Supervising Scientist Division

Proceedings of the Workshop on Land Application of Effluent Water from Uranium Mines in the Alligator Rivers Region

Akber RA (ed)
Jabiru 11-13 September 1991, Supervising Scientist for the Alligator Rivers Region, AGPS, Canberra

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Contents

Introduction

Soil Characteristics and Hydrology

Fate of Solutes

Radiological Impact

Ecological Impact

Regulatory Aspects

Workshop Sessions

Preface

The Workshop on Land Application of Effluent Water from Uranium Mines in the Alligator Rivers Region was held in Jabiru from 11-13 September 1991. It was organised by the Supervising Scientist for the Alligator Rivers Region.

The objectives of the Workshop were:

The Workshop was attended by forty registered participants, representing different organisations with direct interest in the land application of mine waters in the Alligator Rivers Region. Twenty-one papers were presented. These covered a broad range of topics in various disciplines including the historical perspective, soil characteristics, hydrology, fate of solutes, ecological and radiological impact, an Aboriginal perspective on future land use and mine regulation. An overall reading of these proceedings is, therefore, likely to provide its reader with a comprehensive view of land application as a practice for disposal of effluent water by the uranium mining companies in the Alligator Rivers Region. At the same time, the individual contributions also provide independent readings of specific topics. This has been achieved at the expense of tolerating some repetition, particularly in the introductory sections of the papers.

The paper sessions were followed by two workshop sessions on the implications for regulation and future information needs. The delegates broke into groups of 4-5 people and considered a series of questions related to these topics. A spokesperson for each group then presented the group's findings on each question. A summary of these sessions, which is also included in the proceedings, is based upon the information obtained through these presentations.

Many people contributed to the success of the Workshop and completion of these proceedings. I personally acknowledge their contributions.

Riaz Akber