Government raises concerns about Olympic Dam expansion

Enviromine

Publishing Date: 01 Sep 2009 5:10pm GMT
Author: Mining, People and the Environment

Pollution & Waste management

BHP Billiton has been warned by the South Australian government to address a range of concerns about the expansion of its Olympic Dam uranium mine at Roxby Downs, before it will give its approval.

The government released a list of concerns over the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the expansion in a submission on Monday.

The government said there were a number of key areas in the EIA that required “significant attention” from BHP Billiton, including desalination discharged from the mine and the potential for dust and exposure to radiation from the tailings facility.

The government submission also reviewed responses from public consultations where the key concern was discharge from the desalination plant.

Another area of concern highlighted in the public consultation was that of greenhouse gas emissions from the expanded operation, the government said.

“Just over half the submissions raised issues relating to the potential greenhouse gas emissions and the desire that the project be powered using renewable energy sources,” the government report said.

The government said it now expected BHP Billiton to respond to the issues raised and produce a supplementary EIA addressing the concerns.