❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the storage of arsenic trioxide at the Barrick Kanowna Belle mine. The questions focus on potential contamination risks to mine workers and the environment due to improper storage procedures. The Minister's answers largely deny the questioner's assertions, clarifying storage methods.
AnsweredQoN 2535Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Barrick Kanowna Belle operations, analysis results of tests conducted on soil/mud and water samples for arsenic conducted by MPL Laboratories dated 5 May 2010, and a letter from Evan Spencer, General Mine Manager for Barrick Kanowna dated 9 June 2010, which are available for viewing at,
http://www.robinchapple.org.au/node/460
entitled ‘2010-05-05 Kanowna Belle Arsenic Trioxide Results.pdf’ and ‘2010-06-09 Kanowna Belle Arsenic Letter Evan Spencer.pdf, and ask -
(1) Is it correct that because the arsenic trioxide that was stored underground in the very upper levels of the Kanowna Belle mine was contained in soil/mud, and not consolidated as a brick as it was supposed to be, that when it was dry the arsenic would have entered the air as a powder, and therefore the ventilation system for the whole mine, and would be inhaled by all employees working in the mine?
(2) If no to (2), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(3) Is it correct that because the arsenic trioxide that was stored underground in the very upper levels of the Kanowna Belle Mine, was contained in soil/mud and not consolidated as it was supposed to be, that when it became wet from water running through it from above and then down through the mine, it would have carried arsenic throughout the mine wherever it went, and would be absorbed through the skin of every employee who came in contact with that water?
(4) If no to (3), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(5) Is it correct that all of the water from underground in Kanowna Belle is recycled, and therefore reused through the drills, through the wash down procedures, as well as through any other procedure employed on a daily basis that required the use of water throughout this mine?
(6) If no to (5), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(7) Is it correct that the bulker bags containing the arsenic trioxide that was disposed of underground in the very upper levels of the Kanowna Belle Mine, were also meant to be encapsulated in shotcrete?
(8) If no to (7), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(9) If yes to (7), can the Minister state specifically, -
(a) how much shotcrete was expected to be used to encapsulate the bulker bags;
(b) on how many sides the shotcrete was to be applied to the bulker bags;
(c) how many bulker bags were allowed to be disposed of before they were encapsulated in shotcrete; and
(d) for how long each bulker bag was allowed to be disposed of before it was encapsulated in shotcrete?
(10) Is it correct that shotcrete is porous and that both air and water can permeate through it quite easily?
(11) If no to (10), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
http://www.robinchapple.org.au/node/460
entitled ‘2010-05-05 Kanowna Belle Arsenic Trioxide Results.pdf’ and ‘2010-06-09 Kanowna Belle Arsenic Letter Evan Spencer.pdf, and ask -
(1) Is it correct that because the arsenic trioxide that was stored underground in the very upper levels of the Kanowna Belle mine was contained in soil/mud, and not consolidated as a brick as it was supposed to be, that when it was dry the arsenic would have entered the air as a powder, and therefore the ventilation system for the whole mine, and would be inhaled by all employees working in the mine?
(2) If no to (2), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(3) Is it correct that because the arsenic trioxide that was stored underground in the very upper levels of the Kanowna Belle Mine, was contained in soil/mud and not consolidated as it was supposed to be, that when it became wet from water running through it from above and then down through the mine, it would have carried arsenic throughout the mine wherever it went, and would be absorbed through the skin of every employee who came in contact with that water?
(4) If no to (3), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(5) Is it correct that all of the water from underground in Kanowna Belle is recycled, and therefore reused through the drills, through the wash down procedures, as well as through any other procedure employed on a daily basis that required the use of water throughout this mine?
(6) If no to (5), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(7) Is it correct that the bulker bags containing the arsenic trioxide that was disposed of underground in the very upper levels of the Kanowna Belle Mine, were also meant to be encapsulated in shotcrete?
(8) If no to (7), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(9) If yes to (7), can the Minister state specifically, -
(a) how much shotcrete was expected to be used to encapsulate the bulker bags;
(b) on how many sides the shotcrete was to be applied to the bulker bags;
(c) how many bulker bags were allowed to be disposed of before they were encapsulated in shotcrete; and
(d) for how long each bulker bag was allowed to be disposed of before it was encapsulated in shotcrete?
(10) Is it correct that shotcrete is porous and that both air and water can permeate through it quite easily?
(11) If no to (10), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 September 2010
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
77 days
(1) No.
(2) I refer the Honourable Member to my answer to Question 2315 on 15 June 2010 regarding the storage conditions for arsenic trioxide at the Kanowna Belle mine.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has advised me that, as an additional safety procedure, the dolocrete blocks are placed in a fully sealed, weatherproof bulker bag. This procedure minimises the potential for dust from the blocks to enter the air and mine ventilation system.
(3) No.
(4) See the answer to (2).
(5)-(6) Yes.
(7) No.
(8) The final stage of the encapsulation of the dolocrete blocks involves covering the bulker bags with pastefill material (also called tailings paste), not shotcrete. Pastefill material is routinely used in the mining industry to fill voids.
The current underground storage area designated for the dolocrete encapsulated arsenic trioxide is a temporary storage area, as the mining operations are still active. As such, the final stage of encapsulation with pastefill has not yet occurred. A suitable long-term location in the mine will be decided as part of ongoing mine planning.
(9) Not applicable.
(10)-(11) The permeability and other properties of shotcrete are dependant on the properties of the particular batch of shotcrete, but it is generally of low permeability. Pastefill is a low permeable material and is used in this application to reduce the exposure of the dolocrete blocks to water.
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(2) I refer the Honourable Member to my answer to Question 2315 on 15 June 2010 regarding the storage conditions for arsenic trioxide at the Kanowna Belle mine.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has advised me that, as an additional safety procedure, the dolocrete blocks are placed in a fully sealed, weatherproof bulker bag. This procedure minimises the potential for dust from the blocks to enter the air and mine ventilation system.
(3) No.
(4) See the answer to (2).
(5)-(6) Yes.
(7) No.
(8) The final stage of the encapsulation of the dolocrete blocks involves covering the bulker bags with pastefill material (also called tailings paste), not shotcrete. Pastefill material is routinely used in the mining industry to fill voids.
The current underground storage area designated for the dolocrete encapsulated arsenic trioxide is a temporary storage area, as the mining operations are still active. As such, the final stage of encapsulation with pastefill has not yet occurred. A suitable long-term location in the mine will be decided as part of ongoing mine planning.
(9) Not applicable.
(10)-(11) The permeability and other properties of shotcrete are dependant on the properties of the particular batch of shotcrete, but it is generally of low permeability. Pastefill is a low permeable material and is used in this application to reduce the exposure of the dolocrete blocks to water.
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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