❓ Hon Paul Llewellyn questions the Minister for the Environment regarding the EPA's concerns about the White Foil Gold Project's potential environmental impacts on Greta Lake, specifically regarding water discharge from mine dewatering. The Minister declines to answer, citing the EPA's independence.
AnsweredQoN 3643Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer a letter dated 25 February 2003 titled ‘White Foil Gold Project: Proposal to discharge water from Mine dewatering to Greta Lake’, signed by Bernard Bowen from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) addressed to Mr Jean- Pierre Nicoud, Mines and Resources Australia Pty Ltd -
(1) Can the Minister state what specific information was needed to determine long term impacts on the lake and to make the proposal ‘environmentally acceptable’, where the EPA has stated ‘there is insufficient information available to determine the potential for long term impacts on the lake?’
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister list and state all the factors which made the EPA state ‘I am therefore not convinced that the proposal is an environmentally acceptable proposition, or that is consistent with the principles of sustainability?’
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister state what are the specific ‘principles of sustainability’ the EPA was referring to and explain the rationale as to how these principles were applied to this proposal?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister state what ‘environmentally acceptable’ means under the
Environmental
Protection Act 1986
with reference to the letter’s statement ‘On the basis of the information currently available, I do not consider that the proposal could be made environmentally acceptable?’
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) Can the Minister explain why the EPA stated ‘I therefore invite you to withdraw the proposal or to provide further information demonstrating that the proposal or an alternative, could be made environmentally acceptable?’
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(1) Can the Minister state what specific information was needed to determine long term impacts on the lake and to make the proposal ‘environmentally acceptable’, where the EPA has stated ‘there is insufficient information available to determine the potential for long term impacts on the lake?’
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister list and state all the factors which made the EPA state ‘I am therefore not convinced that the proposal is an environmentally acceptable proposition, or that is consistent with the principles of sustainability?’
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister state what are the specific ‘principles of sustainability’ the EPA was referring to and explain the rationale as to how these principles were applied to this proposal?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister state what ‘environmentally acceptable’ means under the
Environmental
Protection Act 1986
with reference to the letter’s statement ‘On the basis of the information currently available, I do not consider that the proposal could be made environmentally acceptable?’
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) Can the Minister explain why the EPA stated ‘I therefore invite you to withdraw the proposal or to provide further information demonstrating that the proposal or an alternative, could be made environmentally acceptable?’
(10) If no to (9), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 August 2006
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
70 days
These questions relate to correspondence between the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and a proponent in relation to a proposal which had been formally referred to the EPA under Section 38 of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
. The EPA is an independent statutory authority. As the correspondence in question relates to the conduct of the EPA's assessment process, it is not appropriate for the Minister for the Environment to comment on the matter. It is recommended that the Honourable Member raises these questions directly with the EPA Chairman.
Environmental Protection Act 1986
. The EPA is an independent statutory authority. As the correspondence in question relates to the conduct of the EPA's assessment process, it is not appropriate for the Minister for the Environment to comment on the matter. It is recommended that the Honourable Member raises these questions directly with the EPA Chairman.
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