DOE greenlights EIA report for Lynas' landfill

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for Lynas to build a landfill to store its neutralisation underflow (NUF) residue has been approved by the Department of Environment (DOE) with 68 conditions.

In an email to Malaysiakini, the DOE said these conditions include limiting the NUF secure landfill to a height of 30m from ground level, excluding its "capping", which is approximately the height of a nine-storey building.

"It is designed such that it is safe and not easily affected even when it rains, and is equipped with a drainage network," the DOE said.

The DOE said Lynas should obtain written approval before constructing the landfill, and secure a licence to dispose of scheduled waste before beginning the landfill's operations.

DOE also instructed Lynas to come up with a management plan on how to reuse the NUF residue as raw material so the landfill will not be overfilled.

The department said it approved the EIA report on secure landfill for NUF residue after studying its impact on the environment.

The approval letter for the EIA report was inked on May 23 together with 68 conditions, after the matter was discussed at the EIA Technical Review Committee comprising several relevant government agencies, said the DOE.

DOE said the EIA report, drafted by the consultant AGV Environment Sdn Bhd, complied with the Environmental Quality Act.

"(Final) approval for the project is under the jurisdiction of the Project Approving Authority.

"The DOE merely evaluates the environmental impact (in terms of its magnitude and level of significance) by taking in account of input from panel members and members of the public, so to ensure that such project would bring benefit and harmony to the people especially in Pahang," it said.

In a WhatsApp group, Save Malaysia Stop Lynas chairperson Tan Bun Teet (photo, above) claimed several weeks ago that he has learned the EIA report for on the NUF residue has been approved.

He claimed that there will be a towering 34m tall "new legacy" that would be a landmark building in Kuantan's horizon.

Tan said Lynas had submitted the EIA report on the NUF residue to the government on Feb 13, where it proposed using its 39ha land to house 1.2 million tonnes of the waste material.

The Star had quoted Lynas saying that the need to for a secure landfill for the NUF is critical, since the waste stream generates 1,145 tonnes of the residue per day.

The government had barred Lynas from continuing its research to commercialise residue from its Water Leach Purification (WLP) process, which is classified as radioactive waste.

NUF is classified under a scheduled waste and not considered radioactive.

The EIA report admitted that the landfill may impact the environment but said the "potential impact to the surrounding environment is predicted to be minimised and mitigated to within acceptable levels and would comply with the stipulated environmental standards and guidelines".

"With careful planning and adherence to sound mining practices and design, combined with prudent implementation of all recommended mitigating and control measures, the proposed project will be able to reduce the predicted adverse impacts to a low level of significance.

"The project is expected to have important economic benefits both locally and regionally," according to the EIA report. -Mkini