❓ A parliamentary question regarding dust and water quality monitoring related to Yancoal's Premier Coal mine in Collie, Western Australia. The response partially deflects responsibility to another department.
AnsweredQoN 1970Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and reporting requirements by Yancoal Australia Group’s Premier Coal mine in Collie, and ask, in the last six months: (a) what sample tests on air borne dust have been taken near the Premier mine site and the frequency of such tests; (b) what sample tests on air borne dust have been taken near the Collie town site and the frequency of such tests; (c) have all dust samples been under recommended Australian guide lines; (d) who is testing the water quality on behalf of Yancoal; and (e) has dust sampling confirmed that dust from local coal mines has reached Collie town site?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 May 2014
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
48 days
The Department of Mines and Petroleum advises:
(a-e)
Under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994
Yancoal is required to monitor the potential exposure of employees to dust and other atmospheric contaminants within the Premier Coal mine site.
During the last 6 months, 11 personal occupational air monitoring samples were submitted to the Department of Mines and Petroleum by Yancoal Premier Mine as a requirement of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
9 samples were for respirable dust plus crystalline silica and 2 samples were for welding fumes. None of the samples taken reached or exceeded the occupational exposure standard.
Any environmental water quality monitoring undertaken by Yancoal could be a licencing requirement under
Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986,
which is administered by the Department of Environmental Regulation.
Any environmental air borne dust monitoring near the Premier mine site or the Collie town site is also likely to fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Regulation.
It is recommended that these questions be directed to the Minister for Environment.
(a-e)
Under the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994
Yancoal is required to monitor the potential exposure of employees to dust and other atmospheric contaminants within the Premier Coal mine site.
During the last 6 months, 11 personal occupational air monitoring samples were submitted to the Department of Mines and Petroleum by Yancoal Premier Mine as a requirement of the
Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
9 samples were for respirable dust plus crystalline silica and 2 samples were for welding fumes. None of the samples taken reached or exceeded the occupational exposure standard.
Any environmental water quality monitoring undertaken by Yancoal could be a licencing requirement under
Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986,
which is administered by the Department of Environmental Regulation.
Any environmental air borne dust monitoring near the Premier mine site or the Collie town site is also likely to fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Regulation.
It is recommended that these questions be directed to the Minister for Environment.
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