Four Mile Uranium Mine Program for Environment
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Four Mile ML6402 – PEPR/RWMP 2013 FOUR MILE URANIUM MINE PROGRAM FOR ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND REHABILITATION, AND RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN August 2013 Four Mile joint venture between Quasar Resources Pty Mine owner Ltd and Alliance Craton Explorer Pty Ltd, managed by Quasar Resources Pty Ltd Project operator Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd Contact person Craig Bartels–President, Heathgate Contact details Suite 1, Level 4, 25 Grenfell Street, Adelaide SA 5000 Telephone: 08 8110 0500 Fax: 08 8212 5559 Tenement details ML 6402 Name of mining operation Four Mile Uranium Mine Commodity to be mined Uranium Preparation date 02 August 2013 Approval date See DMITRE Stamp Document number MP-01 Version 1.0 Prepared by Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd Suite 1, Level 4 25 Grenfell Street Adelaide SA 5000 Document Number ML Date Issued Page No. MP-FM01 Version 1.0 6402 02 August 2013 1 of 176 Four Mile ML6402 – PEPR/RWMP 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... 10 1.1 General Description of the Mine ........................................................................................... 10 1.2 Background to the Plan ........................................................................................................ 10 1.3 Summary Description of the Land and Environment ............................................................ 10 1.4 Summary of Existing Operations .......................................................................................... 13 1.5 Summary of Proposed Operations ....................................................................................... 13 1.6 Additional Environmental Impacts Identified and Management Strategies ........................... 14 1.7 Summary table of risks, outcomes and measurement criteria .............................................. 14 1.8 Post-mine Land Use ............................................................................................................ 15 1.9 Mine Closure and Rehabilitation Strategies ......................................................................... 15 1.10 Mine Details ......................................................................................................................... 16 2 Description of the Natural, Social and Economic Environment .................................................... 18 2.1 Summary of Additional Information on the Existing Environment ......................................... 18 2.2 Baseline Radiation ............................................................................................................... 18 2.3 Expected Radionuclide Concentrations in the Process Stream ............................................ 22 2.4 Critical group dose assessment ........................................................................................... 22 3 Description of Mine Construction, Operation and Closure ........................................................... 25 3.1 General Description ............................................................................................................. 25 3.2 Ore Reserves and Market .................................................................................................... 25 3.3 Non-Production Drilling Activities ......................................................................................... 34 3.4 Mining Plan .......................................................................................................................... 35 3.5 Mining Operations ................................................................................................................ 38 3.6 Wellfield Domain .................................................................................................................. 39 3.7 Processing Plant Domain ..................................................................................................... 43 3.8 Supporting Surface Infrastructure ........................................................................................ 44 3.9 Solid Waste ......................................................................................................................... 45 3.10 Liquid Waste ........................................................................................................................ 45 3.11 Mine Closure ....................................................................................................................... 46 4 Results of Stakeholder Consultation ........................................................................................... 47 4.1 Identification of Stakeholders and their Views ...................................................................... 47 Document Number ML Date Issued Page No. MP-FM01 Version 1.0 6402 02 August 2013 3 of 176 Four Mile ML6402 – PEPR/RWMP 2013 4.2 Stakeholder Consultation Process and Results .................................................................... 47 5 Management of Environmental, Social and Economic risks ........................................................ 51 5.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 51 5.2 Applicable Legislation and Standards .................................................................................. 51 5.3 Impact Event Analysis .......................................................................................................... 51 5.4 Soil Aspects ......................................................................................................................... 66 5.5 Vegetation Aspects .............................................................................................................. 69 5.6 Surface Water Aspects ........................................................................................................ 75 5.7 Hydrogeological Aspects ..................................................................................................... 80 5.8 Fauna Aspects ..................................................................................................................... 95 5.9 Air Quality Aspects .............................................................................................................. 98 5.10 Heritage Aspects ............................................................................................................... 100 5.11 Third Party Aspects ........................................................................................................... 102 5.12 Radiological Aspects.......................................................................................................... 103 5.13 Waste Disposal Aspects .................................................................................................... 104 6 Mine Closure and Rehabilitation Plan ....................................................................................... 105 6.1 Baseline Data and Context ................................................................................................ 105 6.2 Stakeholder Involvement and Issues ................................................................................. 106 6.3 Scope of Domain ............................................................................................................... 106 6.4 Potential Social and Environmental Impacts ...................................................................... 106 6.5 General Standards ............................................................................................................. 107 6.6 Closure Outcomes and Criteria .......................................................................................... 108 6.7 Sustainable Closure Strategy ............................................................................................. 111 6.8 Closure Maps and Sections ............................................................................................... 111 6.9 Residual Risk Assessment................................................................................................. 111 6.10 Evaluation of Groundwater Status Leading to and Following Closure ................................ 111 6.11 Closure Cost Estimate ....................................................................................................... 122 6.12 Mine Closure Schedule ...................................................................................................... 122 7 Management Systems and Capability ....................................................................................... 124 7.1 Management Commitment ................................................................................................. 124 7.2 Environment Management System .................................................................................... 125 Document Number ML Date Issued Page No. MP-FM01 Version 1.0 6402 02 August 2013 4 of 176 Four Mile ML6402 – PEPR/RWMP 2013 7.3 Planning............................................................................................................................. 125 7.4 Previous Experience of Operator ....................................................................................... 133 7.5 SA EPA 2004 Review ........................................................................................................ 133 8 Radioactive Waste Management Plan .....................................................................................