Nuclear dump leak may contaminate water: expert. 25/07/2005. ABC News Online
Nuclear dump leak may contaminate water: expert. 25/07/2005. ABC News Online: "Nuclear dump leak may contaminate water: expert
By Anna Salleh for ABC Science Online
A hydro-geologist says a radioactive leak at one of the sites short-listed as a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory could contaminate drinking water.
Earlier this month federal Science Minister Dr Brendan Nelson short-listed Fishers Ridge, 43 kilometres from the town of Katherine, along with two other defence properties near Alice Springs, as possible locations for the dump.
Dr Peter Jolly, of the Northern Territory's Environment Department, has told ABC Science Online that a leak from the proposed Fishers Ridge site has the potential to endanger pristine groundwaters, and the Katherine and Daly rivers downstream.
Dr Jolly, who has been involved in a three-year study of the hydro-geology of the region, says he is "extremely surprised" the site has been considered.
"In [the Fishers Ridge] area you get rainfall in some years of over two metres in two months," Dr Jolly said.
Dr Jolly says the water flows directly or indirectly into the Katherine and Daly rivers, both of which have been earmarked as being important for biodiversity.
He says water falling on the area also forms many springs on Aboriginal land and flows onto sites used for ecotourism.
"These aquifer systems are some of the most important in the Top End," Dr Jolly said.
"If there were any leaks from a facility at this site it would be one of the worst sites in Australia in terms of having an impact on ecosystems and an impact on an aquifer that is used for drinking and for other water uses."
Dr Jolly says his comments are made in the absence of there being any details of the proposal available and that a worse-case scenario would need to be analysed to determine the actual risk posed.
Contentious issue
The siting of a nuclear waste dump in Australia has been a contentious issue for years with the states reluctant to house such a facility.
The remote Northern Territory site is considered a less politically sensitive option for the dump site than more populated areas.
Dr Nelson says Australians must accept the dump somewhere and it will need to be operational by late 2011.
He says the dump is necessary because of the Government's A$330 million replacement research reactor at Sydney's Lucas Heights, which will generate most of the waste.
The current proposal is to transport, in a manner yet to be determined, low-level and intermediate-level radioactive waste in 200 litre steel drums, in some cases mixed with concrete or vitrified.
Waste will be stored either 5 metres below the surface or above ground in secured buildings.
The exact nature of the facility will in part be determined by the characteristics of the final site chosen.
Related Links Related Links
Nuclear dump site gets thumbs down
Read ABC Science Online's full story about the hydro-geology of the proposed dump site."
By Anna Salleh for ABC Science Online
A hydro-geologist says a radioactive leak at one of the sites short-listed as a nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory could contaminate drinking water.
Earlier this month federal Science Minister Dr Brendan Nelson short-listed Fishers Ridge, 43 kilometres from the town of Katherine, along with two other defence properties near Alice Springs, as possible locations for the dump.
Dr Peter Jolly, of the Northern Territory's Environment Department, has told ABC Science Online that a leak from the proposed Fishers Ridge site has the potential to endanger pristine groundwaters, and the Katherine and Daly rivers downstream.
Dr Jolly, who has been involved in a three-year study of the hydro-geology of the region, says he is "extremely surprised" the site has been considered.
"In [the Fishers Ridge] area you get rainfall in some years of over two metres in two months," Dr Jolly said.
Dr Jolly says the water flows directly or indirectly into the Katherine and Daly rivers, both of which have been earmarked as being important for biodiversity.
He says water falling on the area also forms many springs on Aboriginal land and flows onto sites used for ecotourism.
"These aquifer systems are some of the most important in the Top End," Dr Jolly said.
"If there were any leaks from a facility at this site it would be one of the worst sites in Australia in terms of having an impact on ecosystems and an impact on an aquifer that is used for drinking and for other water uses."
Dr Jolly says his comments are made in the absence of there being any details of the proposal available and that a worse-case scenario would need to be analysed to determine the actual risk posed.
Contentious issue
The siting of a nuclear waste dump in Australia has been a contentious issue for years with the states reluctant to house such a facility.
The remote Northern Territory site is considered a less politically sensitive option for the dump site than more populated areas.
Dr Nelson says Australians must accept the dump somewhere and it will need to be operational by late 2011.
He says the dump is necessary because of the Government's A$330 million replacement research reactor at Sydney's Lucas Heights, which will generate most of the waste.
The current proposal is to transport, in a manner yet to be determined, low-level and intermediate-level radioactive waste in 200 litre steel drums, in some cases mixed with concrete or vitrified.
Waste will be stored either 5 metres below the surface or above ground in secured buildings.
The exact nature of the facility will in part be determined by the characteristics of the final site chosen.
Related Links Related Links
Nuclear dump site gets thumbs down
Read ABC Science Online's full story about the hydro-geology of the proposed dump site."
posted by Greta Jane at Monday, July 25, 2005
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