acid spill - no enviro disaster etc but nasty, page-10

and the latest from ERA, Govt and experts involved in the area: This is from ABC can you believe! Better than their "Northern Territory will melt away" style initial take on the story.



Radiation not the concern, says expert

A uranium expert at the University of Adelaide says the slurry that spilled from the tank is likely to have a low level of radioactivity.

Professor Steven Lincoln says uranium ore is broken down when it is mixed with either sulphuric or nitric acid, as part of the uranium refining process.

He says it is the acid, rather than the uranium, that is the concern.

"So at this level the radioactivity is not a worry," he said.

"The chemicals they used are more worrisome than the radioactivity.

"And sulphuric acid is a very strong acid, so it's something you keep very carefully under control."

ERA says it can confirm all the uranium and acid which spilled from the split tank has been contained within the mine's controlled water management system.

It says its water systems including retention ponds captured surface water from the area where the spill occurred.

ERA says the water system has ensured uranium and acid did not impact the surrounding environment including Kakadu National Park.

A spokesman for the Federal Environment Minister also said the leak has been contained and will have no impact on the surrounding area.

The company says no-one was injured.