Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Water Quality, Water Management and the Ranger Uranium Project: Guidelines, Trends and Issues

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper explores the regulation of water quality protection downstream from the Ranger Uranium Project in the Alligator Rivers Region, an area of high conservation value which is both World Heritage- and Ramsar-listed. Available historical monitoring data for surface water quality in Magela Creek downstream of Ranger have been compiled and analysed with respect to hydrologic data and the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council–Agricultural and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ANZECC–ARMCANZ) regulatory guidelines, introduced in late 2000. The paper focuses on the underlying scientific basis for the current approach and examines the complex inter-relationships of minesite water management, hydrology, climate, monitoring design, implementation and interpretation which are used to differentiate between natural variability and potential mine-derived solutes. The research found that the application of the ANZECC–ARMCANZ guidelines has clearly improved the regulation of water quality protection downstream from the Ranger Uranium Project. The scientific basis is more coherent than the previous regulatory regime; however, for U (a key parameter of indigenous Mirarr-Gundjeihmi and public concern), higher downstream concentrations are permitted than those observed through natural variability, leaving open the potential for an influence of mine-derived U loads while still being within regulatory limits. Another improvement that could be made to the current regulatory regime, to provide enhanced protection of the water quality in Magela Creek downstream of Ranger, would be to explicitly link the water quality monitoring regime with hydrologic flow conditions. The paper makes a valuable case study for the application of water quality guidelines, especially for controversial projects such as uranium mining surrounded by a World Heritage- and Ramsar-listed region on indigenous land—a context of clear relevance for many places around the world.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000). Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality. Canberra: National Water Quality Management Strategy, Australian & New Zealand Environment & Conservation Council (ANZECC) and Agricultural & Resource Management Council of Australia & New Zealand (ARMCANZ), Canberra, ACT, October 2000.

  • Armstrong, A., & Reid, A. J. (1980). Environmental auditing at Ranger. Proc. “AMIC Annual Environmental Workshop”, Australian Mining Industry Council (AMIC), Ballarat, VIC, October 1989, pp. 331–341

  • ARRRI-ARS (various). Alligator Rivers Region Research Institute annual research summary. Office of the Supervising Scientist (OSS), Australian Government, Jabiru, NT, years 1983/84 to 1990/91.

  • Breitholtz, M., Rudén, C., Hansson, S. O., & Bengtsson, B.-E. (2006). Ten challenges for improved ecotoxicological testing in environmental risk assessment. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 63(2), 324–335.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, P. L., Guerin, M., Hankin, S. I., & Lowson, R. T. (1998). Uranium and other contaminant migration at a tropical Australian uranium mine. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 35(1–3), 295–303.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D&M (1985). Application of best practicable technology (BPT) to water management system—Ranger Project, Jabiru, Northern Territory. Report by Dames & Moore Pty Ltd (D&M) to Ranger Uranium Mines Pty Ltd, September 1985, 166 p.

  • ERA (2000). Ranger annual environment report 2000. Darwin: Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA).

    Google Scholar 

  • ERA (2002). Ranger annual environment report 2002. Darwin: Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA). March 2005, Revision 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • ERA (2005). Ranger annual environment report 2004. Darwin: Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA). Revision 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, R. W., Kelleher, G. G., & Kerr, C. B. (1977). Ranger uranium environmental inquiry—2 nd report. Released May 17, 1977, 425 p.

  • GAC (2002). Submission to SECITA References Committee Inquiry into the Environmental Regulation of Uranium Mining. Canberra: Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (‘SECITA’) References Committee, Australian Senate, Canberra, ACT, 135 p.

  • Hart, B. T. (1983). Implications of trace metal studies for water quality management. Proc. “Scientific Workshop on Environmental Protection in the Alligator Rivers Region”, Office of the Supervising Scientist, Jabiru, NT, May, Vol. 2, Paper 86, 11 p.

  • Hart, B. T., Davies, S. H. R., & Thomas, P. A. (1982). Transport of iron, manganese, cadmium, copper and zinc by Magela Creek, Northern Territory, Australia. Water Resources, 16, 605–612.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hogan, A. C., van Dam, R. A., Markich, S. J., McCullogh, C., & Camilleri, C. (2003). Chronic toxicity of uranium to the tropical green alga Chlorella sp. for the derivation of a site specific trigger value for Magela Creek. Office of the Supervising Scientist, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government, Internal Report 412, December 2003, 29 p.

  • Iles, M. (2003). Review of water quality triggers, November 2003 Progress report. Office of the Supervising Scientist, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government, Internal Report 463, Darwin, NT, November 2003, 78 p.

  • Iles, M., Camilleri, C., & Pilley, R. (2004). Identification of key water quality data for Ranger uranium mine. Office of the Supervising Scientist, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government, Internal Report 442, January 2004, 25 p.

  • Johnston, A., & Needham, R. S. (1999). Protection of the environment near the Ranger uranium mine. Office of the Supervising Scientist, Environment Australia, Australian Government, Supervising Scientist Report 139, Canberra, ACT, 33 p.

  • Jones, D. R., Inman, M., & Ragusa, S. (1996). The construction and performance of large-scale wetlands at the Ranger uranium mine. Proc. “MCA Annual Environmental Workshop”, Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), Newcastle, NSW, October 1996, Vol. 2, pp. 116–128.

  • Kabir, M., Mudd, G. M., & Ladson, A. R. (2008). Groundwater–climate relationships, Ranger uranium mine, Australia: 2. Validation of unsaturated flow modelling. Proc. “Uranium, Mining and Hydrogeology—5th International Conference”, Freiberg, Germany, September 2008, pp. 375–382.

  • Klessa, D.A. (2001). Water quality in Magela Creek upstream and downstream of Ranger: A summary of findings for the 1999–2000 wet season. Office of the Supervising Scientist, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government, Internal Report 360, February 2001, 17 p.

  • Lawrence, D. (2000). Kakadu—the making of a national park. Carlton South: The Miegunyah Press at Melbourne University Press. 401 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leggate, J. (1984). Managing the Ranger uranium mine in the Alligator Rivers Region—there is much more to this business than just production. Proc. “Darwin Conference—AusIMM Annual Conference”, Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy (AusIMM), Darwin, NT, August 1984, pp. 17–20.

  • Lucas, P. C. (1983). Water quality monitoring at Ranger uranium mines. Proc. “Scientific Workshop on Environmental Protection in the Alligator Rivers Region”, Office of the Supervising Scientist, Jabiru, NT, May, Vol. 2, Paper 55, 16 p.

  • Malatt, K. A. (1989). Effect of release of retention pond 4 water in Djalkmarra Billabong, Feb–Mar 1989. Proc. “Workshop on Biological Toxicity Testing as a Regulatory Mechanism”, Ed’s R A McGill and K A Malatt, Darwin-Jabiru, NT, September 1989, pp. 39–54.

  • McNeil, V. H. (2002). Assessment methodologies for very large, irregularly collected water quality data sets with special reference to the natural waters of Queensland. Ph.D. thesis, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 98 p.

  • Moliere, D. (2005). Analysis of historical streamflow data to assist sampling design in Gulungul Creek, Kakadu National Park, Australia. Office of the Supervising Scientist, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government, Supervising Scientist Report 183, Canberra, ACT, 45 p.

  • Moliere, D., & Boggs, G. (2005). Understanding stream lag-times—implications for water quality sampling in mine-impacted catchments of Kakadu, NT. Proc. “29th Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium”, Engineers Australia, Canberra, ACT, February 2005, 8 p.

  • Mudd, G. M. (2005). An environmental history of uranium mining in Australia: A scientific review. Proc. “Australian Uranium Conference 2005”, Fremantle, WA, October 2005, 18 p.

  • Mudd, G. M., & Patterson, J. (2010). Continuing pollution from the Rum Jungle U-Cu Project: A critical evaluation of environmental monitoring and rehabilitation. Environmental Pollution, 158(5), 1252–1260.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • OSS (1983). Proceedings of the Scientific Workshop on Environmental Protection in the Alligator Rivers Region. Office of the Supervising Scientist (OSS), Jabiru, NT, May, 2 volumes.

  • OSS (2002). Supervising scientist monitoring program. Office of the Supervising Scientist (OSS), Environment Australia, Australian Government, Darwin, NT, May, 25 p.

  • OSS-AR (various). Office of the supervising scientist—annual report 1978/79 to 2005/06. Office of the Supervising Scientist (OSS), Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government (year cited refers to reporting year, e.g. 1984 is 1983/84).

  • Riley, G. H. (1991). Land application for disposal of excess water: An overview. Proc. “Workshop on Land Application of Effluent Water from Uranium Mines in the Alligator Rivers Region”, Editor R A Akber, Jabiru, NT, September 1991, Supervising Scientist for the Alligator Rivers Region, pp. 14–22.

  • RUM (1974). Ranger uranium mine—environmental impact statement. Ranger Uranium Mines Pty Ltd (RUM), February 1974, 170 p.

  • SECITARC (2003). Regulating the Ranger, Jabiluka, Beverly and Honeymoon uranium mines. Commonwealth of Australia: Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee (SECITARC), Canberra, ACT, October 2003.

  • van Dam, R. A. (2000). Derivation of a site-specific water quality trigger value for uranium in Magela Creek. Office of the Supervising Scientist, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government, Internal Report 350, Jabiru, NT, December 2000, 7 p.

  • van Dam, R. A., Humphrey, C. L., & Martin, P. (2002). Mining in the Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Australia: Assessing potential and actual effects on ecosystem and human health. Toxicology, 181–182(CO2), 505–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Dam, R. A., Hogan, A., McCullough, C., & Humphrey, C. (2008). Toxicity of magnesium sulfate in Magela Creek water to tropical freshwater species. In D. R. Jones, C. Humphrey, R. A. van Dam, & A. Webb (Eds.), eriss Research Summary 2006–2007. Supervising scientist report 196 (pp. 11–14). Darwin, NT: Office of the Supervising Scientist, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wasson, R. J. (Ed.) (1992). Modern Sedimentation and Late Quaternary Evolution of the Magela Creek Plain. Office of the Supervising Scientist for the Alligator Rivers Region (OSS), Research Report 6, Sydney, NSW, 322 p.

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work has been undertaken independently and represents the views of the authors only. The water quality data were provided by Energy Resources of Australia Ltd and Magela Creek flow data and water quality data by the Office of the Supervising Scientist. Minor additional support was provided by Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation (in-kind only). Reviews of the paper by individuals from within these organisations, other colleagues and the peer reviewers have helped to strengthen the work considerably. It is all very much appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia

    Briony Ferguson & Gavin M. Mudd

  2. School of Geography & Environmental Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia

    Briony Ferguson

Authors
  1. Briony Ferguson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gavin M. Mudd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gavin M. Mudd.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ferguson, B., Mudd, G.M. Water Quality, Water Management and the Ranger Uranium Project: Guidelines, Trends and Issues. Water Air Soil Pollut 217, 347–363 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0592-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0592-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation