PSC recommends monitoring committee for Lynas project
Posted on June 20, 2012, Wednesday
KUALA LUMPUR: The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) On Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) has recommended that a monitoring committee be formed to monitor the project in Gebeng, Kuantan, Pahang.
Its chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that all 31 recommendations made by the committee should also be implemented.
“The monitoring committee must comprise related agencies, non-governmental organisations and certified experts,” he said when tabling a motion on the PSC report on LAMP project in Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.
The 74 page report among other things concluded that LAMP is a chemical processing plant that produces rare earth and not a nuclear plant or for mining activities.
The committee is of the view that LAMP’s operation would use advanced technology and expertise to comply with standards and regulations in Malaysia and legal provisions on the project is more stringent than international practice.
Mohamed Khaled said that all questions posed had been referred to experts to seek scientific clarification and all recommendations made were agreed unanimously by all committee members.
On March 20, parliament passed a motion to establish a committee to examine issues of public concern and safety standards of Lynas rare earth project.
The committee members were Datuk Rahman Dahlan (Kota Belud), Hajah Nancy Shukri (Batang Sadong), Teng Boon Soon (Tebrau), Liang Teck Meng (Simpang Renggam) and Datuk Zulkifli Nordin (Kulim-Bandar Baharu).
Its terms of reference were to review safety, health and environment issues and review the process and implementation of licensing and approval procedures based on provisions of the law and safety standards.
LAMP project sparked controversy when the public pressured the government to stop the project because of health and safety concerns to local residents.
The committee was of the view that the project’s main problem was the negative perception due to lack of public engagement in the dissemination of information.
It recommended that LAMP project operator provide access to the public, professional bodies, representatives of residents and civil society to gain information and monitor data online and display air quality readings in front of its premise.
Mohamed Khaled said dissemination of information such as radiation safety, regulatory aspects and information communication with interested parties on safety must also be improved.
Comparison was mainly made against Asian Rare Earth (ARE) project in Bukit Merah, Perak where no proof was presented to back claims of cancer related incidents.
“The nature and operation of LAMP project is focused on chemical reaction and physical (cracking, leaching, extraction and finishing) in producing lanthanum elements of nuclear reaction.
“LAMP project has a much lower health risk than nuclear plants, thorium processing plants and mining activities,” he added.
The estimated radiation dose on workers and the public is in the average range of 2 mSv and 0002 mvSv per year, much lower than the dose of background radiation in Peninsular Malaysia at a rate of 1 to 10 mSv per year.
The committee also recommended that a Health Impact Assessment, Radiological Impact Assessment and health studies be conducted immediately to safeguard public health. — Bernama