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Supervising Scientist Division

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Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (eriss)

Introduction

The work of eriss comprises two main areas:

• monitoring and research for the protection of people and the environment, focusing on the effects of mining in the Alligator Rivers Region;
• research on the ecology and conservation of tropical wetlands.

Strategic work planning for 2003-04 has identified a number of thematic areas under which this work will be structured. The change to a thematic format is in part a response to changing research needs in the Alligator Rivers Region and will address both short-term goals and longer-term strategic outcomes. The themes stretch across our research and administrative lines as means to further increase interaction and scientific exchange across the diverse expertise and background contained within our organisation.

The themes are:

• Rehabilitation
• Landscape analysis
• Ecotoxicology and biophysical pathways
• Groundwater pathways
• Surface water monitoring
• Radiological risk
• Communications and knowledge management

Rehabilitation

The aim of the rehabilitation theme is to provide advice on the implementation of mine rehabilitation strategies and assessment of rehabilitation sustainability. An important issue to be addressed in 2003-04 is the establishment of a process to bring together and gain consensus between stakeholders on agreed rehabilitation completion criteria.

Priority activities are:

• undertake and publish a comprehensive review of rehabilitation issues, with particular reference to Ranger Uranium Mine, with respect to mine closure criteria; indicators to monitor success and baseline data requirements to assess rehabilitation performance;
• develop a technological framework to assess the impact of mine site erosion products on stream systems.

Other activities include:

• complete baseline steam channel stability characteristics for Ngarradi an Gulungul Creeks and publish the results;
• apply and assess landform modelling and GIS technology for the rehabilitated Nabarlek minesite with a view to future application for the Ranger minesite;
• assess rehabilitation success at Nabarlek and Rum Jungle minesites using high resolution remotely sensed CASI data;
• develop revegetation monitoring techniques at Nabarlek minesite using remote sensing and ground-based surveys to assess revegetation success.

Landscape analysis

The aim of this theme is to establish a landscape scale analysis and monitoring program to help differentiate mining related impacts from other causes; and which would contribute within the broader context to the monitoring of the natural World Heritage values of Kakadu National Park. This theme responds to recommendations made by the Independent Science Panel in its final report to the World Heritage Committee about mining activity and associated issues in the Alligator Rivers Region, including the possibility of major changes unrelated to mining; and that there may also be unforeseen problems arising from mining.

There are two parts to the theme: (1) the development of a conceptual transport pathways model for on-site management within a risk framework; and (2) assessment of World Heritage values in the Alligator Rivers Region (for example, waterbirds & wetlands, coastal environments, key habitats and species).

All activity under this theme will be concluded in 2003-04 and the need for further landscape scale work reviewed.

Priority activities are:

• develop a conceptual pollutant/propagule transport pathways model for Ranger Uranium Mine and associated predictive sub-models, within a risk management framework that accounts for uncertainty in data and knowledge.
• undertake a review of landscape analyses being conducted in the Alligator Rivers Region;
• catalogue, map, assess and monitor significant habitats and native species in the Alligator Rivers Region;
• assess mangrove response to environmental change in the Alligator Rivers Region and surrounding regions (particularly climate change);
• assess landscape-wide ecological risks of threats to wetlands in the Alligator Rivers Region , particularly invasive species and infrastructure impacts;
• assess the status of World Heritage waterbird values in the Alligator Rivers Region within regional, national and international frameworks; and
• integrate socio-economic frameworks and indigenous perspectives into ecological risk assessment and management frameworks.

Ecotoxicology and biophysical pathways

Under this theme the aquatic ecotoxicity of regionally relevant toxicants will continue to be assessed with the aim of developing or enhancing site-specific water quality guidelines. Bioaccumulation and trophic transfer information for aquatic pathways from the mine sites in the Alligator Rivers Region will be reviewed for Ranger uranium
mine in the context of both the current operational and future rehabilitation phases. This was identified by ARRTC as a key knowledge need for risk management.

Priority activities are:

• review bioaccumulation and trophic transfer information for aquatic and terrestrial pathways from the mine sites.

Other activities include:

• assess toxicity of enhanced levels of magnesium sulphate in Magela Creek through laboratory and field studies and derive site-specific water quality guidelines;
• refine and develop ecotoxicological procedures (ongoing) and models, using local aquatic species;
• maintain the quality control and quality assurance system of the new eriss ecotoxicology laboratory in Darwin (ongoing).

Groundwater pathways

The aim of this theme is to monitor and investigate the transport of contaminants through groundwater pathways.

Priority activities are:

• investigate dispersion of uranium in groundwater at Ranger Uranium Mine;
• continue monitoring of uranium and radium in groundwater at Nabarlek.

Surface water monitoring

The aim of the surface water monitoring theme is to monitor water quality in Alligator Rivers Region creeks in order to assess effects of mining upon ecosystem and human health. An integral part of this work program is the ongoing review and refinement of current water monitoring techniques and the development of new techniques.

The priority activity is:

• monitor and assess surface water quality in the Alligator Rivers Region creeks to assess effects of mining (Ranger and Jabiluka) upon ecosystem and human health. Tasks include monitoring water physio-chemistry (suspended sediment, chemistry including radionuclides) and biological monitoring (creekside monitoring, bioaccumulation, fish and macroinvertebrate communities).

Other activities include:

• develop techniques for monitoring suspended sediments in Gulungul and Magela creeks;
• present all other monitoring protocols as Supervising Scientist Reports;
• enhance all data management aspects of the monitoring program;
• review and refine all components of the monitoring program;
• present monitoring results in the Supervising Scientist Annual Report (and as specific protocols) and on the website; and ensure access to local stakeholders.

Radiological risk

The aim of this theme is to monitor and investigate radiological risk arising from present-day uranium mining operations in the Alligator Rivers Region; and to assist in planning for rehabilitation of former and present-day minesites from a radiological perspective. A focus in 2003-04 will be the completion and write-up of work which has been carried out to date at Nabarlek and at the former minesites in the South Alligator River area. This work will provide an important input into planning for rehabilitation at Ranger.

The priority activity is to:

• provide radiological monitoring data and interpretation for the Ranger and Jabiluka minesites.

Research priorities are to:

• analyse data collected from the rehabilitated Nabarlek uranium minesite, giving an overall radiological impact assessment; and
• analyse data collected from abandoned minesites in the upper South Alligator River area.

Other activities include:

• complete analysis of data collected on radon concentrations in air in the Alligator Rivers Region;
• complete analysis of data collected on radon exhalation and lead-210 deposition in the Ranger region;
• analyse data on uptake of radionuclides by freshwater mussels;
• investigate use of radionuclides and lead isotopes in creek sediments for mining assessment in the Alligator Rivers Region.

Communications and knowledge management

Communications and knowledge management works across all the themes to provide support to the research programs and to develop communication programs to inform and involve Aboriginal communities and our other research partners and stakeholders in the activities of the Supervising Scientist.

Priority areas for 2003-04 include: (1) the enhancement of programs and development of new initiatives focused on the communication of our research to Traditional Owners and the strengthening of our partnerships in this area; (2) the promotion of eriss and our work within the scientific community and the building of new and greater professional partnerships; and (3) corporate support and coordination on the transition to the theme-based work structure and completion and implementation of our internal communication strategy.

This theme also supports operation of the National Centre for Tropical Wetland Research (NCTWR). This includes provision of a secretariat role and assistance in the development and implementation of programs to communicate and promote the aims and activities of the NCTWR.

Priority activities are:

• increase and enhance external communication with stakeholders, in particular, Traditional Land Owners;
• strengthen participation of Traditional Land Owners in research and monitoring projects;
• investigate the inclusion of traditional ecological knowledge into research and monitoring projects as appropriate;
• identify new stakeholders and forge new professional partnerships for the Supervising Scientist Division;
• provide research and communication support across the eriss research and program themes;
• develop and implement an internal communication plan that integrates communication across the Division and within eriss and the Office of the Supervising Scientist; and
• provide coordination and promotional support to the activities and research projects of the NCTWR and implement the NCTWR Communications and Marketing Strategy.

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