A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses unreported sewage overflows and the Minister's awareness and actions regarding environmental contamination. The Minister denies prior knowledge of the specific number of unreported overflows and outlines existing reporting procedures.

AnsweredQoN 1881Legislative Assembly
Asked
9 September 2003
Portfolio
the Environment

QuestionView source ↗

(b) prior to this report, was the Minister aware that there were an average of 800 unreported (to the EPA) sewage overflows per year; (c) if yes, what action has the Minister taken to ensure that no environmental or local area contamination remained after the overflow was rectified; (d) if the answer to (b) was no, what action will the Minister take; and (e) what is the total estimated measure of raw sewage lost in these unreported overflows?
(c) if yes, what action has the Minister taken to ensure that no environmental or local area contamination remained after the overflow was rectified; (d) if the answer to (b) was no, what action will the Minister take; and (e) what is the total estimated measure of raw sewage lost in these unreported overflows?
(d) if the answer to (b) was no, what action will the Minister take; and (e) what is the total estimated measure of raw sewage lost in these unreported overflows?
(e) what is the total estimated measure of raw sewage lost in these unreported overflows?
(b) No. (c) Not applicable. (d) The Water Corporation is required to report all spills that may enter the environment and cause pollution to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under Section 72 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 . A written procedure exists which I now seek leave to table (attached). The DEP investigates major spills to determine whether enforcement action is appropriate. (e) Unknown, as under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 , they are not required to be reported.
(c) Not applicable. (d) The Water Corporation is required to report all spills that may enter the environment and cause pollution to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under Section 72 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 . A written procedure exists which I now seek leave to table (attached). The DEP investigates major spills to determine whether enforcement action is appropriate. (e) Unknown, as under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 , they are not required to be reported.
(d) The Water Corporation is required to report all spills that may enter the environment and cause pollution to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under Section 72 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 . A written procedure exists which I now seek leave to table (attached). The DEP investigates major spills to determine whether enforcement action is appropriate. (e) Unknown, as under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 , they are not required to be reported.
(e) Unknown, as under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 , they are not required to be reported.

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
21 October 2003
Responded by
Minister for the Environment
Response time
42 days
(a) Yes.
(b) No.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) The Water Corporation is required to report all spills that may enter the environment and cause pollution to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under Section 72 of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
. A written procedure exists which I now seek leave to table (attached). The DEP investigates major spills to determine whether enforcement action is appropriate.
(e) Unknown, as under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
, they are not required to be reported.

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