❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the EPA's decision not to subject the Fimiston I tailings storage facility to formal environmental impact assessment, seeking details on alternative controls, environmental issues, and internal advice. The Minister defers answering pending appeals.
AnsweredQoN 1640Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a letter dated 1 December 2003 signed by R A D Sippe , A/Director Environmental Impact Assessment from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) reference CRN 189969 concerning the Fimiston I tailings storage facility located on Mining Lease 26/383 -
(1) Is it correct that part of this letter dated 1 December 2003 states ‘This proposal raises a number of environmental issues, however the Authority has decided not to subject this proposal to the formal environmental impact assessment process and the subsequent setting of formal conditions by the Minister for Environment, given the controls available under other approval processes’?
(2) If no to (1) will the minister table a copy of the letter dated 1 December 2003?
(3) Can the Minister state what are the specific ‘given controls available under other approval processes’ the EPA is referring to?
(4) If no to (3) why not?
(5) Can the Minister state what are the specific ‘number of environmental issues’ that the EPA is referring to?
(6) If no to (5) why not?
(7) Can the Minister quote the specific text of any written advice provided by both the EPA Service Unit or the Department of Environment to the EPA on the Fimiston I tailings dam?
(8) If no to (7) why not?
(9) Will the Minister table all of the written advice and any other documents provided by both the EPA service Unit and the Department of Environment to the EPA on the Fimiston I tailings dam?
(10) If no to (9) why not?
(1) Is it correct that part of this letter dated 1 December 2003 states ‘This proposal raises a number of environmental issues, however the Authority has decided not to subject this proposal to the formal environmental impact assessment process and the subsequent setting of formal conditions by the Minister for Environment, given the controls available under other approval processes’?
(2) If no to (1) will the minister table a copy of the letter dated 1 December 2003?
(3) Can the Minister state what are the specific ‘given controls available under other approval processes’ the EPA is referring to?
(4) If no to (3) why not?
(5) Can the Minister state what are the specific ‘number of environmental issues’ that the EPA is referring to?
(6) If no to (5) why not?
(7) Can the Minister quote the specific text of any written advice provided by both the EPA Service Unit or the Department of Environment to the EPA on the Fimiston I tailings dam?
(8) If no to (7) why not?
(9) Will the Minister table all of the written advice and any other documents provided by both the EPA service Unit and the Department of Environment to the EPA on the Fimiston I tailings dam?
(10) If no to (9) why not?
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
(1-10) The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has made a decision that the proposal does not require formal environmental impact assessment. I have now received a number of appeals against the EPA’s decision on level of assessment. I will announce my decision on those appeals once I have received a report from the Appeals Convenor.
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