A parliamentary question seeks analysis of water and evaporation ponds at a waste management plant in Boulder, focusing on potential risks of draining and evaporating the water in a salt lake. The Minister acknowledges sampling but hasn't formed an opinion on the proposed drainage.

AnsweredQoN 151Legislative Council
Asked
31 March 2004
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Can the minister provide the House with an analysis of the water and evaporation ponds at the Total Waste Management plant in Boulder? (2) If not, why not? (3) Why, in the opinion of the minister’s department, is it unsafe to drain some of this water off and to pump it for evaporation on a dedicated salt lake in the area? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environmental Protection has taken some samples from the evaporation ponds, as part of its investigation into odour concerns in the Boulder area in January and February 2004. These results form part of the investigation into Total Waste Management as part of the evidence collected before the inquiry. However, the DEP has information on the quality of the effluent provided by TWM in May 2002. This information is in attachment 1. (2) Not applicable. (3) The department has yet to form an opinion on the discharge and evaporation to a salt lake.
(2) If not, why not? (3) Why, in the opinion of the minister’s department, is it unsafe to drain some of this water off and to pump it for evaporation on a dedicated salt lake in the area? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environmental Protection has taken some samples from the evaporation ponds, as part of its investigation into odour concerns in the Boulder area in January and February 2004. These results form part of the investigation into Total Waste Management as part of the evidence collected before the inquiry. However, the DEP has information on the quality of the effluent provided by TWM in May 2002. This information is in attachment 1. (2) Not applicable. (3) The department has yet to form an opinion on the discharge and evaporation to a salt lake.
(3) Why, in the opinion of the minister’s department, is it unsafe to drain some of this water off and to pump it for evaporation on a dedicated salt lake in the area? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environmental Protection has taken some samples from the evaporation ponds, as part of its investigation into odour concerns in the Boulder area in January and February 2004. These results form part of the investigation into Total Waste Management as part of the evidence collected before the inquiry. However, the DEP has information on the quality of the effluent provided by TWM in May 2002. This information is in attachment 1. (2) Not applicable. (3) The department has yet to form an opinion on the discharge and evaporation to a salt lake.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environmental Protection has taken some samples from the evaporation ponds, as part of its investigation into odour concerns in the Boulder area in January and February 2004. These results form part of the investigation into Total Waste Management as part of the evidence collected before the inquiry. However, the DEP has information on the quality of the effluent provided by TWM in May 2002. This information is in attachment 1. (2) Not applicable. (3) The department has yet to form an opinion on the discharge and evaporation to a salt lake.
The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) The Department of Environmental Protection has taken some samples from the evaporation ponds, as part of its investigation into odour concerns in the Boulder area in January and February 2004. These results form part of the investigation into Total Waste Management as part of the evidence collected before the inquiry. However, the DEP has information on the quality of the effluent provided by TWM in May 2002. This information is in attachment 1. (2) Not applicable. (3) The department has yet to form an opinion on the discharge and evaporation to a salt lake.
(1) The Department of Environmental Protection has taken some samples from the evaporation ponds, as part of its investigation into odour concerns in the Boulder area in January and February 2004. These results form part of the investigation into Total Waste Management as part of the evidence collected before the inquiry. However, the DEP has information on the quality of the effluent provided by TWM in May 2002. This information is in attachment 1. (2) Not applicable. (3) The department has yet to form an opinion on the discharge and evaporation to a salt lake.
(2) Not applicable. (3) The department has yet to form an opinion on the discharge and evaporation to a salt lake.
(3) The department has yet to form an opinion on the discharge and evaporation to a salt lake.

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