Uranium Mining Remediation Exchange Schlema, Germany 31 August 2015 (1 Presentation) UAS4RS Conference Brisbane, 17–18 February 2016 (2 presentations, 1 poster) Aquatic Toxicology Symposium Bar Harbour, USA, 7–9 June 2016 (1 presentation) International Conference on Environmental Quality Standards for the Protection of the Aquatic Environment Hong Kong, 18–20 June 2016 (1 presentation) A number of community outreach activities have occurred during the reporting period, including the 2015 Mahbilil festival in Jabiru, at SSB had an information stall displaying scientific posters and offering hands-on science activities. Presence at local events is an important opportunity to share information and have a two way conversation with local people. SSB’s Mahbilil festival stall always attracts plenty of people to learn about the work of SSB in protecting the ARR. SSB recently produced an online movie on mine closure and rehabilitation. The information is presented in the Kunwinjku language with English subtitles. Kunwinjku is the main dialect spoken in Aboriginal communities in the ARR. This is the third in a series of movies in the Kunwinjku language and all have received a very positive reception. All the movies can be accessed through the Department of the Environment and Energy’s website. Through local employment arrangements, SSB staff regularly work alongside Indigenous landowners, enabling sharing of knowledge and gaining of insight into cultural values. In May 2016, staff from SSB undertook the biannual aquatic sampling (‘pop netting’) program in billabongs around the mine (see section ). The activity involved the deployment of a large temporary labour force which included team members from Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, Departmental staff from Canberra, students from Charles Darwin University and a volunteer from Jabiru (). Figure 4 Science Division and Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation undertaking 2016 popnetting program trial trial
A review of the risks associated with nutrient inputs from the rehabilitated mine site Proposed Re-analysis of magnesium toxicity mesocosm study data Proposed Scope and undertake a pilot study to inform design of detailed study for chemical and biological characterisation of Magela sand channel Proposed Landform Analysis of historical unpublished erosion studies in the ARR Active Calibrating suspended sediment outputs of the CAESAR-Lisflood LEM for application to a rehabilitated ranger mine - Gulungul Creek scale Active Model geomorphic stability of pre-mine landform for up to 10,000 years Active Landform Research Active Development of enhanced vegetation component for the CAESAR model Active Impact of rip lines on runoff and erosion Active Model the geomorphic stability of the landform for up to 10,000 years Active Determine natural bedload movements (non-mine impacted) in Magela and Gulungul Creeks. Active Establishing updated/new site specific relationships between suspended sediment and turbidity to enable use of turbidity as a surrogate for suspended sediment Proposed Radiation Radionuclide uptake in traditional Aboriginal foods Completed Radon exhalation fluxes expected from final landforms at the rehabilitated Ranger mine Completed Atmospheric dispersion of radon and radon daughters from the rehabilitated landform Active Dose rates to non-human biota Active Environmental fate and transport of Ac-227 and Pa-231 Active Flora and fauna Evaluation of aquatic vegetation data Completed Preliminary mapping of groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) on the Ranger Lease. Completed Quantifying trajectories for savanna habitat at Ranger to inform revegetation closure criteria Active Vegetation analogue review Active Development of a low cost method for continuous monitoring of water stress in eucalypt vegetation on a rehabilitated mine site. Active
A peer reviewed journal article Reports/presentations to key stakeholders as appropriate. Project publications to date (if applicable) No publications to date. Monitoring (1 project) Project details Project Gulungul catchment assessment SSB function Monitoring Site Ranger Project category Monitoring of closure criteria Project status Active What business need does this project inform? Assess the increase in electrical conductivity from upstream Gulungul Creek. This will affect closure criteria of the mine site if a source is not delineated. Closure criteria (if applicable) Water and Sediment Project Priority Relevance 1 Timeframe 1 Importance 1 Time buffer A Project number (if already commenced) TBA Project commencement date 1/9/2016 Estimated completion date 1/4/2017 Project duration (months) 18 Date required 1/4/2017 or outsourced Internal Actual completion date N/A Lead team S&M Reason for project (where applicable) N/A Supporting team(s) N/A Project manager Felmingham, Ty Project estimated internal resources (person weeks) 6 Project sponsor Turner, Kate Project total estimated collaborator resources (person weeks) N/A Aims Identify the source/s that are contributing the elevated electrical conductivity (EC) values at Gulungul Creek upstream site (GCUS). Background This project seeks to indentify through surface water monitoring, the source/s that are contributing to the elevated electrical conductivity (EC) values at the Gulungul Creek upstream site (GCUS). It is critical to identify if these high EC occurrences are natural or mine related. Mine related sources need to be addressed in order to prevent any potential environmental degradation. Progress against plan Project was started in 2015, with a literature review conducted and divers installed along tributaries of Gulugul Creek prior to the 2015-16 wet season. Project resumed in September 2016 with analysis of the diver data and a plan is currently being formulated to install the divers for the 2016-17 wet season and subeqeuntually report on the findings. trial
One report, which will developed into a journal publication. The outcomes that this project will achieve is further validation and confidence that the model is accurately predicting observed erosion rates. Planned communication activities The primary communication activities for the project are: Discussion at the Landform Closure Criteria Technical Working Journal publication. Reporting and presentations to key stakeholders as necessary. Project publications to date (if applicable) Not applicable as project is not yet completed. Project details Project title Calibrating suspended sediment outputs of the the CAESAR-Lisflood LEM for application to a rehabilitated ranger mine - Gulungul Creek scale SSB function Research Site Ranger Project category Developing closure criteria Project status Active What business need does this project inform? Ensure confidence in landform model predictions of suspended sediment output reflect actual measured / monitored output. Closure criteria theme (if applicable) Landform Project Priority Relevance 1 Timeframe 1/ongoing Importance 1 Time buffer A Project number (if already commenced) Res-2016-002 Project commencement date 1/7/2016 Estimated completion date 1/12/2016 Project duration (months) 6 Date required 1/12/2016 In-house or outsourced Collaboration Actual completion date N/A Lead team HGCP Reason for project delay (where applicable) N/A Supporting team(s) Professor Ken Evans, CDU Project manager Lowry, John Project estimated internal resources (person weeks) 5 Project sponsor Van Dam, Rick Project total estimated collaborator resources (person weeks) N/A Aims Calibrate and validate CAESAR-Lisflood outputs of suspended sediment loads at the catchment scale. Background This project will contribute to the work of the Supervising Scientist by assessing what effect the transport of suspended sediment will have on the on-site and off-site habitats of the rehabilitated landform.
Specifically, the project will assist with the calibration of the CAESAR-Lisflood model to enable it to reliably predict the quantity of suspended sediment material that may be produced by the rehabilitated landform under a range of scenarios, by comparing simulated outputs with field measured values. This project is being undertaken as a Masters-by-coursework student at Charles Darwin University, supervised by Professor Ken Evans. Progress against plan Not applicable–this is a new project. Key findings Not applicable as this is a new project. Workplan for 2016–17 March–June 2016: Data collation and integration. April–August 2016: Analysis and calibration of field data May–August 2016: Comparison of field data with model outputs May–September 2016: Calibration and validation of suspended sediment outputs from CAESAR-Lisflood project. November 2016: Masters thesis complete. December 2016: Internal report on calibration methodology and results. Planned project outputs and associated outcomes The primary outputs for the project are: Revised/enhanced parameters sets for measuring modelled suspended sediment loads from the CAESAR-Lisflood model. Internal Report describing suspended sediment methodology and results. A completed Masters thesis. The outcomes that this project will achieve are an enhance capacity of the CAESAR-Lisflood model to simulate the amount of suspended sediment that may be produced at a catchment scale on a rehabilitated landform. The project will provide a better idea of how the undisturbed environment around the Ranger mine will evolve over an extended period of time into the future. For example, the project will identify whether features in the landscape will have infilled through the transport of sediment. Planned communication activities The primary communication activities for the project are: Internal Report–December 2016. Input into landform technical working group discussions. Project publications to date (if applicable) Not applicable–this is a new project. Project details Project title Model geomorphic stability of pre-mine landform for up to 10,000 years SSB function Research Site Ranger