❓ Dr. Brad Pettitt questions the Minister for Environment regarding Alcoa and South32's management of PFAS contamination, revealing several sites with known or suspected contamination and ongoing regulatory oversight. The response highlights existing regulations and assessment processes.
AnsweredQoN 293Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PFAS CONTAMINATION — ALCOA — SOUTH32
293. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to reports that Alcoa piped
PFAS or ''forever chemicals'' across a drinking water dam without
approval.
(1) What other
Alcoa and/or South32 operations have PFAS to manage, and can the minister
please list them?
(2) What other approvals have been
sought by Alcoa and/or South32 to manage PFAS?
(3) What has the
minister done to ensure that Alcoa and South32 are lawfully and safely managing
PFAS at all sites operated by the companies and that there are no additional
instances of noncompliance to address?
293. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to reports that Alcoa piped
PFAS or ''forever chemicals'' across a drinking water dam without
approval.
(1) What other
Alcoa and/or South32 operations have PFAS to manage, and can the minister
please list them?
(2) What other approvals have been
sought by Alcoa and/or South32 to manage PFAS?
(3) What has the
minister done to ensure that Alcoa and South32 are lawfully and safely managing
PFAS at all sites operated by the companies and that there are no additional
instances of noncompliance to address?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment, I provide
the following answer.
(1) Known or suspected environmental contamination by
perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl—Madam President, those are very big words—the substances
known as PFAS, is being regulated under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003
at Alcoa's McCoy and Myara mine sites, former fire training and tank
areas in the north-west portion of the Wagerup refinery, and the tank farm at
Lot 99 Cockburn Road, Naval Base, north east of the Kwinana refinery. These
sites are in addition to the Arundel and Orion mine sites that are the subject
of current works approval applications. No environmental contamination by PFAS
has been reported under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003 at South32's
Worsley Alumina operations.
(2) The
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is assessing an application
for works approval for the Alcoa of Australia Ltd Willowdale mine site in
relation to PFAS-impacted water within the Orion and Arundel mining areas.
There are no other applications or approvals under part V of the Environmental
Protection Act 1986 for Alcoa or South32 operations that relate to PFAS.
(3) Where
known or suspected environmental contamination by PFAS has occurred, the
requirements of the Contaminated Sites Act
2003 apply. The department regulates sites reported under the CS act with
reference to the PFAS national environmental management plan .
The PRESIDENT : Member, that
answer was very long. I noticed that your microphone cut out halfway through. I can understand why that might be the case.
Perhaps you might have a word. It is not the first time. I know that the questions require a lot of detail, but if you would please have some
consideration.
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment, I provide
the following answer.
(1) Known or suspected environmental contamination by
perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl—Madam President, those are very big words—the substances
known as PFAS, is being regulated under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003
at Alcoa's McCoy and Myara mine sites, former fire training and tank
areas in the north-west portion of the Wagerup refinery, and the tank farm at
Lot 99 Cockburn Road, Naval Base, north east of the Kwinana refinery. These
sites are in addition to the Arundel and Orion mine sites that are the subject
of current works approval applications. No environmental contamination by PFAS
has been reported under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003 at South32's
Worsley Alumina operations.
(2) The
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is assessing an application
for works approval for the Alcoa of Australia Ltd Willowdale mine site in
relation to PFAS-impacted water within the Orion and Arundel mining areas.
There are no other applications or approvals under part V of the Environmental
Protection Act 1986 for Alcoa or South32 operations that relate to PFAS.
(3) Where
known or suspected environmental contamination by PFAS has occurred, the
requirements of the Contaminated Sites Act
2003 apply. The department regulates sites reported under the CS act with
reference to the PFAS national environmental management plan .
The PRESIDENT : Member, that
answer was very long. I noticed that your microphone cut out halfway through. I can understand why that might be the case.
Perhaps you might have a word. It is not the first time. I know that the questions require a lot of detail, but if you would please have some
consideration.
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