Senator Ludlam asked:
1) Regarding the proposals for the lifting/heightening of the tailings dam that were discussed in previous Estimates hearings, what assessment was undertaken regarding the heightening of the tailings dams at Ranger? What did the assessment identify as potential risks and impacts? What steps have been taken to address these?
2) What is the extent of social impact monitoring that OSS is currently undertaking in the Alligator Rivers region?
3) Is the OSS aware of any other social impact modelling undertaken in the Alligator Rivers region, with particular regard to the social impacts of past or present uranium mining?
4) What advice has OSS provided government following the findings of the 2003 Senate Inquiry into uranium mining? Have OSS or ERA practices changed significantly since this inquiry?
5) Regarding the expansion of the planned expansion of the Ranger site, has the OSS provided any advice to the Minister on the level of environmental assessment that the expansion plans might reasonably require under the EPBC Act?
6) If there is no advice, why has the OSS not acted on the public information regarding Ranger's expansion?
7) If there is advice, has the OSS been pro-active in making certain that this environmental assessment is undertaken well in advance of the proposed expansion to ensure high quality community consultation and therefore informed government decision making?
