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[underlined] Attachment B [end underline]

[Header: Coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Australia with 'MINISTER FOR SCIENCE AND THE ENVIRONMENT']

PARLIAMENT HOUSE CANBERRA A C T 2600

[Stamp] 30 AUG 1979

Dear Minister,

I am writing to advise you that my Department has completed its examination of the final environmental impact statement on the Jabiluka Uranium Project proposed by Pancontinental Mining Ltd. A copy of my Department's assessment report is attached.

Pursuant to paragraph 9.3 of the Environment Protection Administrative Procedures, I advise that on the basis of the information provided in the final environmental impact statement the Government should not approve the project unless the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) the Joint Venturers agree to provide additional detailed design and operational information as it becomes available and, in the course of project planning, to undertake further environmental investigations and to provide the results of these to the Department of Science and the Environment for further advice regarding detailed environmental requirements;

(ii) satisfactory arrangements are made with the Northern Land Council to ensure that the results of the examination and consultation currently being undertaken by the Council in relation to this project are provided in time for the preparation of relevant detailed environmental requirements;

(iii) satisfactory arrangements are made for the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments to formulate mutually acceptable environmental requirements under which the Governments are satisfied that the impact on the environment and on Aboriginals is acceptable, taking into account the total level of activity in the region as a whole and based upon the draft requirements set out in Attachment B of the Department's report and taking into account information obtained in (i) and (ii) above, information being obtained by the Governments in relation to the region generally and the detailed design and operational information to be provided by the Company;        

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(iv) satisfactory arrangements are made between the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments for the Joint Venturers to meet the agreed environmental requirements and for such requirements to be implemented as a condition of an authority to mine.

In relation to the arrangements proposed in (iii) above, officers of my Department are available to assist in the formulation of the specific environmental requirements. I suggest that it might be appropriate to establish a joint Commonwealth-Northern Territory Government task group to co-ordinate the formulation of these requirements.

I have written to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs advising him of my recommendations and suggesting that officers of his Department and mine consult with a view to establishing the arrangements proposed in (ii) above. I have also written to the Treasurer and the Northern Territory Chief Minister advising them of my recommendations and I shall shortly be transmitting my recommendations to Pancontinental Mining Ltd.

Yours sincerely,

[signature]  

J.J. Webster

The Rt. Hon. J.D. Anthony, M.P.,

Minister for Trade and Resources,

Parliament House,

[underlined] CANBERRA. [end underline] A.C.T 2600