A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses concerns about Loongana Lime's waste oil burning practices and their impact on nearby residents, seeking information on complaints, licence breaches, and environmental monitoring. The Minister's response details complaints received, breaches of licence conditions, and actions taken by the DEP.

AnsweredQoN 583Legislative Council
Asked
20 March 2003
Portfolio
the Environment and Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to Loongana Lime in Kalgoorlie near Parkeston which burns waste oil and seriously affects the health, welfare, convenience, comfort and amenity of nearby residents in Williamstown, Ninga Mia and other parts of Kalgoorlie Boulder -
(1) Can the Minister state how many complaints in the last three years have been received by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) concerning Loongana Lime?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Is it correct that Loongana Lime is receiving waste oil through Nationwide Oil Pty Ltd from the Total Waste Management toxic facility in Boulder?
(4) If no to (3), where specifically is the waste oil coming from?
(5) Can the Minister state how much waste oil in litres/per month is being burned in the kilns at Loongana Lime?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Has Loongana Lime breached any licence conditions in the last two years licence?
(8) If yes to (7), what specific licence conditions have been breached and what is the penalty under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
?
(9) Can the Minister state the date(s) in 2003 in which the annual monitoring report required as per condition G2 and the inventory specified in condition G6 covering a 12 month period was received by the DEP?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(11) Will the Minister or the DEP prosecute Loongana Lime for causing pollution or breaching any licence conditions in the last 24 months?
(12) If no to (11), why not?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
6 May 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
47 days
(1) There have been 34 complaints over the last three-year period. A majority of these complaints occurred in April 2002. Subsequent action resulted in the plant being closed under direction from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the implementation by Loongana Lime to use a refined fuel to improve kiln burning efficiency and correspondingly an improvement in emissions management. (2) Answered by (1). (3) Loongana does receive oil through Nationwide Oil Pty Ltd, whose depot is within the Total Waste Management facility at Boulder. Waste oil from Total Waste Management is transported to Perth for further refinement and de-hydration before being transported back to Kalgoorlie and Loongana Lime use. (4) Answered by (3). (5) Typically each kiln at Loongana Lime requires approximately 12,000 litres of waste oil per day for full operation. Currently, only one kiln is operating at 90% capacity which equates to approximately 324,000 litres per month. Obviously, this varies according to the commercial arrangements that Loongana Lime have at the time. (6) Answered by (5). (7) Yes, Loongana Lime has breached a licence condition in relation to emission particulate levels. Loongana Lime has also breached a licence condition in relation to temperature in the kiln. (8) The specific licence condition for particulates that was breached was Condition A5 of licence No 6557/5. However, the DEP was satisfied with the commitments from Loongana in relation to its management of particulate levels, including the installation of a bag house filter system, using a refined oil and manipulating kiln feed rates in order to improve burning. Subsequently, particulate levels have reduced significantly from 690mg/m³ in April 2001 to 17mg/m³ in December 2002. The specific licence condition for kiln temperature is A7 of licence No 6557/6. This breach occurred on 2 April 2003. The DEP is awaiting a response from Loongana Lime prior to taking further action. However, the breach is considered minor with the average temperature in the kilns reported to be 1165 degrees Celsius rather than the required 1200 degrees Celsius. The maximum penalty for a breach of licence conditions under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 is $125,000. (9) The annual monitoring report, including the relevant inventory, was received by the DEP on 1 March 2003. (10) Answered by (9). (11-12) The DEP will not be prosecuting Loongana Lime for causing pollution or breaching licence conditions in the last 24 months. The DEP is satisfied Loongana has implemented reasonable and practicable measures to control pollution relevant to the breach of Condition A5. The DEP is still liaising with Loongana regarding the breach of Condition A7. The DEP will continue to pursue improvements to Loongana Lime’s operation and will work with the, soon to be established Kalgoorlie Community Industry Reference Group, to do this. Future breaches will be referred to the new Environmental Enforcement Unit.
(2) Answered by (1). (3) Loongana does receive oil through Nationwide Oil Pty Ltd, whose depot is within the Total Waste Management facility at Boulder. Waste oil from Total Waste Management is transported to Perth for further refinement and de-hydration before being transported back to Kalgoorlie and Loongana Lime use. (4) Answered by (3). (5) Typically each kiln at Loongana Lime requires approximately 12,000 litres of waste oil per day for full operation. Currently, only one kiln is operating at 90% capacity which equates to approximately 324,000 litres per month. Obviously, this varies according to the commercial arrangements that Loongana Lime have at the time. (6) Answered by (5). (7) Yes, Loongana Lime has breached a licence condition in relation to emission particulate levels. Loongana Lime has also breached a licence condition in relation to temperature in the kiln. (8) The specific licence condition for particulates that was breached was Condition A5 of licence No 6557/5. However, the DEP was satisfied with the commitments from Loongana in relation to its management of particulate levels, including the installation of a bag house filter system, using a refined oil and manipulating kiln feed rates in order to improve burning. Subsequently, particulate levels have reduced significantly from 690mg/m³ in April 2001 to 17mg/m³ in December 2002. The specific licence condition for kiln temperature is A7 of licence No 6557/6. This breach occurred on 2 April 2003. The DEP is awaiting a response from Loongana Lime prior to taking further action. However, the breach is considered minor with the average temperature in the kilns reported to be 1165 degrees Celsius rather than the required 1200 degrees Celsius. The maximum penalty for a breach of licence conditions under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 is $125,000. (9) The annual monitoring report, including the relevant inventory, was received by the DEP on 1 March 2003. (10) Answered by (9). (11-12) The DEP will not be prosecuting Loongana Lime for causing pollution or breaching licence conditions in the last 24 months. The DEP is satisfied Loongana has implemented reasonable and practicable measures to control pollution relevant to the breach of Condition A5. The DEP is still liaising with Loongana regarding the breach of Condition A7. The DEP will continue to pursue improvements to Loongana Lime’s operation and will work with the, soon to be established Kalgoorlie Community Industry Reference Group, to do this. Future breaches will be referred to the new Environmental Enforcement Unit.
(3) Loongana does receive oil through Nationwide Oil Pty Ltd, whose depot is within the Total Waste Management facility at Boulder. Waste oil from Total Waste Management is transported to Perth for further refinement and de-hydration before being transported back to Kalgoorlie and Loongana Lime use. (4) Answered by (3). (5) Typically each kiln at Loongana Lime requires approximately 12,000 litres of waste oil per day for full operation. Currently, only one kiln is operating at 90% capacity which equates to approximately 324,000 litres per month. Obviously, this varies according to the commercial arrangements that Loongana Lime have at the time. (6) Answered by (5). (7) Yes, Loongana Lime has breached a licence condition in relation to emission particulate levels. Loongana Lime has also breached a licence condition in relation to temperature in the kiln. (8) The specific licence condition for particulates that was breached was Condition A5 of licence No 6557/5. However, the DEP was satisfied with the commitments from Loongana in relation to its management of particulate levels, including the installation of a bag house filter system, using a refined oil and manipulating kiln feed rates in order to improve burning. Subsequently, particulate levels have reduced significantly from 690mg/m³ in April 2001 to 17mg/m³ in December 2002. The specific licence condition for kiln temperature is A7 of licence No 6557/6. This breach occurred on 2 April 2003. The DEP is awaiting a response from Loongana Lime prior to taking further action. However, the breach is considered minor with the average temperature in the kilns reported to be 1165 degrees Celsius rather than the required 1200 degrees Celsius. The maximum penalty for a breach of licence conditions under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 is $125,000. (9) The annual monitoring report, including the relevant inventory, was received by the DEP on 1 March 2003. (10) Answered by (9). (11-12) The DEP will not be prosecuting Loongana Lime for causing pollution or breaching licence conditions in the last 24 months. The DEP is satisfied Loongana has implemented reasonable and practicable measures to control pollution relevant to the breach of Condition A5. The DEP is still liaising with Loongana regarding the breach of Condition A7. The DEP will continue to pursue improvements to Loongana Lime’s operation and will work with the, soon to be established Kalgoorlie Community Industry Reference Group, to do this. Future breaches will be referred to the new Environmental Enforcement Unit.
(4) Answered by (3). (5) Typically each kiln at Loongana Lime requires approximately 12,000 litres of waste oil per day for full operation. Currently, only one kiln is operating at 90% capacity which equates to approximately 324,000 litres per month. Obviously, this varies according to the commercial arrangements that Loongana Lime have at the time. (6) Answered by (5). (7) Yes, Loongana Lime has breached a licence condition in relation to emission particulate levels. Loongana Lime has also breached a licence condition in relation to temperature in the kiln. (8) The specific licence condition for particulates that was breached was Condition A5 of licence No 6557/5. However, the DEP was satisfied with the commitments from Loongana in relation to its management of particulate levels, including the installation of a bag house filter system, using a refined oil and manipulating kiln feed rates in order to improve burning. Subsequently, particulate levels have reduced significantly from 690mg/m³ in April 2001 to 17mg/m³ in December 2002. The specific licence condition for kiln temperature is A7 of licence No 6557/6. This breach occurred on 2 April 2003. The DEP is awaiting a response from Loongana Lime prior to taking further action. However, the breach is considered minor with the average temperature in the kilns reported to be 1165 degrees Celsius rather than the required 1200 degrees Celsius. The maximum penalty for a breach of licence conditions under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 is $125,000. (9) The annual monitoring report, including the relevant inventory, was received by the DEP on 1 March 2003. (10) Answered by (9). (11-12) The DEP will not be prosecuting Loongana Lime for causing pollution or breaching licence conditions in the last 24 months. The DEP is satisfied Loongana has implemented reasonable and practicable measures to control pollution relevant to the breach of Condition A5. The DEP is still liaising with Loongana regarding the breach of Condition A7. The DEP will continue to pursue improvements to Loongana Lime’s operation and will work with the, soon to be established Kalgoorlie Community Industry Reference Group, to do this. Future breaches will be referred to the new Environmental Enforcement Unit.
(5) Typically each kiln at Loongana Lime requires approximately 12,000 litres of waste oil per day for full operation. Currently, only one kiln is operating at 90% capacity which equates to approximately 324,000 litres per month. Obviously, this varies according to the commercial arrangements that Loongana Lime have at the time. (6) Answered by (5). (7) Yes, Loongana Lime has breached a licence condition in relation to emission particulate levels. Loongana Lime has also breached a licence condition in relation to temperature in the kiln. (8) The specific licence condition for particulates that was breached was Condition A5 of licence No 6557/5. However, the DEP was satisfied with the commitments from Loongana in relation to its management of particulate levels, including the installation of a bag house filter system, using a refined oil and manipulating kiln feed rates in order to improve burning. Subsequently, particulate levels have reduced significantly from 690mg/m³ in April 2001 to 17mg/m³ in December 2002. The specific licence condition for kiln temperature is A7 of licence No 6557/6. This breach occurred on 2 April 2003. The DEP is awaiting a response from Loongana Lime prior to taking further action. However, the breach is considered minor with the average temperature in the kilns reported to be 1165 degrees Celsius rather than the required 1200 degrees Celsius. The maximum penalty for a breach of licence conditions under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 is $125,000. (9) The annual monitoring report, including the relevant inventory, was received by the DEP on 1 March 2003. (10) Answered by (9). (11-12) The DEP will not be prosecuting Loongana Lime for causing pollution or breaching licence conditions in the last 24 months. The DEP is satisfied Loongana has implemented reasonable and practicable measures to control pollution relevant to the breach of Condition A5. The DEP is still liaising with Loongana regarding the breach of Condition A7. The DEP will continue to pursue improvements to Loongana Lime’s operation and will work with the, soon to be established Kalgoorlie Community Industry Reference Group, to do this. Future breaches will be referred to the new Environmental Enforcement Unit.
(6) Answered by (5). (7) Yes, Loongana Lime has breached a licence condition in relation to emission particulate levels. Loongana Lime has also breached a licence condition in relation to temperature in the kiln. (8) The specific licence condition for particulates that was breached was Condition A5 of licence No 6557/5. However, the DEP was satisfied with the commitments from Loongana in relation to its management of particulate levels, including the installation of a bag house filter system, using a refined oil and manipulating kiln feed rates in order to improve burning. Subsequently, particulate levels have reduced significantly from 690mg/m³ in April 2001 to 17mg/m³ in December 2002. The specific licence condition for kiln temperature is A7 of licence No 6557/6. This breach occurred on 2 April 2003. The DEP is awaiting a response from Loongana Lime prior to taking further action. However, the breach is considered minor with the average temperature in the kilns reported to be 1165 degrees Celsius rather than the required 1200 degrees Celsius. The maximum penalty for a breach of licence conditions under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 is $125,000. (9) The annual monitoring report, including the relevant inventory, was received by the DEP on 1 March 2003. (10) Answered by (9). (11-12) The DEP will not be prosecuting Loongana Lime for causing pollution or breaching licence conditions in the last 24 months. The DEP is satisfied Loongana has implemented reasonable and practicable measures to control pollution relevant to the breach of Condition A5. The DEP is still liaising with Loongana regarding the breach of Condition A7. The DEP will continue to pursue improvements to Loongana Lime’s operation and will work with the, soon to be established Kalgoorlie Community Industry Reference Group, to do this. Future breaches will be referred to the new Environmental Enforcement Unit.
(7) Yes, Loongana Lime has breached a licence condition in relation to emission particulate levels. Loongana Lime has also breached a licence condition in relation to temperature in the kiln. (8) The specific licence condition for particulates that was breached was Condition A5 of licence No 6557/5. However, the DEP was satisfied with the commitments from Loongana in relation to its management of particulate levels, including the installation of a bag house filter system, using a refined oil and manipulating kiln feed rates in order to improve burning. Subsequently, particulate levels have reduced significantly from 690mg/m³ in April 2001 to 17mg/m³ in December 2002. The specific licence condition for kiln temperature is A7 of licence No 6557/6. This breach occurred on 2 April 2003. The DEP is awaiting a response from Loongana Lime prior to taking further action. However, the breach is considered minor with the average temperature in the kilns reported to be 1165 degrees Celsius rather than the required 1200 degrees Celsius. The maximum penalty for a breach of licence conditions under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 is $125,000. (9) The annual monitoring report, including the relevant inventory, was received by the DEP on 1 March 2003. (10) Answered by (9). (11-12) The DEP will not be prosecuting Loongana Lime for causing pollution or breaching licence conditions in the last 24 months. The DEP is satisfied Loongana has implemented reasonable and practicable measures to control pollution relevant to the breach of Condition A5. The DEP is still liaising with Loongana regarding the breach of Condition A7. The DEP will continue to pursue improvements to Loongana Lime’s operation and will work with the, soon to be established Kalgoorlie Community Industry Reference Group, to do this. Future breaches will be referred to the new Environmental Enforcement Unit.
(8) The specific licence condition for particulates that was breached was Condition A5 of licence No 6557/5. However, the DEP was satisfied with the commitments from Loongana in relation to its management of particulate levels, including the installation of a bag house filter system, using a refined oil and manipulating kiln feed rates in order to improve burning. Subsequently, particulate levels have reduced significantly from 690mg/m³ in April 2001 to 17mg/m³ in December 2002. The specific licence condition for kiln temperature is A7 of licence No 6557/6. This breach occurred on 2 April 2003. The DEP is awaiting a response from Loongana Lime prior to taking further action. However, the breach is considered minor with the average temperature in the kilns reported to be 1165 degrees Celsius rather than the required 1200 degrees Celsius. The maximum penalty for a breach of licence conditions under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 is $125,000. (9) The annual monitoring report, including the relevant inventory, was received by the DEP on 1 March 2003. (10) Answered by (9). (11-12) The DEP will not be prosecuting Loongana Lime for causing pollution or breaching licence conditions in the last 24 months. The DEP is satisfied Loongana has implemented reasonable and practicable measures to control pollution relevant to the breach of Condition A5. The DEP is still liaising with Loongana regarding the breach of Condition A7. The DEP will continue to pursue improvements to Loongana Lime’s operation and will work with the, soon to be established Kalgoorlie Community Industry Reference Group, to do this. Future breaches will be referred to the new Environmental Enforcement Unit.
The maximum penalty for a breach of licence conditions under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 is $125,000. (9) The annual monitoring report, including the relevant inventory, was received by the DEP on 1 March 2003. (10) Answered by (9). (11-12) The DEP will not be prosecuting Loongana Lime for causing pollution or breaching licence conditions in the last 24 months. The DEP is satisfied Loongana has implemented reasonable and practicable measures to control pollution relevant to the breach of Condition A5. The DEP is still liaising with Loongana regarding the breach of Condition A7. The DEP will continue to pursue improvements to Loongana Lime’s operation and will work with the, soon to be established Kalgoorlie Community Industry Reference Group, to do this. Future breaches will be referred to the new Environmental Enforcement Unit.
(9) The annual monitoring report, including the relevant inventory, was received by the DEP on 1 March 2003. (10) Answered by (9). (11-12) The DEP will not be prosecuting Loongana Lime for causing pollution or breaching licence conditions in the last 24 months. The DEP is satisfied Loongana has implemented reasonable and practicable measures to control pollution relevant to the breach of Condition A5. The DEP is still liaising with Loongana regarding the breach of Condition A7. The DEP will continue to pursue improvements to Loongana Lime’s operation and will work with the, soon to be established Kalgoorlie Community Industry Reference Group, to do this. Future breaches will be referred to the new Environmental Enforcement Unit.
(10) Answered by (9). (11-12) The DEP will not be prosecuting Loongana Lime for causing pollution or breaching licence conditions in the last 24 months. The DEP is satisfied Loongana has implemented reasonable and practicable measures to control pollution relevant to the breach of Condition A5. The DEP is still liaising with Loongana regarding the breach of Condition A7. The DEP will continue to pursue improvements to Loongana Lime’s operation and will work with the, soon to be established Kalgoorlie Community Industry Reference Group, to do this. Future breaches will be referred to the new Environmental Enforcement Unit.
(11-12) The DEP will not be prosecuting Loongana Lime for causing pollution or breaching licence conditions in the last 24 months. The DEP is satisfied Loongana has implemented reasonable and practicable measures to control pollution relevant to the breach of Condition A5. The DEP is still liaising with Loongana regarding the breach of Condition A7. The DEP will continue to pursue improvements to Loongana Lime’s operation and will work with the, soon to be established Kalgoorlie Community Industry Reference Group, to do this. Future breaches will be referred to the new Environmental Enforcement Unit.
The DEP is satisfied Loongana has implemented reasonable and practicable measures to control pollution relevant to the breach of Condition A5. The DEP is still liaising with Loongana regarding the breach of Condition A7. The DEP will continue to pursue improvements to Loongana Lime’s operation and will work with the, soon to be established Kalgoorlie Community Industry Reference Group, to do this. Future breaches will be referred to the new Environmental Enforcement Unit.

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