❓ Hon Giz Watson asks about ammonia leaks from the Burrup Fertiliser Plant and whether monitoring sites recorded elevated levels. The Minister responds that the relevant monitoring study concluded before the plant was online and the equipment used was not designed to detect short-term spikes.
AnsweredQoN 4194Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With reference to the Burrup Fertiliser’s Plant and leaks of ammonia from that plant on or about 8 August 2006 and over recent periods, and the operations of the monitoring sites which are part of the Burrup Peninsula Air Pollution Study, I ask -
(1) Did any of the monitoring sites, especially site number 5 Burrup Road, number 6 Water Tank, or number 7 Deep Gorge record the elevated levels of ammonia in the atmosphere associated with this leak or any other leaks?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) If yes to (1), what were the levels of airborne emissions recorded during these release periods?
(4) If yes to (1), will the Minister table the relevant recordings?
(1) Did any of the monitoring sites, especially site number 5 Burrup Road, number 6 Water Tank, or number 7 Deep Gorge record the elevated levels of ammonia in the atmosphere associated with this leak or any other leaks?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) If yes to (1), what were the levels of airborne emissions recorded during these release periods?
(4) If yes to (1), will the Minister table the relevant recordings?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 October 2006
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
22 days
(1) No. A major Burrup air quality monitoring study carried out by CSIRO included the three sites mentioned in question one and extended over a period of 12 months from August 2004 until September 2005. The ammonia plant was not on-line then. CSIRO advised that it has not collected any data after the end date of the study and consequently no information can be provided regarding ammonia gas concentrations. (2) The air sampling devices ceased operating in September 2005. CSIRO has advised that the samplers used measured gas concentrations, including ammonia, that are integrated over a period of about one month. Different equipment would be required to detect elevated levels of ammonia which occurred over a short period of time. (3) Not applicable. In regard to environmental performance the plant operates under a set of Ministerial conditions, and a licence issued under the Environmental Protection Act. The Hon Giz Watson may wish to refer the question of levels of airborne emissions to the Hon Minister for the Environment. (4) Not applicable, but see answer to part (3).
A major Burrup air quality monitoring study carried out by CSIRO included the three sites mentioned in question one and extended over a period of 12 months from August 2004 until September 2005. The ammonia plant was not on-line then. CSIRO advised that it has not collected any data after the end date of the study and consequently no information can be provided regarding ammonia gas concentrations. (2) The air sampling devices ceased operating in September 2005. CSIRO has advised that the samplers used measured gas concentrations, including ammonia, that are integrated over a period of about one month. Different equipment would be required to detect elevated levels of ammonia which occurred over a short period of time. (3) Not applicable. In regard to environmental performance the plant operates under a set of Ministerial conditions, and a licence issued under the Environmental Protection Act. The Hon Giz Watson may wish to refer the question of levels of airborne emissions to the Hon Minister for the Environment. (4) Not applicable, but see answer to part (3).
(2) The air sampling devices ceased operating in September 2005. CSIRO has advised that the samplers used measured gas concentrations, including ammonia, that are integrated over a period of about one month. Different equipment would be required to detect elevated levels of ammonia which occurred over a short period of time. (3) Not applicable. In regard to environmental performance the plant operates under a set of Ministerial conditions, and a licence issued under the Environmental Protection Act. The Hon Giz Watson may wish to refer the question of levels of airborne emissions to the Hon Minister for the Environment. (4) Not applicable, but see answer to part (3).
CSIRO has advised that the samplers used measured gas concentrations, including ammonia, that are integrated over a period of about one month. Different equipment would be required to detect elevated levels of ammonia which occurred over a short period of time. (3) Not applicable. In regard to environmental performance the plant operates under a set of Ministerial conditions, and a licence issued under the Environmental Protection Act. The Hon Giz Watson may wish to refer the question of levels of airborne emissions to the Hon Minister for the Environment. (4) Not applicable, but see answer to part (3).
(3) Not applicable. In regard to environmental performance the plant operates under a set of Ministerial conditions, and a licence issued under the Environmental Protection Act. The Hon Giz Watson may wish to refer the question of levels of airborne emissions to the Hon Minister for the Environment. (4) Not applicable, but see answer to part (3).
In regard to environmental performance the plant operates under a set of Ministerial conditions, and a licence issued under the Environmental Protection Act. The Hon Giz Watson may wish to refer the question of levels of airborne emissions to the Hon Minister for the Environment. (4) Not applicable, but see answer to part (3).
(4) Not applicable, but see answer to part (3).
A major Burrup air quality monitoring study carried out by CSIRO included the three sites mentioned in question one and extended over a period of 12 months from August 2004 until September 2005. The ammonia plant was not on-line then. CSIRO advised that it has not collected any data after the end date of the study and consequently no information can be provided regarding ammonia gas concentrations. (2) The air sampling devices ceased operating in September 2005. CSIRO has advised that the samplers used measured gas concentrations, including ammonia, that are integrated over a period of about one month. Different equipment would be required to detect elevated levels of ammonia which occurred over a short period of time. (3) Not applicable. In regard to environmental performance the plant operates under a set of Ministerial conditions, and a licence issued under the Environmental Protection Act. The Hon Giz Watson may wish to refer the question of levels of airborne emissions to the Hon Minister for the Environment. (4) Not applicable, but see answer to part (3).
(2) The air sampling devices ceased operating in September 2005. CSIRO has advised that the samplers used measured gas concentrations, including ammonia, that are integrated over a period of about one month. Different equipment would be required to detect elevated levels of ammonia which occurred over a short period of time. (3) Not applicable. In regard to environmental performance the plant operates under a set of Ministerial conditions, and a licence issued under the Environmental Protection Act. The Hon Giz Watson may wish to refer the question of levels of airborne emissions to the Hon Minister for the Environment. (4) Not applicable, but see answer to part (3).
CSIRO has advised that the samplers used measured gas concentrations, including ammonia, that are integrated over a period of about one month. Different equipment would be required to detect elevated levels of ammonia which occurred over a short period of time. (3) Not applicable. In regard to environmental performance the plant operates under a set of Ministerial conditions, and a licence issued under the Environmental Protection Act. The Hon Giz Watson may wish to refer the question of levels of airborne emissions to the Hon Minister for the Environment. (4) Not applicable, but see answer to part (3).
(3) Not applicable. In regard to environmental performance the plant operates under a set of Ministerial conditions, and a licence issued under the Environmental Protection Act. The Hon Giz Watson may wish to refer the question of levels of airborne emissions to the Hon Minister for the Environment. (4) Not applicable, but see answer to part (3).
In regard to environmental performance the plant operates under a set of Ministerial conditions, and a licence issued under the Environmental Protection Act. The Hon Giz Watson may wish to refer the question of levels of airborne emissions to the Hon Minister for the Environment. (4) Not applicable, but see answer to part (3).
(4) Not applicable, but see answer to part (3).
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