❓ A parliamentary question regarding the EPA submission for tug pen infrastructure at Hunt Point, Port Hedland, focusing on community consultation and environmental impact assessment. The Minister's response defends the EPA's process and decision, noting lack of public comment or appeals.
AnsweredQoN 7665Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
In reference to the proposals to use Hunt Point for additional infrastructure for new tug pens, can the minister advise:
(a) why was the Town of Port Hedland not presented the original Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) submission for their consideration and adoption;
(b) on what basis was it considered that it was not necessary for the original submission to receive a full formal EPA assessment;
(c) why did the original EPA submission not request a full formal environmental impact assessment;
(d) is the Minister aware that the local community has only now had the opportunity to study the submission and identify significant questions about most of the information provided in the original EPA submission; and
(e) what opportunity can the Port Hedland community now be given to successfully seek that the original EPA be reassessed and resubmitted including for a full formal environmental impact assessment?
(a) why was the Town of Port Hedland not presented the original Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) submission for their consideration and adoption;
(b) on what basis was it considered that it was not necessary for the original submission to receive a full formal EPA assessment;
(c) why did the original EPA submission not request a full formal environmental impact assessment;
(d) is the Minister aware that the local community has only now had the opportunity to study the submission and identify significant questions about most of the information provided in the original EPA submission; and
(e) what opportunity can the Port Hedland community now be given to successfully seek that the original EPA be reassessed and resubmitted including for a full formal environmental impact assessment?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 May 2012
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
34 days
(a) The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) does not require proponents to present their referral documentation to local government authorities for their consideration and adoption. However, the EPA encourages proponents to consult widely with stakeholders, including local government authorities, during the planning and design of their proposals and prior to the EPA making decision on whether proposals require formal assessment.
(b) The Chairman of the EPA has decided that the potential impacts of the proposal are not so significant to require formal environmental impact assessment under the provisions of the
Environmental Protection Act, 1986.
The EPA considered the proposal and looked at the key environmental factors of water quality and benthic primary producer habitat and concluded that the potential impacts can be adequately managed through implementation of the Dredge Management Plan.
(c) The proponent's referral document indicated that the potential environmental impacts of the proposal are not significant and should not be assessed based on the information collected through BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd's environmental investigations and other supporting environmental studies in Port Hedland.
(d) As part of the EPA's consideration of the Hunt Point Precinct proposal, BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd's referral document was listed for a 7 day public comment period on the EPA's website on 4 January 2012. No public comments were received.
The EPA Chairman's decision was notified in the EPA's advertisement in the Monday edition of
The West Australian
newspaper on 23 January 2012. No appeals against the EPA's decision were received.
(e) As no appeals were received against the EPA's decision not to assess the proposal, there are no opportunities for me to remit the proposal back to the EPA with a direction that it be formally assessed.
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(b) The Chairman of the EPA has decided that the potential impacts of the proposal are not so significant to require formal environmental impact assessment under the provisions of the
Environmental Protection Act, 1986.
The EPA considered the proposal and looked at the key environmental factors of water quality and benthic primary producer habitat and concluded that the potential impacts can be adequately managed through implementation of the Dredge Management Plan.
(c) The proponent's referral document indicated that the potential environmental impacts of the proposal are not significant and should not be assessed based on the information collected through BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd's environmental investigations and other supporting environmental studies in Port Hedland.
(d) As part of the EPA's consideration of the Hunt Point Precinct proposal, BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd's referral document was listed for a 7 day public comment period on the EPA's website on 4 January 2012. No public comments were received.
The EPA Chairman's decision was notified in the EPA's advertisement in the Monday edition of
The West Australian
newspaper on 23 January 2012. No appeals against the EPA's decision were received.
(e) As no appeals were received against the EPA's decision not to assess the proposal, there are no opportunities for me to remit the proposal back to the EPA with a direction that it be formally assessed.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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