❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for the Environment and Heritage regarding KCGM's compliance with vibration, noise, and dust level regulations at the Super Pit mining operations, seeking details on DEP spot checks and monitoring data. The Minister's response details the DEP's monitoring practices and data availability.
AnsweredQoN 393Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a letter dated February 7 2003 signed by Craig Byers, Environmental Officer, reference 3409, titled ‘Re: Vibration and Noise Complaints’ concerning Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd (KCGM) operator for Barrick Gold and Newmont Australia Super Pit mining operations -
(1) Can the Minister state how many times in the last two years the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has carried out spot checks of KCGM’s vibration, noise and dust levels?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) In relation to spot checks for vibration can the Minister state how the DEP carried out these checks, the type of equipment used by the Department and all of the specific locations in which it was carried out?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) In relation to spot checks for dust levels can the Minister state how the DEP carried out these checks, the type of equipment used by the Department and all of the specific locations in which it was carried out?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) In relation to spot checks for noise can the Minister state how the DEP carried out these checks, the type of equipment used by the Department and all of the specific locations in which it was carried out?
(8) If no to (6), why not?
(9) Is it correct that ‘The Stores Cutback is inside the original approval area approved in the 1990 CER’ and within the previously defined 1992 safety exclusion zone as defined in the
Government
Gazette
- April 1997?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(11) If yes to (9), how did the DEP factually determine this?
(12) Will the DEP provide me with a copy of the blasting noise and vibration results from all the sites for the past four years?
(13) If no to (12), why not?
(14) Will the DEP provide me with a copy of all the dust monitoring results for the past four years from all the sites?
(15) If no to (14), why not?
(1) Can the Minister state how many times in the last two years the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has carried out spot checks of KCGM’s vibration, noise and dust levels?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) In relation to spot checks for vibration can the Minister state how the DEP carried out these checks, the type of equipment used by the Department and all of the specific locations in which it was carried out?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) In relation to spot checks for dust levels can the Minister state how the DEP carried out these checks, the type of equipment used by the Department and all of the specific locations in which it was carried out?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) In relation to spot checks for noise can the Minister state how the DEP carried out these checks, the type of equipment used by the Department and all of the specific locations in which it was carried out?
(8) If no to (6), why not?
(9) Is it correct that ‘The Stores Cutback is inside the original approval area approved in the 1990 CER’ and within the previously defined 1992 safety exclusion zone as defined in the
Government
Gazette
- April 1997?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(11) If yes to (9), how did the DEP factually determine this?
(12) Will the DEP provide me with a copy of the blasting noise and vibration results from all the sites for the past four years?
(13) If no to (12), why not?
(14) Will the DEP provide me with a copy of all the dust monitoring results for the past four years from all the sites?
(15) If no to (14), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 April 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
28 days
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided the following response.
(1) Yes, as complaints and inquiries are received the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP, check the vibration, noise and/ or dust levels. Over the last 12 months this has been undertaken 15 times.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) The spot checks are an examination of the KCGM monitoring data for compliance with Australian Standards. The checks do not cover the monitoring equipment or the calibration of the equipment.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) The spot checks are an examination of KCGM monitoring data for compliance with Ministerial and Licence conditions. The checks do not cover the monitoring equipment or the calibration of the equipment. Inspections have also been undertaken to examine if visible dust is leaving the premise.
(6) Not applicable.
(7) The spot checks are an examination of KCGM monitoring data for compliance with the
Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997
. The checks do not cover the monitoring equipment or the calibration of the equipment.
(8) Not applicable.
(9) The Department of Industry and Resources (DOIR) is responsible for the matters raised in your question. However, the DEP understands that the cutback falls within the boundary of the broad-scale map assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority.
(10) Not applicable.
(11) This is the responsibility of Department of Industry Resources.
(12) The vibration, overpressure, and environmental noise results are submitted quarterly to the Environmental Protection Authority. This data is also provided to the DEP in the annual environmental report. Both of these are available for inspection at the DEP Kalgoorlie office. Also the environment noise results are provided in the Kalgoorlie Miner on a quarterly basis.
(13) Not applicable.
(14) The dust results are submitted annually to both the Environmental Protection Authority and DEP in the annual environmental report. These reports are available for inspection at the DEP Kalgoorlie office.
(15) Not applicable.
(1) Yes, as complaints and inquiries are received the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP, check the vibration, noise and/ or dust levels. Over the last 12 months this has been undertaken 15 times.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) The spot checks are an examination of the KCGM monitoring data for compliance with Australian Standards. The checks do not cover the monitoring equipment or the calibration of the equipment.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) The spot checks are an examination of KCGM monitoring data for compliance with Ministerial and Licence conditions. The checks do not cover the monitoring equipment or the calibration of the equipment. Inspections have also been undertaken to examine if visible dust is leaving the premise.
(6) Not applicable.
(7) The spot checks are an examination of KCGM monitoring data for compliance with the
Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997
. The checks do not cover the monitoring equipment or the calibration of the equipment.
(8) Not applicable.
(9) The Department of Industry and Resources (DOIR) is responsible for the matters raised in your question. However, the DEP understands that the cutback falls within the boundary of the broad-scale map assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority.
(10) Not applicable.
(11) This is the responsibility of Department of Industry Resources.
(12) The vibration, overpressure, and environmental noise results are submitted quarterly to the Environmental Protection Authority. This data is also provided to the DEP in the annual environmental report. Both of these are available for inspection at the DEP Kalgoorlie office. Also the environment noise results are provided in the Kalgoorlie Miner on a quarterly basis.
(13) Not applicable.
(14) The dust results are submitted annually to both the Environmental Protection Authority and DEP in the annual environmental report. These reports are available for inspection at the DEP Kalgoorlie office.
(15) Not applicable.
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