Wedesnday 1 June 2005
ABC NT Local News

The operator of the Northern Territory's Ranger uranium mine has been fined $150,000 for a series of contamination breaches at the site in 2003 and 2004.

Last month Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) pleaded guilty in the Darwin Magistrates Court to breaching the Mining Management Act.

ERA spokesman Rod Antal has apologised on behalf of the company.

"We have apologised on a number of occasions and we deeply regret the incident," he said.

Twenty-eight workers fell ill in March 2003 after drinking or showering in water containing 400 times the legal limit of uranium.

In another incident, three work vehicles left the mine site contaminated with uranium ore.

Northern Territory Environment Centre spokesman Peter Robertson says the fine is a slap on the wrist.

"It is just disappointing that the fine wasn't more commensurate with the seriousness of the breach," he said.

ERA has also been ordered to pay prosecution costs.