Consequently, in addition to the recognised issue with deficiencies of major ions in the distillate, a potential for Mn toxicity was also identified. 3.5.2 TIE test Treatment Control growth rate (mean day-1 ±SE) Distillate growth rate (mean ±SE) Distillate compared to control (mean % ± SE) Calcium addition 0.0 mg L-1 Ca added 0.14 ± 0.00 0.00 ± 0.00 0.0 0.2 mg L-1 Ca added 0.27 ± 0.01 0.16 ± 0.00 61 ± 2 0.5 mg L-1 Ca 0.28 ± 0.00 0.18 ± 0.01 66 ± 5 ion addition 0.0 mg L-1 Ca, Na and K added 0.04 ± 0.06 0.13 ± 0.01 353 ± 23 a 0.2, 0.5 and 0.2 mg L-1 Ca, Na and K added 0.29 ± 0.02 0.29 ± 0.01 100 ± 4 0.5, 1.0 and 0.4 mg L-1 Ca, Na and K added 0.34 ± 0.01 0.32 ± 0.02 96 ± 5 a Growth rate in the distillate was three times higher compared to SSW with no major ions, but was still significantly lower than distillate with major ions added. In conclusion, although the brine concentrator distillate was of hugely improved quality compared with the feed process water, it may still have the potential to impact some species inhabiting the receiving environment if it was the dominant component. The most likely negative effect relates to deficiency of essential major ions. However, the lack of major ions may also exacerbate the toxicity of other components present at low levels. The results of the tests reported here are for distillate produced from an off site pilot plant. ERA has indicated that it is likely the distillate from the full-scale plant will contain less trace components than the pilot plant since it will have much lower carryover of spray droplets with the condensate. The following key recommendations have been made in relation to management of the distillate and further assessment of its properties: 1 Supplementation of the distillate with ions (Ca, Na and K) may be required prior to its discharge to the off-site aquatic environment; trial
3 Jabiluka 3.1 Monitoring 3.1.1 Monitoring during the care and maintenance A monitoring regime for Jabiluka during the care and maintenance needs to be implemented and regularly reviewed. The monitoring program (addressing chemical, biological, sedimentalogical and radiological issues) should be commensurate with the environmental risks posed by the site, but should also serve as a component of any program to collect baseline data required before development such as meteorological and sediment load data. 3.2 Research 3.2.1 Research required prior to any development A review of knowledge is required to assess minimum requirements in advance of any development. This review would include radiological data, the groundwater regime (permeabilities, aquifer connectivity etc), hydrometeorological data, waste rock erosion, assess site-specific ecotoxicology for uranium, additional baseline for flora and fauna surveys. 4 Nabarlek 4.1 Success of revegetation 4.1.1 Revegetation assessment Several assessments of the revegetation at Nabarlek have been undertaken; the most recent being completed by eriss. There is now general agreement that the rehabilitated areas require further work. Revised closure criteria are currently being developed through the mine-site technical committee and these should be reviewed by relevant stakeholders, including ARRTC. The required works should then be completed on site with further monitoring leading to the relinquishment of the lease. 4.1.2 Development of revegetation monitoring method A methodology and monitoring regime for the assessment of revegetation success at Nabarlek needs to be developed and implemented. Currently, resource intensive detailed vegetation and soil characterisation assessments along transects located randomly within characteristic areas of the rehabilitated landform are being undertaken. Whilst statistically valid, these assessments cover only a very small proportion of the site. Remote sensing (satellite) data are also being collected and the efficacy of remote sensing techniques for vegetation assessment in comparison to ground survey methods should continue. The outcomes of this research will be very relevant to Ranger.
3 2011–2012 Bush M 2011. The International Working Forum for the Regulatory Supervision of Legacy Sites: An update. Paper presented at AELERT Conference, Darwin Australia 26–28 October 2011. Bush M 2012. The International Working Forum for the Regulatory Supervision of Legacy Sites. Paper presented at AusIMM International Uranium Conference, Adelaide Australia 13–14 June 2012. Costello C, Trenfield M, Harford A & van Dam R 2012. Dissolved organic carbon; the water flea’s remedy against uranium toxicity. Poster presented at 2nd SETAC – Australasia Conference, 4–6 July 2012, Brisbane Australia. Doering C, Ryan B, Bollhöfer A & Esparon A 2011. Bioaccumulation of radioactive uranium-series constituents from the environment a tool for estimating radionuclide transfer to northern Australian bushfoods and ingestion doses to members of the public. Paper presented at ARPS 2011, 36th conference of the Australasian Radiation Protection Society, Melbourne, 16–19 October 2011. Esparon A 2012. Development of a method for continuous monitoring of vegetation regrowth on a rehabilitated minesite using a simple LED spectroradiometer. Paper presented at NT Spatial 2012 Conference, Darwin, Northern Territory, 21–23 March 2012. Harford A, Hogan A, Jones D & van Dam R 2012. Stuck in the goop! Difficulties in assessing the environmental risk of organic flocculants. Paper presented at 2nd SETAC – Australasia Conference, 4–6 July 2012, Brisbane Australia. Hogan A, Trenfield M, Cheng K, Harford A, Costello C & van Dam R 2012. And the winner is: Filtration, for successfully isolating unicellular algae from pulse exposure waters. Poster presented at 2nd SETAC – Australasia Conference, 4–6 July 2012, Brisbane Australia. Humphrey C 2012. Integrated water quality assessments: a national and northern Australian perspective. Paper presented at Water in Mining Australia conference, Brisbane, 20–21 June 2012. D 2011. Understanding sustainable water management in decommissioning and rehabilitation. Paper presented at IQPC Water Management in Mining 2011, July Brisbane Qld. Lowry J 2012. Using LiDAR data to derive geomorphic parameters for landform design. Paper presented at NT Spatial 2012 Conference, Darwin, Northern Territory, 21–23 March 2012.
W Water Management Plan (WMP) 9–12, 133–4 water quality biological variability relationship 71–3 water quality closure criteria 78–84 water quality trigger values (TVs) xii, 55–60, 80–84 treatment plants (WTP) 10–13 water year 85–8 weed management 14 West Arnhem College 110 West Arnhem Land xii, 2, 46–7, 138 West Arnhem Shire Council 102 West Alligator River 2 wet season medial difference 21 wet season monitoring program 17, 56 Wet Season Report see Ranger Annual Wet Season Report Wetland filtration 10–12, 129, 133–4 Wiluna Project 54 Wirnmuyurr Billabong/Creek 36, 38, 80–81 Work Health and Safety (WHS) 114–5, 121–2 World Heritage significance 1–2, 4 World-View 2 Satellite 57, 94–8 World Wetlands Day 106, 110