Uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) has launched an independent surface water study at its Ranger mine, in the Northern Territory, and the decommissioning of an interim water management pond on the Jabiluka lease.

The miner said on Thursday that the independent surface water study would examine the impacts, monitoring and reporting of surface water flowing from the Ranger project.

The move was an attempt to improve relations with the Mirarr traditional Aboriginal owners, which ERA said was vital to ensure that the land was rehabilitated in a culturally appropriate manner.

“The relationship with the Mirarr is of great importance to us and I am very pleased that ERA and the Gundjeihrri Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) are working collaboratively on these important projects,” said ERA CEO Rob Atkinson.

“We are also working closely with GAC on finalising the Ranger mine suite of areements. The current negotiations are progressing very well. The future of both ERA and the GAC are intertwined and these agreements are vital to both our organisations,” he said.