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Lynas should stop misleading information about its radioactive wastes

  • Publication Date | April 4, 2019
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Pollution & Extractives
  • Issues | Pollution, Waste
  • Tags | AELB, DoE, Gebeng, LAMP, Lynas, Pahang, public health, Radioactive, rare earth, WLP
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia - Forests and biodiversity

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) state that Lynas should stop misleading the public about its wastes.

We say this in response to Lynas Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. that our statement carried in the media today “is factually inaccurate” when we said that the wastes from the water leached purification (WLP) process should be removed from Malaysia, as these wastes cannot be regarded as naturally-occurring radioactive material (NORM), but are in fact technologically-enhanced, and have been made dangerous by technological processes.

It is indeed misleading of Lynas to claim as “a scientific fact” that the WLP residue is “naturally occurring.” Lynas claims that “there is NO technological enhancement of the low level, naturally occurring radionuclides (Thorium and Uranium).”

Clearly, it is the Lynas claim that is unscientific, defies common sense and logic.

The fact of the matter is that the feedstock that is processed by the Lynas plant has been brought from Australia and removed from its natural state. Once naturally occurring radioactive elements material are removed from the ground and are technologically processed, they cannot be referred to as “naturally occurring” anymore, as they are not in their natural state.

Any removal and processing of the “naturally occurring” radioactive material becomes technologically-enhanced NORM or TENORM. To call them NORM is scientifically misleading.

Indeed, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, defines TENORM as, “Naturally occurring radioactive materials that have been concentrated or exposed to the accessible environment as a result of human activities such as manufacturing, mineral extraction, or water processing.” (Emphasis added).

The U.S. EPA also states that “Technologically enhanced” means that the radiological, physical, and chemical properties of the radioactive material have been concentrated or further altered by having been processed, or beneficiated, or disturbed in a way that increases the potential for human and/or environmental exposures.” (Emphasis added).

Further, it defines NORM as “Materials which may contain any of the primordial (existing from the beginning of time, naturally occurring) radionuclides or radioactive elements as they occur in nature, such as radium, uranium, thorium, potassium, and their radioactive decay products, such as radium and radon, that are undisturbed as a result of human activities.” (Emphasis added).

The Lynas wastes are definitely TENORM as naturally-occurring radioactive elements have been disturbed and made more dangerous by technological processes which involve the removal from the ground of the thorium and uranium and concentrated by mechanical and chemical processes.

We reiterate that claims that the radioactive elements such as uranium and thorium in the WLP can be diluted and made less radioactive do not hold water and are unfounded.

It is not well known that uranium and thorium and their daughters have very long half-lives of millions and billions of years.

No one can possibly claim that the radioactive material can be stored safely for millions and billions of years. 

Moreover, there is no such thing as a safe level of radiation, as any dose has an effect, as stated by the reports of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Biological Effects of Ionising Radiation (BIER), with the latest being the seventh report.  

Just because governments set what are known as ‘permissible levels’ of exposure, this does not mean that these levels are safe, as there are economic and other considerations which are taken into account in setting ‘permissible levels’, even when there are risks to public health and the environment.

The issue is whether the public and the people in the surroundings are willing to accept the risks to their health and environment for generations to come.

SAM and CAP cannot be simply dismissed as being unqualified.

We have learnt from our work and experience with the Asian Rare Earth (ARE) plant in Bukit Merah, Ipoh, which has taught us a lot of valuable lessons which we must learn from.  

Although the raw material used and the final rare earth product in the Lynas Plant is different from what is used and produced in the ARE plant, the wastes generated by both plants are similar, in that they contain uranium and thorium and there are huge challenges in managing and disposing of them.

The ARE wastes which are being kept in the Kledang Range in Perak are now the responsibility of the Atomic Energy Licensing Board and the Perak State government, and this poses a huge and immense challenge in ensuring that the permanent disposal facility is managed in a safe manner for hundreds, millions and billions of years to come.

In relation to the Lynas waste, the best option in safeguarding public health and the environment is to send the wastes back to Australia, so that the Malaysian government does not have the responsibility of managing this waste, which will remain radioactive for an incredibly long time.

That is the truth of the matter. We must not be fooled or lulled into thinking that the radioactive waste is not a problem and that it can be diluted. We are talking of safety for millions and billions of years to come, and no one can guarantee that. 

Lynas must not be allowed to wriggle from its undertaking to the government, that if it cannot meet the condition of removing the radioactive wastes back to Australia, it should not be allowed to operate any further.  

Why should the Malaysian government and its people pay the price for generations to come, for the profits of one company?

S.M. MOHAMED IDRIS

President

SAM and CAP 

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Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia
Sahabat Alam Malaysia - Member of Friends of the Earth International

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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