A parliamentary question addresses Nufarm Ltd's deep-well disposal facility in Kwinana, inquiring about its licensing, the chemicals disposed of, and the government's stance on prohibiting such practices. The government confirms the facility is licensed but states that no new deep-well injection proposals will be approved.

AnsweredQoN 731Legislative Council
Asked
12 October 2005
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Is Nufarm Ltd operating a deep-well disposal facility at Kwinana? (2) If yes, is the facility licensed? (3) What chemicals are being disposed of into the deep well? (4) Does the government have any plans to prohibit deep-well disposal of toxic wastes in Western Australia? (5) If no to (4), why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Yes, under part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (3) The waste water contains a range of herbicide and fungicide by-products in very low concentrations. (4) The government’s policy is reflected in Environmental Protection Authority guidance statement 4 of March 2003, which states that no new deep-well injection proposals will be either considered or approved for Western Australia. Nufarm is progressing alternatives to deep-well injection in consultation with the Department of Environment. (5) Not applicable.
(2) If yes, is the facility licensed? (3) What chemicals are being disposed of into the deep well? (4) Does the government have any plans to prohibit deep-well disposal of toxic wastes in Western Australia? (5) If no to (4), why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Yes, under part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (3) The waste water contains a range of herbicide and fungicide by-products in very low concentrations. (4) The government’s policy is reflected in Environmental Protection Authority guidance statement 4 of March 2003, which states that no new deep-well injection proposals will be either considered or approved for Western Australia. Nufarm is progressing alternatives to deep-well injection in consultation with the Department of Environment. (5) Not applicable.
(3) What chemicals are being disposed of into the deep well? (4) Does the government have any plans to prohibit deep-well disposal of toxic wastes in Western Australia? (5) If no to (4), why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Yes, under part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (3) The waste water contains a range of herbicide and fungicide by-products in very low concentrations. (4) The government’s policy is reflected in Environmental Protection Authority guidance statement 4 of March 2003, which states that no new deep-well injection proposals will be either considered or approved for Western Australia. Nufarm is progressing alternatives to deep-well injection in consultation with the Department of Environment. (5) Not applicable.
(4) Does the government have any plans to prohibit deep-well disposal of toxic wastes in Western Australia? (5) If no to (4), why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Yes, under part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (3) The waste water contains a range of herbicide and fungicide by-products in very low concentrations. (4) The government’s policy is reflected in Environmental Protection Authority guidance statement 4 of March 2003, which states that no new deep-well injection proposals will be either considered or approved for Western Australia. Nufarm is progressing alternatives to deep-well injection in consultation with the Department of Environment. (5) Not applicable.
(5) If no to (4), why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Yes, under part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (3) The waste water contains a range of herbicide and fungicide by-products in very low concentrations. (4) The government’s policy is reflected in Environmental Protection Authority guidance statement 4 of March 2003, which states that no new deep-well injection proposals will be either considered or approved for Western Australia. Nufarm is progressing alternatives to deep-well injection in consultation with the Department of Environment. (5) Not applicable.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Yes, under part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (3) The waste water contains a range of herbicide and fungicide by-products in very low concentrations. (4) The government’s policy is reflected in Environmental Protection Authority guidance statement 4 of March 2003, which states that no new deep-well injection proposals will be either considered or approved for Western Australia. Nufarm is progressing alternatives to deep-well injection in consultation with the Department of Environment. (5) Not applicable.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) Yes. (2) Yes, under part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (3) The waste water contains a range of herbicide and fungicide by-products in very low concentrations. (4) The government’s policy is reflected in Environmental Protection Authority guidance statement 4 of March 2003, which states that no new deep-well injection proposals will be either considered or approved for Western Australia. Nufarm is progressing alternatives to deep-well injection in consultation with the Department of Environment. (5) Not applicable.
(1) Yes. (2) Yes, under part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (3) The waste water contains a range of herbicide and fungicide by-products in very low concentrations. (4) The government’s policy is reflected in Environmental Protection Authority guidance statement 4 of March 2003, which states that no new deep-well injection proposals will be either considered or approved for Western Australia. Nufarm is progressing alternatives to deep-well injection in consultation with the Department of Environment. (5) Not applicable.
(2) Yes, under part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. (3) The waste water contains a range of herbicide and fungicide by-products in very low concentrations. (4) The government’s policy is reflected in Environmental Protection Authority guidance statement 4 of March 2003, which states that no new deep-well injection proposals will be either considered or approved for Western Australia. Nufarm is progressing alternatives to deep-well injection in consultation with the Department of Environment. (5) Not applicable.
(3) The waste water contains a range of herbicide and fungicide by-products in very low concentrations. (4) The government’s policy is reflected in Environmental Protection Authority guidance statement 4 of March 2003, which states that no new deep-well injection proposals will be either considered or approved for Western Australia. Nufarm is progressing alternatives to deep-well injection in consultation with the Department of Environment. (5) Not applicable.
(4) The government’s policy is reflected in Environmental Protection Authority guidance statement 4 of March 2003, which states that no new deep-well injection proposals will be either considered or approved for Western Australia. Nufarm is progressing alternatives to deep-well injection in consultation with the Department of Environment. (5) Not applicable.
(5) Not applicable.

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