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❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding a chemical spill at BASF's Hutt Lagoon site, seeking details on the spill's nature, extent, responsibility, and related actions. Several ministers are required to respond.

AnsweredQoN 740Legislative Council

Asked

18 February 2014

Member

Hon Robin Chapple

Portfolio

Commerce

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to a chemical spill at BASP's Hutt Lagoon site at Yallabatharra in the shire of Northampton on Tuesday, 10 December 2013 as reported by AAP, and I ask: (a) what was the nature of the chemical spill; (b) what was the quantity of the chemical spill; (c) who is the owner of the facility; (d) who is the owner on the land on which the facility sits; (e) what lease arrangements are in place for the facility; (f) who is responsible for the environmental rehabilitation of the area at the end of the life of the project; (g) where is the spill site in relation to Camping and Water Reserve CR 15126 held by the Shire of Northampton; (h) was the leak contained within the site: (i) if yes to (g), how; and (ii) if no to (g), why not; (i) did all or some of the chemical permeate the ground: (i) if yes to (h), what quantify; (ii) if no to (h), why not; and (iii) if yes to (h), was the contaminated soil removed: (A) if yes to (h)(iii), what process was used to remove the contaminated soil; and (B) if no to (h)(iii), why not; (j) were all staff evacuated from the BASF Beta Carotene site: (i) if yes to (i), for how long; and (ii) if yes to (i), under what condition did staff or other personal re-enter the site; (k) what was the cause of the chemical spill; (l) was the Department for Emergency Services notified of the spill; (m) has Worksafe carried out and investigation into the incident: (i) if yes to (k), has the investigation been completed; (ii) if yes to (l)(i), will the Minister table the report; (iii) if no to (l), why not; and (iv) if no to (l)(ii), why not; and (n) were any roads closed adjacent to the spill site: (i) if yes to (n), please provide details, including who requested the respective road closure, who ordered it and the duration of closure?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

19 March 2014

Responded by

Minister for Commerce

Response time

29 days

(a,b,c,f,h,I,j & k) To be responded to by the Minister for Environment, and Minister for Mines and Petroleum.
(d,e & g) To be responded to by the Minister for Environment, Minister for Mines and Petroleum, and Minister for Lands.
(L) To be responded to by the Minister for Emergency Services.
(m) Yes
(i) Yes
(ii)-(iv) A report was not completed. However, the WorkSafe information system records activities by the inspector involved with the investigation. A copy of the relevant documents is tabled. Consistent with practices under the
Freedom of Information Act 1992
, private information has been deleted from the tabled documents. Please see Tabled Paper No:
(n) To be responded to by the Minister for Police and Minister for Mines and Petroleum.

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