❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for the Environment regarding BHP Billiton's dust monitoring figures in Port Hedland, seeking clarification on dust pollution trends and proposed actions. The Minister responds that data is provided in annual reports and that dust management is ongoing, focusing on water use efficiency.
AnsweredQoN 1661Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to the answer to my question 1621, I have read the publicly accessible BHP Billiton’s dust monitoring figures, recorded in the annual environmental reports for BHP Billiton Iron Ore and Boodarie Hot Briquetted Iron. This was not the information that I sought in (2) of that question, I therefore ask again -
(1) Will the minister table the latest dust figures - volume per cubic metre - submitted by BHP Billiton for the monitoring sites numbered 1 through 10 for the past six months?
(2) Do these figures, annually averaged, show a significant rise in dust pollution in the town compared with the past five years?
(3) If yes to (2), what does the minister or the department propose to do with regard to this problem?
(4) If no to (1) does the Minister for the Environment believe I should use the Freedom of Information Legislation to access this data?
(1) Will the minister table the latest dust figures - volume per cubic metre - submitted by BHP Billiton for the monitoring sites numbered 1 through 10 for the past six months?
(2) Do these figures, annually averaged, show a significant rise in dust pollution in the town compared with the past five years?
(3) If yes to (2), what does the minister or the department propose to do with regard to this problem?
(4) If no to (1) does the Minister for the Environment believe I should use the Freedom of Information Legislation to access this data?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 March 2004
Responded by
Minister for Local Government and Regional Development representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
88 days
The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response:
(1) No. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) does not yet have BHP Billiton Iron Ore (BHP Billiton) dust data for the last six months. This will be received as part of the next annual report to July 2004. Under the terms of its licence, BHP Billiton is required to provide dust data to the DEP in the form of total suspended particulates (TSP), PM10 and PM 2.5 averaged on a 24 hour basis. This is submitted as part of the BHP Billiton Iron Ore and Boodarie Hot Briquetted Iron Annual Reports and available from the Company on application.
(2) No. As stated in my December 2003 response on this matter, the figures provided do not show a significant rise in dust in the town of Port Hedland in the last five years. According to a summary of data provided by BHP Billiton to the DEP’s Regional Office, (Attachment 1 – bar chart – Tonnes Shipped vs Town Annual Average TSP), dust emissions dropped significantly seven to eight years ago, increased about five years ago and have subsequently decreased. I now seek leave to table the chart.
(3) Although the overall dust emission trend is declining, the DEP continues to work to ensure dust generation from the BHP Billiton sites in Port Hedland is minimised. The DEP’s Regional Office assesses BHP Billiton’s dust management results in the context of licence compliance and its Port Hedland Dust Management Program at least annually.
In addition, the Regional Office has requested a review of the dust management program in the context of the increased tonnage and the constraints of water supply in the Pilbara in order to avoid any wastage of potable water. It is important to note that more than 60% of Port Hedland’s potable water supply is used for dust management. This is clearly not the best use of the limited resource and concerns about dust management should be seen in this context. Rather, the DEP is working with BHP Billiton, supported by the Town of Port Hedland and the Water Corporation, to reduce dust through water use efficiency and non-water strategies. The Department has also begun to work more closely with the Port Hedland Port Authority to seek to improve management of other potential sources of dust in the port vicinity.
(4) No. Any of the data required under licence conditions is presented in the annual report and can be accessed from the company.
(1) No. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) does not yet have BHP Billiton Iron Ore (BHP Billiton) dust data for the last six months. This will be received as part of the next annual report to July 2004. Under the terms of its licence, BHP Billiton is required to provide dust data to the DEP in the form of total suspended particulates (TSP), PM10 and PM 2.5 averaged on a 24 hour basis. This is submitted as part of the BHP Billiton Iron Ore and Boodarie Hot Briquetted Iron Annual Reports and available from the Company on application.
(2) No. As stated in my December 2003 response on this matter, the figures provided do not show a significant rise in dust in the town of Port Hedland in the last five years. According to a summary of data provided by BHP Billiton to the DEP’s Regional Office, (Attachment 1 – bar chart – Tonnes Shipped vs Town Annual Average TSP), dust emissions dropped significantly seven to eight years ago, increased about five years ago and have subsequently decreased. I now seek leave to table the chart.
(3) Although the overall dust emission trend is declining, the DEP continues to work to ensure dust generation from the BHP Billiton sites in Port Hedland is minimised. The DEP’s Regional Office assesses BHP Billiton’s dust management results in the context of licence compliance and its Port Hedland Dust Management Program at least annually.
In addition, the Regional Office has requested a review of the dust management program in the context of the increased tonnage and the constraints of water supply in the Pilbara in order to avoid any wastage of potable water. It is important to note that more than 60% of Port Hedland’s potable water supply is used for dust management. This is clearly not the best use of the limited resource and concerns about dust management should be seen in this context. Rather, the DEP is working with BHP Billiton, supported by the Town of Port Hedland and the Water Corporation, to reduce dust through water use efficiency and non-water strategies. The Department has also begun to work more closely with the Port Hedland Port Authority to seek to improve management of other potential sources of dust in the port vicinity.
(4) No. Any of the data required under licence conditions is presented in the annual report and can be accessed from the company.
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