❓ Hon Tom Helm questions the Minister for the Environment regarding environmental issues at the Big Bell Mine identified in 1995-96 inspection reports that remained unaddressed as of September 1997, and the potential consequences of this inaction.
AnsweredQoN 895Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
895. Hon Tom Helm to the Attorney General representing the Minister for the Environment:
I refer to a letter dated September 18 1997, departmental reference L160/88 signed by John Miragliotta for Andrew Baker addressed to Mr Ross Bailey, Registered Manager of Big Bell Mine -
(1) What specific issues raised in inspection reports from 1995 and 1996 were not addressed by the company?
(2) Why did the department consider it unacceptable that a period of almost two years was required to rectify significant environmental issues?
(3) Can the Minister advise how the failure to implement the recommendations within the prescribed time frame may result in stronger action being taken by the department?
I refer to a letter dated September 18 1997, departmental reference L160/88 signed by John Miragliotta for Andrew Baker addressed to Mr Ross Bailey, Registered Manager of Big Bell Mine -
(1) What specific issues raised in inspection reports from 1995 and 1996 were not addressed by the company?
(2) Why did the department consider it unacceptable that a period of almost two years was required to rectify significant environmental issues?
(3) Can the Minister advise how the failure to implement the recommendations within the prescribed time frame may result in stronger action being taken by the department?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 November 2000
Response time
61 days
The Minister Replied:
(1) The specific environmental issues raised by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in inspection reports from 1995 and 1996, which were not addressed at the Big Bell Mine by the inspection of 11 September 1997 were:
· the completion of effective seepage interception drains along the external perimeter of the Big Bell tailings dam;
· the control of drainage from the historical tailings deposit east of the Big Bell tailings dam to prevent the discharge of contaminated stormwater to the environment;
· the implementation of measures to prevent the contamination of soil at the diesel filler area for the main fuel storage compound; and
· the installation of spill protection measures at the diesel storage area near the Run of Mine pad.
(2)The DEP considered it unacceptable that these issues were not rectified by the inspection of 11 September 1997. The issues had been identified as potentially contravening DEP licence conditions and could have resulted in unacceptable impacts on the environment if not rectified in accordance with previous departmental recommendations.
(3) Failure by the company to voluntarily address the issues raised in the inspection report could have resulted in the DEP initiating enforcement actions under various provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 against the licence holder.
(1) The specific environmental issues raised by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in inspection reports from 1995 and 1996, which were not addressed at the Big Bell Mine by the inspection of 11 September 1997 were:
· the completion of effective seepage interception drains along the external perimeter of the Big Bell tailings dam;
· the control of drainage from the historical tailings deposit east of the Big Bell tailings dam to prevent the discharge of contaminated stormwater to the environment;
· the implementation of measures to prevent the contamination of soil at the diesel filler area for the main fuel storage compound; and
· the installation of spill protection measures at the diesel storage area near the Run of Mine pad.
(2)The DEP considered it unacceptable that these issues were not rectified by the inspection of 11 September 1997. The issues had been identified as potentially contravening DEP licence conditions and could have resulted in unacceptable impacts on the environment if not rectified in accordance with previous departmental recommendations.
(3) Failure by the company to voluntarily address the issues raised in the inspection report could have resulted in the DEP initiating enforcement actions under various provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 against the licence holder.
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