Ucore Rare Metals Inc. V.UCU

RE:RE:Lynas Corp hit an early snag in Environmental Approvals

[ausheds]

Nuclear actions

Nuclear actions are:

• establishing or significantly modifying a nuclear installation
• transporting spent nuclear fuel or radioactive waste products arising from reprocessing
• establishing or significantly modifying a facility for storing radioactive waste products arising from reprocessing
• mining or milling uranium ores, excluding operations for recovering mineral sands or rare earths
• establishing or significantly modifying a large-scale disposal facility for radioactive waste. A decision about whether a disposal facility is large scale will depend on factors including:
  • the activity of the radioisotopes to be disposed of
  • the half-life of the material
  • the form of the radioisotopes
  • the quantity of isotopes handled
• decommissioning or rehabilitating any facility or area in which an activity described above has been undertaken
• any other type of action set out in the EPBC Regulations.

Protecting the environment from nuclear actions

The EPBC Act recognises the protection of the environment from nuclear actions as a matter of national environmental significance.

A nuclear action will require approval if it has, will have, or is likely to have a significant impact on the environment. Nuclear actions should be referred to the Minister and undergo an environmental assessment and approval process.

• Assessment and approval process
• Protected matters search tool — use the tool to find matters of national environmental significance in your area of interest
• Significant impact guidelines — matters of national environmental significance

https://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/what-is-protected/nuclear-actions