❓ Hon Jim Scott questions the Department of the Environment regarding toxic chemical plumes at the former Chemical Industries Kwinana site, including testing, chemical identification, and waste disposal practices. The Minister's response indicates limited knowledge and shifts responsibility to other agencies for historical practices.
AnsweredQoN 400Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Has the Department of the Environment carried out sample testing of the underground toxic chemical plume under the former Chemical Industries Kwinana site?
(2) If yes, will the Minister please table these results?
(3) If not, why not?
(4) What chemicals have been identified as contaminating the underground area?
(5) Was the former Chemical Industries Kwinana licensed to dispose of wastes into on-site unlined ponds?
(6) If yes, in what year did this license approval occur?
(7) For how long were wastes from Chemical Industries Kwinana disposed in the unlined ponds?
(2) If yes, will the Minister please table these results?
(3) If not, why not?
(4) What chemicals have been identified as contaminating the underground area?
(5) Was the former Chemical Industries Kwinana licensed to dispose of wastes into on-site unlined ponds?
(6) If yes, in what year did this license approval occur?
(7) For how long were wastes from Chemical Industries Kwinana disposed in the unlined ponds?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 March 2002
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
29 days
(2) Not applicable. (3) The water testing at the former CIK site was undertaken by the former Geological Survey Division of the Mines Department between 1985 and 1993. (4) Answered by (3). (5) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been advised by the DEP that CIK was not licensed by the Department for disposal of wastes into onsite unlined ponds. It would appear that, prior to 1986, licensing for wastewater disposal at the CIK Mason Road site was controlled by the former Water Authority of Western Australia. Under this arrangement, it is not known whether a licence was issued to dispose of wastes into unlined ponds. (6) Answered by (5). (7) I have been advised by the DEP that it has no knowledge of the duration of disposal of waste into unlined ponds.
(3) The water testing at the former CIK site was undertaken by the former Geological Survey Division of the Mines Department between 1985 and 1993. (4) Answered by (3). (5) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been advised by the DEP that CIK was not licensed by the Department for disposal of wastes into onsite unlined ponds. It would appear that, prior to 1986, licensing for wastewater disposal at the CIK Mason Road site was controlled by the former Water Authority of Western Australia. Under this arrangement, it is not known whether a licence was issued to dispose of wastes into unlined ponds. (6) Answered by (5). (7) I have been advised by the DEP that it has no knowledge of the duration of disposal of waste into unlined ponds.
(4) Answered by (3). (5) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been advised by the DEP that CIK was not licensed by the Department for disposal of wastes into onsite unlined ponds. It would appear that, prior to 1986, licensing for wastewater disposal at the CIK Mason Road site was controlled by the former Water Authority of Western Australia. Under this arrangement, it is not known whether a licence was issued to dispose of wastes into unlined ponds. (6) Answered by (5). (7) I have been advised by the DEP that it has no knowledge of the duration of disposal of waste into unlined ponds.
(5) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been advised by the DEP that CIK was not licensed by the Department for disposal of wastes into onsite unlined ponds. It would appear that, prior to 1986, licensing for wastewater disposal at the CIK Mason Road site was controlled by the former Water Authority of Western Australia. Under this arrangement, it is not known whether a licence was issued to dispose of wastes into unlined ponds. (6) Answered by (5). (7) I have been advised by the DEP that it has no knowledge of the duration of disposal of waste into unlined ponds.
(6) Answered by (5). (7) I have been advised by the DEP that it has no knowledge of the duration of disposal of waste into unlined ponds.
(3) The water testing at the former CIK site was undertaken by the former Geological Survey Division of the Mines Department between 1985 and 1993. (4) Answered by (3). (5) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been advised by the DEP that CIK was not licensed by the Department for disposal of wastes into onsite unlined ponds. It would appear that, prior to 1986, licensing for wastewater disposal at the CIK Mason Road site was controlled by the former Water Authority of Western Australia. Under this arrangement, it is not known whether a licence was issued to dispose of wastes into unlined ponds. (6) Answered by (5). (7) I have been advised by the DEP that it has no knowledge of the duration of disposal of waste into unlined ponds.
(4) Answered by (3). (5) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been advised by the DEP that CIK was not licensed by the Department for disposal of wastes into onsite unlined ponds. It would appear that, prior to 1986, licensing for wastewater disposal at the CIK Mason Road site was controlled by the former Water Authority of Western Australia. Under this arrangement, it is not known whether a licence was issued to dispose of wastes into unlined ponds. (6) Answered by (5). (7) I have been advised by the DEP that it has no knowledge of the duration of disposal of waste into unlined ponds.
(5) The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has been advised by the DEP that CIK was not licensed by the Department for disposal of wastes into onsite unlined ponds. It would appear that, prior to 1986, licensing for wastewater disposal at the CIK Mason Road site was controlled by the former Water Authority of Western Australia. Under this arrangement, it is not known whether a licence was issued to dispose of wastes into unlined ponds. (6) Answered by (5). (7) I have been advised by the DEP that it has no knowledge of the duration of disposal of waste into unlined ponds.
(6) Answered by (5). (7) I have been advised by the DEP that it has no knowledge of the duration of disposal of waste into unlined ponds.
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