❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Mt Weld Rare Earth Operation's environmental monitoring and transportation of concentrate, seeking transparency and data accessibility. The Minister provides information on groundwater data, public access policies, radiation monitoring, and shipment timelines.
AnsweredQoN 7987Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to the prescribed premises licence conditions for the Mt Weld Rare Earth Operation Concentrator Plant, licence no. L8141/2007/2, I ask:
(a) will the Minister table the ground water monitoring data, including laboratory certificates, for bores LMW1 through to LMW 9 which are required to be analysed quarterly and, if not, why not;
(b) can the Minister confirm that it is current Department of Environment and Conservation policy for all monitoring data arising from licence conditions of prescribed premises to be made public upon request from the Department;
(c) can the Minister confirm that radiation monitoring of rare earth concentrate will take place from the Wiluna mine site to the Fremantle port; and
(i) if so, will the Minister make the results of the monitoring publicly available; and
(ii) if not, why not; and
(d) on what date is it anticipated that the first shipment of concentrate will leave the mine site for Fremantle?
(a) will the Minister table the ground water monitoring data, including laboratory certificates, for bores LMW1 through to LMW 9 which are required to be analysed quarterly and, if not, why not;
(b) can the Minister confirm that it is current Department of Environment and Conservation policy for all monitoring data arising from licence conditions of prescribed premises to be made public upon request from the Department;
(c) can the Minister confirm that radiation monitoring of rare earth concentrate will take place from the Wiluna mine site to the Fremantle port; and
(i) if so, will the Minister make the results of the monitoring publicly available; and
(ii) if not, why not; and
(d) on what date is it anticipated that the first shipment of concentrate will leave the mine site for Fremantle?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 June 2012
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
35 days
(a) [see tabled paper no]. Laboratory certificates are not required to be submitted to the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC).
(b) Under DEC's Information Statement 2011-2012 available on DEC's website, the data are publicly available. However, access may be restricted if there is material that contains confidential business information.
(c) (i) The Office of the Environmental Protection Authority advises that the level of radioactivity in the rare earth concentrate from Mt Weld is very low and, as such, the material is below the requirements for classification under the Radiation Safety (Transport of Radioactive Substances) Regulations 2002.
However, if the concentrate is stored at any location along the transport route, it is subject to the Radiation Safety (General) Regulations1983 administered by the Radiological Council. Any radiation monitoring results for the project can be required by the Radiological Council where it considers it appropriate.
(ii) Not applicable.
(d) Transport of rare earth concentrate containers to Lynas Corporation's holding yard in BibraLakecommenced on 3 March 2012. Containers will be held at BibraLakeawaiting shipment through FremantlePort. I am advised that shipment of containers through FremantlePortis unlikely to commence until the second half of 2012.
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(b) Under DEC's Information Statement 2011-2012 available on DEC's website, the data are publicly available. However, access may be restricted if there is material that contains confidential business information.
(c) (i) The Office of the Environmental Protection Authority advises that the level of radioactivity in the rare earth concentrate from Mt Weld is very low and, as such, the material is below the requirements for classification under the Radiation Safety (Transport of Radioactive Substances) Regulations 2002.
However, if the concentrate is stored at any location along the transport route, it is subject to the Radiation Safety (General) Regulations1983 administered by the Radiological Council. Any radiation monitoring results for the project can be required by the Radiological Council where it considers it appropriate.
(ii) Not applicable.
(d) Transport of rare earth concentrate containers to Lynas Corporation's holding yard in BibraLakecommenced on 3 March 2012. Containers will be held at BibraLakeawaiting shipment through FremantlePort. I am advised that shipment of containers through FremantlePortis unlikely to commence until the second half of 2012.
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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