http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/16490713/federal-approval-for-was-fir...The Federal Environment Minister has approved Western Australia's first potential uranium mine.
Tony Burke has given the final environmental go ahead to Toro Energy's project at Wiluna in the Goldfields, subject to 36 conditions.
Mr Burke says they include measures to protect local groundwater from radiation and to ensure the area is left safe for humans and animals once the mine is closed.
The mine has already received state government approval.
Federal Resources Minister, Gary Gray, says it will create an economic and employment boost for the region.
He says it is up to Toro to announce how many jobs the project will generate.
"What we're looking at is a project that will bring substantial local social benefits and also local social investments training and jobs; indigenous jobs and jobs at Wiluna," he said.
"So, jobs that will be critical for supporting the local infrastructure and the local community.
"We'd expect this to have a mine life of in excess of a decade, and we would expect this to process in excess of a million tons of ore annually, and around three-quarters of a million tons of oxide.
"Now to do that will have a range of local economic implications and it'll also be a major job creator and creator of training opportunities for good mining jobs into the future for local Indigenous people."
Opposition remains
The Conservation Council, which opposes uranium mining in the state, is not surprised by the Federal Government decision.
The council's Mia Pepper says Toro still faces a number of barriers.
"The difference between Toro Energy and a lot of other companies is that they're a small company with no proven experience and they don't necessarily have the capacity to manage a project of this size, and with this particular mineral," she said.
"Some of the concerns raised through the Federal Minister's decision is clearly about that capacity and dealing with the unforeseen closure of the mine and how they will then manage radioactive waste at the site.
"Still some serious concerns that will become more and more a barrier for Toro Energy as they continue through the approvals process."
The Greens spokesman for nuclear issues Senator Scott Ludlam says this is not the end of his campaign against the mine.
"I take no comfort from these approvals at all," he said.
"I think it proves once and for all that the ALP cannot be trusted on the environment.
"On an issue as serious as this, that Minister Burke thinks you can lock up tens of millions of tons of carcinogenic radioactive waste in the environment on a lake bed that floods effectively for thousands of years, absolutely beggars belief.
"So we will step the campaign up, and for me this is the beginning, rather than the end."
'Highest standards'
Toro's managing director Vanessa Guthrie says the decision paves the way for production to start at the site by the end of 2015.
"It's been a three-and-a-half year process of environmental assessment that has now paved the way for us to move into project financing, and really has been the last regulatory hurdle for us to overcome," she said.
"We have been in discussions for 18 months with a number of interested parties from overseas, mainly in Asia.
"These partners are more in the nuclear utilities and traders end which is the traditional market for long term off-take arrangements with uranium producers.
"There will be 170 jobs in operation, and 350 jobs expected during the construction period."
Dr Guthrie says Toro has gone through a rigorous assessment process and the conditions that have been imposed will ensure environmental impacts are properly managed.
"The conditions issued are appropriate and we are confident we can meet them," she said.
"They really mean the management of the site and operation will be at the strictest and highest standards.
"It gives the community confidence that the mine can be operated safely and in an environmentally appropriate manner."
At the end of last year, Toro said it had secured $12 million in funding needed to continue with its uranium mine project.
The company said the debt facility from Macquarie Bank had increased its working capital from $7.5 million to almost $20 million.
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