the Mining Act 1990 and continued under the Mining Act 2003, includes the Environmental Requirements for the Jabiluka Project Area
The Mining Management Act 2001 and the Mining Management Regulations 2002

The Uranium Mining (Environment Control) Act 1979 has been replaced by the Mining Management Act 2001 and Mining Management Regulations 2002.

The Nabarlek Environmental Requirements, previously included as a schedule to the Uranium Mining (Environment Control) Act 1979, are included as a schedule to the Mineral Lease.