Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 3048

❓ Hon Robin Chapple asks about a dust monitoring campaign in Newman, referencing Shire and BHP publications. The Minister confirms the campaign, its timeline, and the roles of DWER, Health, and the Shire, but states the report is not yet public and BHP hasn't received results.

AnsweredQoN 3048Legislative Council

Asked

11 August 2020

Member

Hon Robin Chapple

Portfolio

Environment

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the 12 month dust monitoring campaign in Newman, as referred to on the Shire's website (http://www.eastpilbara.wa.gov.au/About-Us/News-and-announcements/First-Shire-in-WA-to-Monitor-Dust), and execution of this campaign by Government, and I make reference also to the BHP publication Pilbara News (https://www.bhp.com/-/media/publishing-author-media/bhp-pilbara-newsletter-issue-2-web.pdf), and I ask: (a) can the Minister confirm "the ambient air in Newman and monitoring [was] undertaken for a period of 12 months by the Shire’s environmental health staff trained by the DWER", as per the Shires's website: (i) if no to (a), could the Minister explain how the events have deviated from those stated at (a); (b) has the monitoring campaign concluded: (i) if yes to (b), when did this occur; and (ii) if no to (b): (A) why not; and (B) when is it expected to conclude; (c) has a report, using the data yielded by the monitoring programme, been compiled and finalised: (i) if yes to (c): (A) can the Minister please table the report; and (B) which entity compiled the report; and (ii) if no to (c): (A) why not; and (B) when will this be completed; (iii) can the Minister confirm that both the raw data and the report are publicly available; (d) in relation to the monitoring programme, and subsequent report, what were the roles and responsibilities of: (i) the Department of Water and Environmental Regulations (DWER); (ii) the Department of Health; and (iii) the Shire of East Pilbara; (e) can the Minister confirm that BHP was supplied with the results of the monitoring programme: (i) if yes to (d): (A) which entity shared these results with BHP; and (B) given industrial activity was a variable studied by the programme, can the Minister please explain how this does not constitute a of conflict of interest; and (f) given the BHP document (page 6) says 'We searched Australia-wide for dust
solutions, but could not find any
useful quantifiable data...', could the Minister please elaborate on the absence of data at a site undergoing Government monitoring; and (g) does the Minister agree with BHP's assertion that 'Australia-wide' there is no 'useful quantifiable data' anywhere, on dust?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

15 September 2020

Responded by

Minister for Environment

Response time

9 days

(a) Yes
(i) Not applicable
(b) Yes
(i) 8 July 2019
(ii)
(A) Not applicable
(B) Not applicable
(c) No
(i)
(A) Not applicable
(B) Not applicable
(ii)
(A)-(B) The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) is currently finalising the report on the Newman monitoring campaign and expects to publish before the end of 2020.
The raw data (analytical laboratory reports) will be included as an appendix to the report when it is published.
(d)
(i) DWER arranged for the installation and maintenance of the monitoring equipment, trained Shire of East Pilbara personnel in the operation of the equipment including collection of the samples, arranged for the analysis of those samples and is preparing the report.
(ii) The Department of Health has provided health-related advice on the interpretation of the monitoring results and is reviewing related content in the draft report.
(iii) The Shire of East Pilbara provided personnel to operate the monitoring equipment including sample collection and sending samples to DWER for subsequent analysis by a National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia – accredited laboratory in Perth.
(e) BHP has not yet been supplied with the results of the Newman monitoring campaign. BHP will receive the report (containing the monitoring results) when it is ready for publication.
(i)
(A) Not applicable
(B) Not applicable
(f)-(g) I am advised that DWER is not aware of the specific project and what was sought by BHP and is therefore unable to comment on BHP’s statement. DWER requires monitoring of ambient dust emissions from the BHP’s Mount Whaleback Mine and Eastern Ridge Mine through licences granted under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. These licences impose a range of conditions relating to dust mitigation and reporting of monitoring results. The results from monitoring are used for a number of purposes including ensuring conditions are being met and to inform decisions on licence amendments.

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