PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland government has issued an environmental protection order (EPO) to privately-held Uranium Mineral Ventures dealing with the Ben Lomond uranium mine.

The EPO was issued by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) to further strengthen safeguards against any release of contamination at the nonoperational mine, Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said on Monday.

In issuing the EPO, the department responded to elevated levels of contaminants, including arsenic, lead and uranium, being measured both on and off the mining lease.

“Based on sampling and investigations undertaken by the company and EHP, we know the geology of the area is naturally mineralised and releases contaminants due to natural weathering processes,” Miles said.

“It has also been identified that disturbed areas at the mine have the potential to release contaminants from the Ben Lomond site to the receiving environment," he said.

The elevated readings were measured against conservative water quality criteria by the environmental authority for the Ben Lomond site.

“It is important to note the elevated levels were measured both upstream and downstream of the mining project, indicating that there are natural influences on the water quality as well as potential influences from the mine," Miles said.

“EHP has taken action – through the EPO – to ensure that Uranium Mineral Ventures puts appropriate controls in place to prevent the release of contaminants from any of the mine disturbed areas.

“The company needs to develop and implement a scope of works to prevent contaminants being released from the historical mine disturbed areas.”

The EPO requires preventative measures to be taken over the next 12 months in the interest of the community and surrounding environment. In addition to the EPO, the company must continue to carry out all of the normal monitoring obligations that are required by the environmental authority.

“EHP does not have any evidence to indicate there is a risk to the public associated with these readings and is continuing to liaise with health and science experts,” the Minister said.

The project has been on care and maintenance since 1984, and no operations are active on site.