❓ Mr Murray questions the EPA's decision to not consider offsite risk in the Perdaman Urea Plant approval, citing conflicting guidance. The Minister clarifies that industrial risk is regulated under the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004, and other agencies are responsible for specific risks.
AnsweredQoN 4157Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
With reference to the recent Western Australia Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) approval for the proposed Perdaman Urea Plant near Collie, EPA Report 1358 states that the EPA does not assess public risk and that the offsite risk from the plant is not a relevant environmental factor. This appears to be contrary to EPA Guidance Document No. 2: ‘Guidance for Risk Assessment and Management: Offsite Individual Risk from Hazardous Industrial Plant’. Therefore, I ask:
(a) could the Minister please explain why the offsite risk was not considered a relevant part of the EPA process and provide copies of the documentation showing justification for this decision;
(b) which agency or department will be responsible for ensuring all the potential risks to employees, the public and the environment, including offsite individual fatality risk, meet the EPA and Environmental Health acceptance criteria; and
(c) at what state of the approval process for the proposed urea plant will a full environmental and health risk assessment be carried out?
(a) could the Minister please explain why the offsite risk was not considered a relevant part of the EPA process and provide copies of the documentation showing justification for this decision;
(b) which agency or department will be responsible for ensuring all the potential risks to employees, the public and the environment, including offsite individual fatality risk, meet the EPA and Environmental Health acceptance criteria; and
(c) at what state of the approval process for the proposed urea plant will a full environmental and health risk assessment be carried out?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 November 2010
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
28 days
(a) Industrial risk is regulated under the
Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004
and regulations. Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Guidance Document No. 2, released July 2000, predates this Act and is now used for guidance only.
(b) WorkSafe is responsible for occupational health and safety and the Department of Mines and Petroleum is responsible for major hazard facilities.
(c) The environmental assessment has been undertaken (EPA Report 1358). Plant emissions that could contribute to health risk were assessed under the factor "Air Quality" in EPA Report 1358.
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Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004
and regulations. Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Guidance Document No. 2, released July 2000, predates this Act and is now used for guidance only.
(b) WorkSafe is responsible for occupational health and safety and the Department of Mines and Petroleum is responsible for major hazard facilities.
(c) The environmental assessment has been undertaken (EPA Report 1358). Plant emissions that could contribute to health risk were assessed under the factor "Air Quality" in EPA Report 1358.
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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