Justin Tutty, Darwin

On August 23, environmentalists conducted a site inspection of the Browns mining project at Batchelor. Spokesperson John Oakley said that Compass Resources’ secrecy about its activities at the old Rum Jungle uranium lease had forced their hand.

“While we understand the Environmental Protection Authority has given approval for Compass to develop its Browns oxide project ... the EPA recognised the likelihood of radioactive contamination from any activities near the abandoned Rum Jungle uranium mine, and so required Compass to consult the public on a radiation management plan. But Compass have yet to comply with this and Batchelor locals are concerned at the level of activity on site”, Oakley said.

“The mining department [tells] us Compass [has] interim authorisation, but it won’t reveal just what the miner is authorised to do. We know that Compass is already drafting an application to expand the project. A recent report revealed that Compass has kicked off preliminary engineering work at the Mount Fitch uranium project nearby, in anticipation of the two developments sharing infrastructure.”

The environmentalists will send their assessment and findings to the EPA and the mining minister.

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