The traditional owners of the Ranger uranium mine will look carefully at a draft environmental impact statement for an underground expansion lodged by Energy Resources of Australia on Friday, says Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Justin O'Brien.

He said the group, which represents the Mirarr people, would "weigh up the cultural, social and environmental considerations that will bring to bear on our decision-making".

The Ranger uranium mine at Kakadu. Credit:Glenn Campbell

Rio Tinto-controlled ERA has pressed ahead with the potential expansion of the mine, near Kakadu, despite heightened fears among traditional owners over safety and health since a radioactive leak at the site late last year.

Chief executive officer Andrea Sutton said the company would "continue to seek their support" for the Ranger 3 Deeps project, which could start producing ore in December 2015.