Parsons Brinckerhoff
From Envirowiki
in Australia, the company was previously PPK Infrastructure and Engineering, but PPK was aquired by PB in 2000.
Contents |
[edit] 1 involvment in the australian nuclear industry
In 2004 PB co-authored a report justifying acid in-situ leach mining in South Australia’s Beverley mine, a process involving the dumping of liquid radioactive waste directly into groundwater. Acid in-situ leach mining has never been approved in the USA or many other countries because of its destructive environmental impacts, yet PB concluded that over time the site would rehabilitate itself.
PPK Infrastructure and Engineering authored the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the second nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights. The process later faced a Senate investigation, and was widely criticised for its lack of public involvement, secrecy and lack of transparency.
In 1998, the Federal Government announced its intention to build a national radioactive waste dump in South Australia, and Parsons Brinckerhoff was contracted to complete the draft Environmental Impact Statement. The project was regarded as a Parsons Brinckerhoff (International) “Project of the Year”. Yet PB faced massive opposition, and after an amazing community campaign led by the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta – a senior Aboriginal women’s council - the South Australian government challenged the proposal in the Federal Court, resulting in the abandonment of the project.
[edit] 2 Northern Territory Waste Dump
Parsons Brinckerhoff was awarded the lucrative contract to assess the Federal Government’s proposed sites for a Commonwealth nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory, Australia, for dumping spent nuclear fuel rods, or reprocessed depleted uranium. However, communities surrounding all four of the sites being assessed – Hart’s Range, Mt Everard, and Fisher’s Ridge – remain strongly opposed to hosting a nuclear waste dump for the next few thousand years.
[edit] 2.1 the Sites
None of these sites are appropriate, for the following reasons
[edit] 2.1.1 Fisher’s Ridge
Fisher's Ridge, near Katherine, recently flooded, blocking access roads. If this is a common occurence, it is an obvious reason for not having a nuclear waste dump here.
[edit] 2.1.2 Hart's Range
Arrernte communities at Engawala and Atitjere (Hart’s Range) are strongly opposed to the dump. their concerns include damage to their traditional water sources, bush tucker and bush medicine.
Senator Nigel Scullion has offered to “bet anyone a beer” that Hart’s Range will not be chosen because of community opposition. the local communities are not extremely trusting of this judgement.
[edit] 2.1.3 Mt Everard
This site is 40km from Alice on the busy Tanami road. Two communities live within 5km of the Mt Everard Department of Defense site, and Traditional Owners have repeatedly stated there is a sacred site on the designated waste dump land.
[edit] 2.1.4 Muckaty?
the Traditional Owners of Muckaty Station, 100km north of Tennant Creek are in discussion with the Northern Land Council about whether to offer their land for assessment, in return for roads and infrastructure. this is not one of the official site proposals (yet).
this proposal was originally put up because the local community though it was a rubbish dump, not a nuclear waste dump. After a trip by some representatives to Lucas Heights, the local communities are now requesting more information from various environment groups, the Northern Land Council and the Federal government.
[edit] 3 offices
Parsons Brinckerhoff has offices in Brisbane, Newcastle, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth
[edit] 4 external links
- Parson Brinckerhoff website
- PPK profile on the Environment Directory, a listing of companies involved in the environment.
- No Nuclear Waste Dump campaign by the Northern Territory Government
- no nuke campaign material on the ASEN website. a lot of the info on this page is from ASEN.
- PB’s Star Rises Down Under - PBworld.com
- Parsons Brinckerhoff international website
- Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia website
