❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about environmental impacts from a tailings storage facility, specifically regarding vegetation stress, soil contamination, inspection frequency, and seepage problems. The Minister's response indicates inspections have occurred and seepage is currently controlled.
AnsweredQoN 137Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to question on notice No. 893, dated 21 September 2000 and the answers provided -
(1) Can the Minister explain why the ‘stress of native vegetation along drainage pathways emanating from the tailings storage facility’ and ‘salt contamination of the soil’ is important to the Department of Minerals and Energy?
(2) Has the tailings storage facility been thoroughly inspected in the last 6 months?
(3) If not, why not?
(4) How often do the inspectors visit this area?
(5) Are there still seepage problems into the groundwater and surrounding environment at this facility?
(6) If so, can the Minister state what those problems are?
(1) Can the Minister explain why the ‘stress of native vegetation along drainage pathways emanating from the tailings storage facility’ and ‘salt contamination of the soil’ is important to the Department of Minerals and Energy?
(2) Has the tailings storage facility been thoroughly inspected in the last 6 months?
(3) If not, why not?
(4) How often do the inspectors visit this area?
(5) Are there still seepage problems into the groundwater and surrounding environment at this facility?
(6) If so, can the Minister state what those problems are?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
28 August 2001
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
28 days
(1) The Department is committed to ensuring that mining operations are carried out in a manner that minimises the impacts of their activities on the surrounding environment. (2) Yes, the tailings storage facility was inspected by an Environmental Officer in June 2001 and previously by a Geotechnical Officer in August 2000. (3) Not applicable. (4) The Environmental Officer inspects this site at least once a year. (5) No seepage problems currently exist. Measures have been implemented to control seepage to the satisfaction of departmental officers. (6) Not applicable.
(2) Yes, the tailings storage facility was inspected by an Environmental Officer in June 2001 and previously by a Geotechnical Officer in August 2000. (3) Not applicable. (4) The Environmental Officer inspects this site at least once a year. (5) No seepage problems currently exist. Measures have been implemented to control seepage to the satisfaction of departmental officers. (6) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable. (4) The Environmental Officer inspects this site at least once a year. (5) No seepage problems currently exist. Measures have been implemented to control seepage to the satisfaction of departmental officers. (6) Not applicable.
(4) The Environmental Officer inspects this site at least once a year. (5) No seepage problems currently exist. Measures have been implemented to control seepage to the satisfaction of departmental officers. (6) Not applicable.
(5) No seepage problems currently exist. Measures have been implemented to control seepage to the satisfaction of departmental officers. (6) Not applicable.
(6) Not applicable.
(2) Yes, the tailings storage facility was inspected by an Environmental Officer in June 2001 and previously by a Geotechnical Officer in August 2000. (3) Not applicable. (4) The Environmental Officer inspects this site at least once a year. (5) No seepage problems currently exist. Measures have been implemented to control seepage to the satisfaction of departmental officers. (6) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable. (4) The Environmental Officer inspects this site at least once a year. (5) No seepage problems currently exist. Measures have been implemented to control seepage to the satisfaction of departmental officers. (6) Not applicable.
(4) The Environmental Officer inspects this site at least once a year. (5) No seepage problems currently exist. Measures have been implemented to control seepage to the satisfaction of departmental officers. (6) Not applicable.
(5) No seepage problems currently exist. Measures have been implemented to control seepage to the satisfaction of departmental officers. (6) Not applicable.
(6) Not applicable.
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