❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding breaches of environmental licence conditions at the Kundana Gold Mine. The Minister provides information on reported breaches, inspections, and penalties, and tables the relevant licence.
AnsweredQoN 661Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Kundana Gold Mine located approximately 25 kilometres north west of Kalgoorlie, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) licence number 7323, file number L99/98 -
(1) Can the Minister quote or state the specific text of all the licence conditions, the date on which each condition was breached including an explanation how each condition was being breached, in the last six years for the above premises?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister state what the penalty is for breaching a licence condition at the above premises or causing pollution as defined under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(1) Can the Minister quote or state the specific text of all the licence conditions, the date on which each condition was breached including an explanation how each condition was being breached, in the last six years for the above premises?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister state what the penalty is for breaching a licence condition at the above premises or causing pollution as defined under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 May 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
36 days
(1) The Kundana Gold Mine has been licensed with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) since 24 November 1998. Prior to this, the operation was exempt under the provisions of a Gold Exemption Order. Information on breaches in this period is readily available through the DEP's Kalgoorlie Office. The DEP advises that Kundana Gold Mine notified the DEP of probable breaches of licence conditions five times in 2000/01, four times in 2001/02 and so far six times in 2002/03. Most of these breaches were against condition W6 (of licence 7323/5) relating to pipeline bunding. In the cases reported, a pipeline has ruptured and overwhelmed the installed bunding and catch pits. The DEP accepted the company's action to rehabilitate the site and measures put in place to minimise a repeat occurrence. No further enforcement action is being considered at this time. Further information specifically related to compliance with licence conditions can be obtained through reviewing the periodic inspections of the premises. Such inspections were carried out in February 1999, November 2000 and July 2002. In general, the inspections identified issues in relation to hydrocarbon storage and report submissions, which is addressed in licence conditions G2, G3 and W14. Kundana Gold Mine has initiated, in consultation with the DEP, an improvement program for these issues. Furthermore, Kundana Gold Mine has implemented an 'Incident Rating System' that manages incidents and reporting requirements from an internal perspective. Instead of quoting the specific text of all the licence conditions, I table a copy of licence 7323/5. See tabled paper. (2) Answered by (1). (3) Section 58 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 states it is an offence to contravene licence conditions and thereby carries a penalty of $125,000 for a body corporate with a daily penalty of $25,000 for failure to pay. (4) Answered by (3).
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