A parliamentary question addresses the decommissioning of lead-contaminated tanks at BP Kwinana, focusing on environmental approvals, monitoring, and the nature of the decontamination process used. The Minister clarifies the process wasn't incineration but a furnace conversion, and DEWCP assessed and approved the project.

AnsweredQoN 1356Legislative Council
Asked
16 October 2003
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the decommissioning and incineration of lead contaminated storage tanks and piping at the BP Kwinana facility. (1) Will the minister confirm that an incinerator was constructed at the BP refinery in Kwinana to flame wash lead contaminated metals in the decommissioning tanks and piping between September 2002 and February 2003? (2) Did the Department for the Environment, Water and Catchment Protection - DEWCP - assess this proposal before the incineration commenced?  If yes, what form of assessment was undertaken? (3) Were any environmental approvals granted to BP to operate this incinerator by either DEWCP or the Environmental Protection Authority?  If not, why not? (4) How many times did DEWCP officers inspect the BP hazardous waste incinerator during its operation? (5) Did DEWCP require BP to regularly monitor and report the stack emissions of the incinerator for lead during the waste incineration process? (a) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

The answer to the five-part question is - (1) The process carried out was not flame washing or incineration.  A furnace was used to convert organic lead to inorganic lead on metal surfaces.  The demolition-decontamination project was completed between 4 September and 22 November 2002.  Although the initial proposal was for flame washing, the decontamination of metal surfaces was carried out inside an on-site furnace that was constructed for the purpose. (2) Yes.  The assessment was based upon a detailed demolition and decontamination proposal provided to the department by BP.  The proposal was put together by a specialist contractor who was also the manufacturer of the plant.  The proposal included monitoring and modelling data that was gained from the manufacturer’s experience from seven other plants that had previously been decontaminated and demolished in Australasia. (3) Yes, by DEWCP. (4) DEWCP officers were not present during the decommissioning-decontamination project. (5) Ambient monitoring was undertaken for lead at sensitive premises.  The monitoring locations were within the BP Kwinana site for the local work force and also for the neighbouring Tiwest facility.  Air-monitoring data showed that at no time did the ambient ground-level concentrations of lead exceed the national environmental protection measure ambient air quality standard. (a) Not applicable.
(1) Will the minister confirm that an incinerator was constructed at the BP refinery in Kwinana to flame wash lead contaminated metals in the decommissioning tanks and piping between September 2002 and February 2003? (2) Did the Department for the Environment, Water and Catchment Protection - DEWCP - assess this proposal before the incineration commenced?  If yes, what form of assessment was undertaken? (3) Were any environmental approvals granted to BP to operate this incinerator by either DEWCP or the Environmental Protection Authority?  If not, why not? (4) How many times did DEWCP officers inspect the BP hazardous waste incinerator during its operation? (5) Did DEWCP require BP to regularly monitor and report the stack emissions of the incinerator for lead during the waste incineration process? (a) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The answer to the five-part question is - (1) The process carried out was not flame washing or incineration.  A furnace was used to convert organic lead to inorganic lead on metal surfaces.  The demolition-decontamination project was completed between 4 September and 22 November 2002.  Although the initial proposal was for flame washing, the decontamination of metal surfaces was carried out inside an on-site furnace that was constructed for the purpose. (2) Yes.  The assessment was based upon a detailed demolition and decontamination proposal provided to the department by BP.  The proposal was put together by a specialist contractor who was also the manufacturer of the plant.  The proposal included monitoring and modelling data that was gained from the manufacturer’s experience from seven other plants that had previously been decontaminated and demolished in Australasia. (3) Yes, by DEWCP. (4) DEWCP officers were not present during the decommissioning-decontamination project. (5) Ambient monitoring was undertaken for lead at sensitive premises.  The monitoring locations were within the BP Kwinana site for the local work force and also for the neighbouring Tiwest facility.  Air-monitoring data showed that at no time did the ambient ground-level concentrations of lead exceed the national environmental protection measure ambient air quality standard. (a) Not applicable.
(2) Did the Department for the Environment, Water and Catchment Protection - DEWCP - assess this proposal before the incineration commenced?  If yes, what form of assessment was undertaken? (3) Were any environmental approvals granted to BP to operate this incinerator by either DEWCP or the Environmental Protection Authority?  If not, why not? (4) How many times did DEWCP officers inspect the BP hazardous waste incinerator during its operation? (5) Did DEWCP require BP to regularly monitor and report the stack emissions of the incinerator for lead during the waste incineration process? (a) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The answer to the five-part question is - (1) The process carried out was not flame washing or incineration.  A furnace was used to convert organic lead to inorganic lead on metal surfaces.  The demolition-decontamination project was completed between 4 September and 22 November 2002.  Although the initial proposal was for flame washing, the decontamination of metal surfaces was carried out inside an on-site furnace that was constructed for the purpose. (2) Yes.  The assessment was based upon a detailed demolition and decontamination proposal provided to the department by BP.  The proposal was put together by a specialist contractor who was also the manufacturer of the plant.  The proposal included monitoring and modelling data that was gained from the manufacturer’s experience from seven other plants that had previously been decontaminated and demolished in Australasia. (3) Yes, by DEWCP. (4) DEWCP officers were not present during the decommissioning-decontamination project. (5) Ambient monitoring was undertaken for lead at sensitive premises.  The monitoring locations were within the BP Kwinana site for the local work force and also for the neighbouring Tiwest facility.  Air-monitoring data showed that at no time did the ambient ground-level concentrations of lead exceed the national environmental protection measure ambient air quality standard. (a) Not applicable.
(3) Were any environmental approvals granted to BP to operate this incinerator by either DEWCP or the Environmental Protection Authority?  If not, why not? (4) How many times did DEWCP officers inspect the BP hazardous waste incinerator during its operation? (5) Did DEWCP require BP to regularly monitor and report the stack emissions of the incinerator for lead during the waste incineration process? (a) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The answer to the five-part question is - (1) The process carried out was not flame washing or incineration.  A furnace was used to convert organic lead to inorganic lead on metal surfaces.  The demolition-decontamination project was completed between 4 September and 22 November 2002.  Although the initial proposal was for flame washing, the decontamination of metal surfaces was carried out inside an on-site furnace that was constructed for the purpose. (2) Yes.  The assessment was based upon a detailed demolition and decontamination proposal provided to the department by BP.  The proposal was put together by a specialist contractor who was also the manufacturer of the plant.  The proposal included monitoring and modelling data that was gained from the manufacturer’s experience from seven other plants that had previously been decontaminated and demolished in Australasia. (3) Yes, by DEWCP. (4) DEWCP officers were not present during the decommissioning-decontamination project. (5) Ambient monitoring was undertaken for lead at sensitive premises.  The monitoring locations were within the BP Kwinana site for the local work force and also for the neighbouring Tiwest facility.  Air-monitoring data showed that at no time did the ambient ground-level concentrations of lead exceed the national environmental protection measure ambient air quality standard. (a) Not applicable.
(4) How many times did DEWCP officers inspect the BP hazardous waste incinerator during its operation? (5) Did DEWCP require BP to regularly monitor and report the stack emissions of the incinerator for lead during the waste incineration process? (a) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The answer to the five-part question is - (1) The process carried out was not flame washing or incineration.  A furnace was used to convert organic lead to inorganic lead on metal surfaces.  The demolition-decontamination project was completed between 4 September and 22 November 2002.  Although the initial proposal was for flame washing, the decontamination of metal surfaces was carried out inside an on-site furnace that was constructed for the purpose. (2) Yes.  The assessment was based upon a detailed demolition and decontamination proposal provided to the department by BP.  The proposal was put together by a specialist contractor who was also the manufacturer of the plant.  The proposal included monitoring and modelling data that was gained from the manufacturer’s experience from seven other plants that had previously been decontaminated and demolished in Australasia. (3) Yes, by DEWCP. (4) DEWCP officers were not present during the decommissioning-decontamination project. (5) Ambient monitoring was undertaken for lead at sensitive premises.  The monitoring locations were within the BP Kwinana site for the local work force and also for the neighbouring Tiwest facility.  Air-monitoring data showed that at no time did the ambient ground-level concentrations of lead exceed the national environmental protection measure ambient air quality standard. (a) Not applicable.
(5) Did DEWCP require BP to regularly monitor and report the stack emissions of the incinerator for lead during the waste incineration process? (a) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The answer to the five-part question is - (1) The process carried out was not flame washing or incineration.  A furnace was used to convert organic lead to inorganic lead on metal surfaces.  The demolition-decontamination project was completed between 4 September and 22 November 2002.  Although the initial proposal was for flame washing, the decontamination of metal surfaces was carried out inside an on-site furnace that was constructed for the purpose. (2) Yes.  The assessment was based upon a detailed demolition and decontamination proposal provided to the department by BP.  The proposal was put together by a specialist contractor who was also the manufacturer of the plant.  The proposal included monitoring and modelling data that was gained from the manufacturer’s experience from seven other plants that had previously been decontaminated and demolished in Australasia. (3) Yes, by DEWCP. (4) DEWCP officers were not present during the decommissioning-decontamination project. (5) Ambient monitoring was undertaken for lead at sensitive premises.  The monitoring locations were within the BP Kwinana site for the local work force and also for the neighbouring Tiwest facility.  Air-monitoring data showed that at no time did the ambient ground-level concentrations of lead exceed the national environmental protection measure ambient air quality standard. (a) Not applicable.
The answer to the five-part question is - (1) The process carried out was not flame washing or incineration.  A furnace was used to convert organic lead to inorganic lead on metal surfaces.  The demolition-decontamination project was completed between 4 September and 22 November 2002.  Although the initial proposal was for flame washing, the decontamination of metal surfaces was carried out inside an on-site furnace that was constructed for the purpose. (2) Yes.  The assessment was based upon a detailed demolition and decontamination proposal provided to the department by BP.  The proposal was put together by a specialist contractor who was also the manufacturer of the plant.  The proposal included monitoring and modelling data that was gained from the manufacturer’s experience from seven other plants that had previously been decontaminated and demolished in Australasia. (3) Yes, by DEWCP. (4) DEWCP officers were not present during the decommissioning-decontamination project. (5) Ambient monitoring was undertaken for lead at sensitive premises.  The monitoring locations were within the BP Kwinana site for the local work force and also for the neighbouring Tiwest facility.  Air-monitoring data showed that at no time did the ambient ground-level concentrations of lead exceed the national environmental protection measure ambient air quality standard. (a) Not applicable.
(1) The process carried out was not flame washing or incineration.  A furnace was used to convert organic lead to inorganic lead on metal surfaces.  The demolition-decontamination project was completed between 4 September and 22 November 2002.  Although the initial proposal was for flame washing, the decontamination of metal surfaces was carried out inside an on-site furnace that was constructed for the purpose. (2) Yes.  The assessment was based upon a detailed demolition and decontamination proposal provided to the department by BP.  The proposal was put together by a specialist contractor who was also the manufacturer of the plant.  The proposal included monitoring and modelling data that was gained from the manufacturer’s experience from seven other plants that had previously been decontaminated and demolished in Australasia. (3) Yes, by DEWCP. (4) DEWCP officers were not present during the decommissioning-decontamination project. (5) Ambient monitoring was undertaken for lead at sensitive premises.  The monitoring locations were within the BP Kwinana site for the local work force and also for the neighbouring Tiwest facility.  Air-monitoring data showed that at no time did the ambient ground-level concentrations of lead exceed the national environmental protection measure ambient air quality standard. (a) Not applicable.
(2) Yes.  The assessment was based upon a detailed demolition and decontamination proposal provided to the department by BP.  The proposal was put together by a specialist contractor who was also the manufacturer of the plant.  The proposal included monitoring and modelling data that was gained from the manufacturer’s experience from seven other plants that had previously been decontaminated and demolished in Australasia. (3) Yes, by DEWCP. (4) DEWCP officers were not present during the decommissioning-decontamination project. (5) Ambient monitoring was undertaken for lead at sensitive premises.  The monitoring locations were within the BP Kwinana site for the local work force and also for the neighbouring Tiwest facility.  Air-monitoring data showed that at no time did the ambient ground-level concentrations of lead exceed the national environmental protection measure ambient air quality standard. (a) Not applicable.
(3) Yes, by DEWCP. (4) DEWCP officers were not present during the decommissioning-decontamination project. (5) Ambient monitoring was undertaken for lead at sensitive premises.  The monitoring locations were within the BP Kwinana site for the local work force and also for the neighbouring Tiwest facility.  Air-monitoring data showed that at no time did the ambient ground-level concentrations of lead exceed the national environmental protection measure ambient air quality standard. (a) Not applicable.
(4) DEWCP officers were not present during the decommissioning-decontamination project. (5) Ambient monitoring was undertaken for lead at sensitive premises.  The monitoring locations were within the BP Kwinana site for the local work force and also for the neighbouring Tiwest facility.  Air-monitoring data showed that at no time did the ambient ground-level concentrations of lead exceed the national environmental protection measure ambient air quality standard. (a) Not applicable.
(5) Ambient monitoring was undertaken for lead at sensitive premises.  The monitoring locations were within the BP Kwinana site for the local work force and also for the neighbouring Tiwest facility.  Air-monitoring data showed that at no time did the ambient ground-level concentrations of lead exceed the national environmental protection measure ambient air quality standard. (a) Not applicable.

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