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FOOD IRRADIATION . . . .COMING TO A NEIGHBOURHOOD NEAR YOU SOON. . . .MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD . . .MAKE THIS A FEDERAL ELECTION ISSUE !! . . .

EPBC Referral Process Update - Steritech Pty. Ltd. Nuclear Irradiation Facility

 On 20th March, 2001 the Federal Environment  Minister, Robert Hill decided upon the level of  assessment required for the Steritech Pty. Ltd. Nuclear irradiation facility proposed for Narangba..  The assessment was chosen from Section 85 under the Environment Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act (EPBC).  The level of assessment the Minister chose was AN ASSESSMENT ON PRELIMINARY DOCUMENTS.  If you compare this decision with the other options the Minister could have chosen from - it is the weakest option available to him.  The other options were: an accredited assessment process, a public environment report, an environmental impact statement or a public inquiry.

This sets a dangerous precedent. In effect, it means that a nuclear facility can be built in Queensland anytime, anywhere without any environmental impact assessment required by either local, state or federal government.

The process is as follows:

On 9^th April Steritech advertised in the Courier Mail a Notice & Invitation to Comment. The advert will inform the public that, under the EPBC Act, the Environment Minister requested “preliminary information” from Steritech regarding the proposed nuclear irradiation plant at Narangba and that the public can comment on this ”preliminary information” – which is available for inspection at the State Library, Brisbane and the Caboolture Library ONLY – no mailouts or electronic copies. You then have until 30^th April to return a submission to Steritech regarding their “preliminary information”! Once you have sent your submission/letter into Steritech they will then reply to you in their own time.

All the information is collated by Steritech and then sent onto Environment Australia (EA) - Federal Department for the Environment. EA then has 20 working days to compile the information and then forward onto the Minister, Robert Hill. EA may consult with environmental experts if they consider that such input is needed.  This does not mean much - they may consult with ARPANSA (Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency) - hardly independent reporting. The Minister then has 20 working days to approve the project or not and/or the conditions that must be applied.

ACTIONS:

1.      Try to see a copy of the “preliminary information”.

2.      Start submission writing about all of the issues in relation to the environmental impacts of the facility - including food irradiation. Add to your submission a request to be kept informed and notified of the date Steritech supply all their collated information to EA.

3.      Send a copy of your submission to Minister Hill & to us.

Steritech:  PO Box 4040, Dandenong South, Vic 3164, Phone: (03) 9793 5566, email sterivic@ozemail.com.au

 Sen. Robert Hill, Minister for the Environment, Suite MG68, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2600, Fax: 02 6273 610

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Page last updated Tuesday, 08 May 2001 10:33:30 PM
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