❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks information about contamination at Barrick Gold's Kanowna Belle operations. The Minister provides some information, citing confidentiality and the need for further investigation, and tables a map.
AnsweredQoN 2719Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Barrick Kanowna Operations, owned and operated by Barrick Gold and the Kanowna Belle Mill, underground mine, tailings dam and all tenements/land affected/controlled by Barrick in the area, and ask -
(1) Can the Minister state on what specific dates Barrick made reports including locations under the
Contaminated Sites Act 2003
for the Kanowna Belle Operations?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister indicate the depth in metres below ground level, that has been contaminated with soils, groundwater, including arsenic and arsenic trioxide around the Kanowna Belle Mill, underground mine area and tailings dam?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister indicate for each of the sites referred to in (1) and (3), why the Department of Environment and Conservation considers each to be to a contaminated site?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister identify with a scaled map all of the specific areas for the above referred to operations, showing tenement areas with tenement numbers of all the areas suspected known or contaminated areas reported under the
Contaminated sites Act 2003
?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(1) Can the Minister state on what specific dates Barrick made reports including locations under the
Contaminated Sites Act 2003
for the Kanowna Belle Operations?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister indicate the depth in metres below ground level, that has been contaminated with soils, groundwater, including arsenic and arsenic trioxide around the Kanowna Belle Mill, underground mine area and tailings dam?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister indicate for each of the sites referred to in (1) and (3), why the Department of Environment and Conservation considers each to be to a contaminated site?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister identify with a scaled map all of the specific areas for the above referred to operations, showing tenement areas with tenement numbers of all the areas suspected known or contaminated areas reported under the
Contaminated sites Act 2003
?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 October 2010
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
35 days
(1)-(2) No. Under section 96(1) of the
Contaminated Sites Act 2003, t
he identity of any person who reports a known or suspected contaminated site is confidential.
(3-6) The Kanowna Belle operations (including the mill, tailings dam and underground mine) have been classified
possibly contaminated - investigation required
under the Contaminated Sites Act.
Desktop studies and monitoring data indicate that acidity, cyanide, hydrocarbons, metals, nutrients and/or salinity may be present in soil and/or groundwater in parts of the site. Further investigation is required to determine the lateral and vertical extent of impact, followed by a risk assessment to determine whether the levels of substances present in soil or groundwater represent a risk of harm to human health, the environment or any environmental value.
(7)-(8) Yes. I table the attached paper and seek leave to have it incorporated into Hansard.
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
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Contaminated Sites Act 2003, t
he identity of any person who reports a known or suspected contaminated site is confidential.
(3-6) The Kanowna Belle operations (including the mill, tailings dam and underground mine) have been classified
possibly contaminated - investigation required
under the Contaminated Sites Act.
Desktop studies and monitoring data indicate that acidity, cyanide, hydrocarbons, metals, nutrients and/or salinity may be present in soil and/or groundwater in parts of the site. Further investigation is required to determine the lateral and vertical extent of impact, followed by a risk assessment to determine whether the levels of substances present in soil or groundwater represent a risk of harm to human health, the environment or any environmental value.
(7)-(8) Yes. I table the attached paper and seek leave to have it incorporated into Hansard.
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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