ABC: OSS won't comment on Ranger investiagation

NEWSREADER:                      The federal agency responsible for investigating the uranium spill at the Northern Territory's Ranger Mine won't say whether it's carrying out testing independent of the mine.

                                               Jane Bardon reports.

REPORTER:                            The ABC posed a series of questions to the Office of the Supervising Scientists, which is investigating the huge spill of uranium and acid last weekend. The office was asked whether it was carrying out soil and creek water testing to determine whether the radioactive material had leaked through the mine site into the surrounding Kakadu National Park, or whether it was relying on mining company data.

                                               The Federal Environment Department has replied saying as the ABC's questions are the subject of investigations it would be inappropriate to comment. It says the Supervising Scientists' investigation is separate from other proposed investigations being overseen by commonwealth and Northern Territory government taskforce.

NEWSREADER:                      The Territory government's representative handling the fallout from Rio Tinto's decision to close its refinery says distinctions are emerging among different groups in Nhulunbuy.