❓ Hon. Sally Talbot questions the Minister for Environment regarding the expansion of the Wagerup alumina refinery, specifically concerning the extension of approvals and the Environmental Review and Management Program (ERMP). The Minister provides details on the process for extending approvals and the history of the ERMP.
AnsweredQoN 1355Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WAGERUP
ALUMINA REFINERY — EXPANSION
1355. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the
minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to an advertisement on page five of the Harvey–Waroona Reporter on
Tuesday, 17 November titled, ''Wagerup Unit Three — licence
extension''.
(1) How many times can the approval of expansion of the
Wagerup alumina refinery be extended?
(2) When was
the environmental review and management program—ERMP—for Alcoa's
Wagerup alumina refinery implemented?
(3) When was the ERMP last reviewed?
(4) Will a new ERMP be needed?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
ALUMINA REFINERY — EXPANSION
1355. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the
minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to an advertisement on page five of the Harvey–Waroona Reporter on
Tuesday, 17 November titled, ''Wagerup Unit Three — licence
extension''.
(1) How many times can the approval of expansion of the
Wagerup alumina refinery be extended?
(2) When was
the environmental review and management program—ERMP—for Alcoa's
Wagerup alumina refinery implemented?
(3) When was the ERMP last reviewed?
(4) Will a new ERMP be needed?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) A change
to conditions to extend the time limit of authorisation of a ministerial
statement can be requested at any time under section 46 of the Environmental
Protection Act 1986. Alcoa recently requested a change to the conditions of the
ministerial statement for the Wagerup alumina refinery production to a maximum
capacity of 4.7 million tonnes per annum, and for associated bauxite mining to
extend the time limit of authorisation for a further five years.
(2) The
environmental review and management program prepared by Alcoa in 2005 was
assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority. The outcomes of the assessment
were reported in EPA Bulletin 1215 in January 2006 and the Minister for
Environment subsequently approved Ministerial Statement 728 in September 2006.
(3) Alcoa has
not been required to produce a new ERMP, but has been required to provide
additional information on environmental matters in seeking to have the approval
extended.
(4) See answer to (3).
(5) Not applicable
(1) A change
to conditions to extend the time limit of authorisation of a ministerial
statement can be requested at any time under section 46 of the Environmental
Protection Act 1986. Alcoa recently requested a change to the conditions of the
ministerial statement for the Wagerup alumina refinery production to a maximum
capacity of 4.7 million tonnes per annum, and for associated bauxite mining to
extend the time limit of authorisation for a further five years.
(2) The
environmental review and management program prepared by Alcoa in 2005 was
assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority. The outcomes of the assessment
were reported in EPA Bulletin 1215 in January 2006 and the Minister for
Environment subsequently approved Ministerial Statement 728 in September 2006.
(3) Alcoa has
not been required to produce a new ERMP, but has been required to provide
additional information on environmental matters in seeking to have the approval
extended.
(4) See answer to (3).
(5) Not applicable
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