❓ This WA parliamentary question addresses the government's actions regarding leaking underground storage tanks since 2004, focusing on standards, inspections, and remediation efforts. The response outlines legislative changes and inter-departmental collaboration.
AnsweredQoN 2944Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(a) what action has the Government undertaken since 2004 to remedy the problem of leaking underground storage tanks;
(b) what standards or guidelines does the Government apply to underground storage tanks in order to reduce the possibility of leaks and groundwater contamination;
(c) how often does the Government inspect underground storage tanks in:
(i) metropolitan Perth; and
(ii) rural and regional Western Australia;
(d) when will the remaining leaking underground storage tanks identified in the 2004 report be fixed in:
(i) metropolitan Perth; and
(ii) rural and regional Western Australia; and
(e) how many leaking underground storage tanks have been fixed since 2004 in:
(i) metropolitan Perth; and
(ii) rural and regional Western Australia?
(b) what standards or guidelines does the Government apply to underground storage tanks in order to reduce the possibility of leaks and groundwater contamination;
(c) how often does the Government inspect underground storage tanks in:
(i) metropolitan Perth; and
(ii) rural and regional Western Australia;
(d) when will the remaining leaking underground storage tanks identified in the 2004 report be fixed in:
(i) metropolitan Perth; and
(ii) rural and regional Western Australia; and
(e) how many leaking underground storage tanks have been fixed since 2004 in:
(i) metropolitan Perth; and
(ii) rural and regional Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
31 January 2008
Responded by
Minister for Employment Protection
Response time
65 days
The Employment Protection arm of the Department for Consumer and Employment Protection (DOCEP) advises:
(a) Current dangerous goods legislation addresses issues relating to the transport, storage and handling of explosives and dangerous goods, and is focussed on public safety. Under these laws, DOCEP has concentrated on the design and safe installation of underground tanks storing dangerous goods.
The Resources Safety Division of DOCEP is currently finalising a comprehensive reform of dangerous goods legislation to provide a more effective regulatory regime. A suite of new dangerous goods regulations will be proclaimed in early 2008. This legislation extends the duty to minimise risk from dangerous goods beyond public safety to include the environment.
This new legislation will compliment the
Contaminated Sites Act 2003
that is implemented by the Department of Environment and Conservation and which specifically deals with this issue.
(b) Under the new legislation, DOCEP will adopt a new Code of Practice for the Design, Installation and Operation of Underground Petroleum Storage Systems. This code requires all underground tanks in Western Australiato be double-walled, and be regularly leak-tested. Operators will also be encouraged to install leak detection systems. Up to now, operators have had a choice of different standards of underground tanks and associated equipment depending on the site classification.
(c) When the new regulations are proclaimed, dangerous goods officers will work closely with the Department of Environment and Conservation and compliment its work to ensure more comprehensive and effective control of underground storage tanks across WA.
(d) Leaking underground tanks are addressed as soon as they become known to DOCEP and are taken out of service immediately. Management of soil contamination as a result of leaking tanks is undertaken by the Department of Environment and Conservation.
(e) DOCEP does not have statistics on how many underground tanks have been fixed.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(a) Current dangerous goods legislation addresses issues relating to the transport, storage and handling of explosives and dangerous goods, and is focussed on public safety. Under these laws, DOCEP has concentrated on the design and safe installation of underground tanks storing dangerous goods.
The Resources Safety Division of DOCEP is currently finalising a comprehensive reform of dangerous goods legislation to provide a more effective regulatory regime. A suite of new dangerous goods regulations will be proclaimed in early 2008. This legislation extends the duty to minimise risk from dangerous goods beyond public safety to include the environment.
This new legislation will compliment the
Contaminated Sites Act 2003
that is implemented by the Department of Environment and Conservation and which specifically deals with this issue.
(b) Under the new legislation, DOCEP will adopt a new Code of Practice for the Design, Installation and Operation of Underground Petroleum Storage Systems. This code requires all underground tanks in Western Australiato be double-walled, and be regularly leak-tested. Operators will also be encouraged to install leak detection systems. Up to now, operators have had a choice of different standards of underground tanks and associated equipment depending on the site classification.
(c) When the new regulations are proclaimed, dangerous goods officers will work closely with the Department of Environment and Conservation and compliment its work to ensure more comprehensive and effective control of underground storage tanks across WA.
(d) Leaking underground tanks are addressed as soon as they become known to DOCEP and are taken out of service immediately. Management of soil contamination as a result of leaking tanks is undertaken by the Department of Environment and Conservation.
(e) DOCEP does not have statistics on how many underground tanks have been fixed.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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