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Industry briefed on State’s strong uranium regulation

Thursday, 30 July 2009

The Department of Mines and Petroleum has informed industry of the stringent regulatory requirements for Western Australian uranium exploration and mining at an intensive briefing today.

The day-long session was an opportunity for the department to outline the State and Commonwealth legislation and regulations applicable to uranium operations.

Department of Mines and Petroleum Director General Richard Sellers said the department had formed an interagency working group which had investigated what changes to existing legislation or additional regulations were needed for uranium mining and exploration.

“The group identified that Western Australia’s current regulatory framework does, in combination with international and Commonwealth legislation, guidelines and policies, provide for the development of uranium mining and associated activities,” Mr Sellers said.

“The State has a long history of regulating radioactive substances which can be found in mineral sands and tantalum mining operations.

“These decades of regulatory experience, combined with world-best guidelines for managing naturally occurring radioactive materials, mean Western Australia is ideally positioned to regulate the uranium industry to the highest standards.”

The industry event is the first of many intended briefings with stakeholders in the uranium sector such as regional and indigenous communities.

Regulation of uranium exploration/mining in Western Australia Workshop - 30 July 2009

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