Xstrata’s Mt Isa mine tops toxic emissions report

This ABC story is not about the McArthur River Mine, but it lets you see the environmental credentials  of the company who believes they can divert a river, in what John Howard calls an “environmentally sustainable fashion”. 

New figures show Xstrata’s Mount Isa mine is emitting a cocktail of toxic emissions higher than any other mine in the country.

The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) annual report reveals high emissions in Mount Isa for antimony, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, sulphur dioxide and zinc.

Environmental Protection Agency director Peter Thorning says levels need to be carefully managed.

“Any high emission reports on the national pollution inventory warrant further concern,” he said.

All seven compounds appear on the NPI’s list of toxic chemicals.

Elizabeth O’Brien from the Global Lead Advice Support Service says earlier reports show similar results.

“There’s really a need to do something about that, it just isn’t good enough to keep going as the highest emitter,” she said.

Xstrata spokesman Ed Turley says the Swiss mining giant is operating within environmental limits.

“Mount Isa Mines is meeting its licence requirements for emissions measured in the community,” he said.

“We believe the risks are being adequately managed and we’re in regular contact with the EPA.”

 http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200702/s1851739.htm
 

Howard on ‘environmentally sustainable fashion’

Dug out this story courtesy of ABC. It can be read or heard at http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1755750.htm

It deals with The Australian Prime Minister, John Howard,  lobbying the NT Chief Minister, Clare Martin to hurry up and approve the mine.

It would be great to hear a definition for a ‘environmentally sustainable fashion’, it might have something to do with the PM’s trackydaks but it has nothing to do with moving rivers, which is neither sustainable or fashionable.

Oh, and the local people are still waiting for the benefits almost 10 years after the mine started.

mcarthur river    xstrata   northern territory    john howard

Howard supports diversion (destruction) of McArthur River

We heard about this last year, but it is relevant in the context of the Prime Minister’s newfound concern over our water, over our rivers. Amazing the change in a few short months.

In late September, 2006, John Howard was trying to protect the Kokoda Trail from being mined. “We obviously respect the laws of Papua New Guinea but the Kokoda Trail is of enormous historic and military significance to Australia and there has to be a way that fairness and justice can be done to all interests,” Mr Howard said.

In early September, 2006, Mr Howard was lobbying the Northern Territory Government to approve the open-cut expansion and diversion (destruction) of the McArthur River. It would seem that, to John Howard at least, the McArthur River isn’t as significant as our military history nor is it seen as an important water issue.

Perhaps he needs to take a (another) look at the McArthur River and read a little history about the McArthur and its military history, about the battles and massacres that took place there. He he could start with Tony Roberts excellent account, Frontier Justice: A History of the Gulf Country to 1900, 2005, University of Queensland Press.

Maybe our new Minister for the Environment, Malcom Turnbill can find a way of delivering fairness and justice to the McArthur River and its People.

mcarthur river   xstrata   northern territory   john howard