❓ Hon Jim Scott questions the Minister for the Environment regarding elevated BTEX levels at Henderson Landfill, discrepancies in monitoring results, and the absence of Australian guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in water.
AnsweredQoN 1957Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Further to question on notice No. 1728 of March 2004 -
(1) Why did the Minister state there was no elevated levels of BTEX in relation to groundwater monitoring results for the Henderson Landfill Tip when monitoring results supplied by the Minister in question on notice No. 1314 of October 2003 shows toluene levels of up to 550
m
g/l at MP2 bore which exceeded the Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine waters set at 300
m
g/l?
(2) Does Western Australia have any guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) levels in -
(a) drinking water;
(b) aquatic ecosystems; and
(c) fresh water?
(3) If so, what are they?
(4) If no to (2), why not?
(5) What level of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons does the Minister consider safe in -
(a) drinking water;
(b) aquatic ecosystems; and
(c) fresh water?
(1) Why did the Minister state there was no elevated levels of BTEX in relation to groundwater monitoring results for the Henderson Landfill Tip when monitoring results supplied by the Minister in question on notice No. 1314 of October 2003 shows toluene levels of up to 550
m
g/l at MP2 bore which exceeded the Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine waters set at 300
m
g/l?
(2) Does Western Australia have any guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) levels in -
(a) drinking water;
(b) aquatic ecosystems; and
(c) fresh water?
(3) If so, what are they?
(4) If no to (2), why not?
(5) What level of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons does the Minister consider safe in -
(a) drinking water;
(b) aquatic ecosystems; and
(c) fresh water?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 June 2004
Responded by
Minister for Local Government and Regional Development representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
29 days
(b) aquatic ecosystems; and (c) fresh water?
(c) fresh water?
(b) aquatic ecosystems; and (c) fresh water?
(c) fresh water?
(1) As stated previously in question on notice No. 1728, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) had conducted its own monitoring of bore MP2 and a review of the analysis results from this monitoring did not indicate any elevated levels of BTEX. This comment was not referring to the monitoring information provided to in response to question on notice No. 1314 of October 2003 where there were elevated levels of BTEX. The DEP is in the process of reviewing a report produced by consultants Parsons Brinkerhoff who were engaged by the City of Cockburn to consolidate all historical monitoring conducted at the Henderson Landfill, and will determine what further actions are needed. (2)(a) As stated previously in question on notice No. 1728, there are no drinking water or aquatic ecosystems guidelines for total petroleum hydrocarbons. (b) As above. (c) As above. (3) Not applicable. (4) The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council develop these guidelines and therefore the DEP is not in a position to comment as to why guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons have not been developed. (5)(a) In the absence of any Australian guidelines, the DEP uses the Dutch guidelines as a guide. The recommended intervention guideline for TPH is 600mg/L. (b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(2)(a) As stated previously in question on notice No. 1728, there are no drinking water or aquatic ecosystems guidelines for total petroleum hydrocarbons. (b) As above. (c) As above. (3) Not applicable. (4) The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council develop these guidelines and therefore the DEP is not in a position to comment as to why guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons have not been developed. (5)(a) In the absence of any Australian guidelines, the DEP uses the Dutch guidelines as a guide. The recommended intervention guideline for TPH is 600mg/L. (b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(b) As above. (c) As above. (3) Not applicable. (4) The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council develop these guidelines and therefore the DEP is not in a position to comment as to why guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons have not been developed. (5)(a) In the absence of any Australian guidelines, the DEP uses the Dutch guidelines as a guide. The recommended intervention guideline for TPH is 600mg/L. (b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(c) As above. (3) Not applicable. (4) The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council develop these guidelines and therefore the DEP is not in a position to comment as to why guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons have not been developed. (5)(a) In the absence of any Australian guidelines, the DEP uses the Dutch guidelines as a guide. The recommended intervention guideline for TPH is 600mg/L. (b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable. (4) The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council develop these guidelines and therefore the DEP is not in a position to comment as to why guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons have not been developed. (5)(a) In the absence of any Australian guidelines, the DEP uses the Dutch guidelines as a guide. The recommended intervention guideline for TPH is 600mg/L. (b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(4) The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council develop these guidelines and therefore the DEP is not in a position to comment as to why guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons have not been developed. (5)(a) In the absence of any Australian guidelines, the DEP uses the Dutch guidelines as a guide. The recommended intervention guideline for TPH is 600mg/L. (b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(5)(a) In the absence of any Australian guidelines, the DEP uses the Dutch guidelines as a guide. The recommended intervention guideline for TPH is 600mg/L. (b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(c) Not applicable.
(c) fresh water?
(b) aquatic ecosystems; and (c) fresh water?
(c) fresh water?
(1) As stated previously in question on notice No. 1728, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) had conducted its own monitoring of bore MP2 and a review of the analysis results from this monitoring did not indicate any elevated levels of BTEX. This comment was not referring to the monitoring information provided to in response to question on notice No. 1314 of October 2003 where there were elevated levels of BTEX. The DEP is in the process of reviewing a report produced by consultants Parsons Brinkerhoff who were engaged by the City of Cockburn to consolidate all historical monitoring conducted at the Henderson Landfill, and will determine what further actions are needed. (2)(a) As stated previously in question on notice No. 1728, there are no drinking water or aquatic ecosystems guidelines for total petroleum hydrocarbons. (b) As above. (c) As above. (3) Not applicable. (4) The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council develop these guidelines and therefore the DEP is not in a position to comment as to why guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons have not been developed. (5)(a) In the absence of any Australian guidelines, the DEP uses the Dutch guidelines as a guide. The recommended intervention guideline for TPH is 600mg/L. (b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(2)(a) As stated previously in question on notice No. 1728, there are no drinking water or aquatic ecosystems guidelines for total petroleum hydrocarbons. (b) As above. (c) As above. (3) Not applicable. (4) The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council develop these guidelines and therefore the DEP is not in a position to comment as to why guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons have not been developed. (5)(a) In the absence of any Australian guidelines, the DEP uses the Dutch guidelines as a guide. The recommended intervention guideline for TPH is 600mg/L. (b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(b) As above. (c) As above. (3) Not applicable. (4) The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council develop these guidelines and therefore the DEP is not in a position to comment as to why guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons have not been developed. (5)(a) In the absence of any Australian guidelines, the DEP uses the Dutch guidelines as a guide. The recommended intervention guideline for TPH is 600mg/L. (b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(c) As above. (3) Not applicable. (4) The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council develop these guidelines and therefore the DEP is not in a position to comment as to why guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons have not been developed. (5)(a) In the absence of any Australian guidelines, the DEP uses the Dutch guidelines as a guide. The recommended intervention guideline for TPH is 600mg/L. (b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable. (4) The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council develop these guidelines and therefore the DEP is not in a position to comment as to why guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons have not been developed. (5)(a) In the absence of any Australian guidelines, the DEP uses the Dutch guidelines as a guide. The recommended intervention guideline for TPH is 600mg/L. (b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(4) The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council develop these guidelines and therefore the DEP is not in a position to comment as to why guidelines for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons have not been developed. (5)(a) In the absence of any Australian guidelines, the DEP uses the Dutch guidelines as a guide. The recommended intervention guideline for TPH is 600mg/L. (b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(5)(a) In the absence of any Australian guidelines, the DEP uses the Dutch guidelines as a guide. The recommended intervention guideline for TPH is 600mg/L. (b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable. (c) Not applicable.
(c) Not applicable.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.