nuclear-news

KYRGYZSTAN: Landslides threaten radioactive waste dumps
24 News Agency 13 Nov 08 «IRIN»Residents of the village of Min-Kush in Naryn Province, central Kyrgyzstan, are worried that a mudslide could destroy a nearby radioactive waste dump and contaminate the local river. The Soviet-era radioactive waste dump is about 2km from Min-Kush and close to the River Tuyuk-Suu……………………..The area is mountainous and earthquake prone, and Ministry of Emergencies experts say torrential rain could trigger potentially devastating landslides which could change the course of the River Tuyuk-Suu, and/or wash away the waste dump, one of the biggest identified. It contains about 450,000 cubic metres of radioactive waste…………………Some 6,500 hectares of land in Kyrgyzstan have been exposed to radioactive contamination. The country has 92 hazardous waste dumps holding 254 million cubic metres (475 million tonnes) of waste, including radionuclides and other toxic substances. Dormant mines, untreated tailing dumps and untreated rock debris pose a risk. The most urgent clean-up measures needed to render the tailings safe would cost up to US$40 million, the United Nations Development Programme has estimated.

Talks seek to ease way on land rights *
The Age Jewel Topsfield * November 12, 2008VICTORIA would become the first state in Australia where Aboriginal people could establish land rights without pursuing onerous native title cases in the Federal Court under a ground-breaking deal being negotiated with the State Government.Former social justice commissioner Mick Dodson, who is chairing a committee to develop a framework for the alternative land settlements, described the proposal as a “huge breakthrough”.”It would be the first in Australia where there would be an agreement to negotiate land justice outside of native title or land rights law,” he said……………………………

Under the draft framework, which will be presented to the State Government next month, Aboriginal people could negotiate to obtain access to land on the basis of cultural heritage or traditional claims.

Professor Dodson said this would mean they had other options besides the “expensive and cumbersome” native title process, in which connection to the land must be proved in the Federal Court.

“We might find the Government is prepared to look at a different way of connecting people to the country than the native title test does,” he said.

A possibility could involve traditional owners jointly managing national parks.

Uranium mine still poses risks Company ordered to continue treating water at Superfund site
By Kate Golden | JUNEAU EMPIRE November 12, 2008

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week ordered a mine company to keep treating water at a radioactive defunct open-pit uranium mine that’s now a Superfund site of national priority.

The Midnite Mine is on the Spokane Indian Reservation in eastern Washington. About 350 acres were mined 100 miles north of Hanford, a former plutonium plant that is the world’s largest environmental cleanup project.

The much less well-known Midnite site has the EPA status “Human Exposure Not Under Control.”

The water, soil and waste rock are contaminated with radium-226, uranium-238 and lead-210. The air carries particulate matter and radon gas, a carcinogen. Plants are taking up the contaminants.

Push to ban Arkaroola mining

ABC News 13 Nov 08 Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary owner Marg Sprigg says she hopes the public will support her push for mining on her land to be banned.

Exploration company Marathon will soon be able to re-apply to continue its search for uranium in the sanctuary.

The company was forced to stop drilling until it cleans up about 35 tonnes of drill samples buried in Arkaroola………………………….I hope the people of South Australia will support Arkaroola in working to see that no mining ever happens in this country.”

Uranium Mining in the Coastal Bend – Part 2

KIIITV News 13 Nov 08 Some residents in the coastal bend believe uranium mining has contaminated their ground water supply. Environmentalists who support their claim want a moratorium to halt the mining…………….

The coastal bend is one of the nation’s top producers for uranium. In Ricardo, Garcia Hill residents blame the uranium mining industry for contaminating their ground water. They claim their water has dangerous levels of radioactive elements. Levels substantiated by the EPA. And that’s devastating to folks like Humberto Garcia, a life long resident.

Garcia says, “They should have checked into it to make sure it was safe and safe for the people around here.”

State leaders, like Coastal Bend State Representative Yvonne Gonzalez-Toureilles heard those complaints. She sponsored a bill that became law last year requiring ground water be restored to its original condition before mining began. Now the tough thing is to sort out the quality of the water before mining………………..Opponents are critical of state agencies that regulate the uranium mining industry. They claim companies are allowed to skirt environmental laws and not return ground water to original standards…………..residents living near uranium mining think their water should not be sacrificed for power needs of nuclear plants.