❓ Hon Nigel Hallett questions the Minister for Health about the lack of environmental monitoring in Yarloop regarding emissions from the Wagerup refinery, despite evidence of plume descent and potential health impacts. The Minister responds that monitoring will not be conducted in the same way as Esperance due to the different nature of the emissions, but the Department of Health will collaborate with the Department of Environment and Conservation and oversee a health study.
AnsweredQoN 656Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WAGERUP REFINERY EMISSIONS 656. Hon NIGEL HALLETT to the minister representing the Minister for Health: I refer to the impact of emissions caused by the Wagerup refinery. In July 2007, the Minister for Health wrote to Messrs Cockerham and King. The reference numbers of the letters are 4-42825, 4-43439 and 4-43440. In the letters, the Minister for Health advised Messrs Cockerham and King that the air quality management branch of the Department of Environment and Conservation detected results that confirmed the ability for a plume from the refinery to descend on the local community for some hours. The minister also stated that further studies were being conducted to identify the compounds in the plume that would have the ability to impact on a person’s health. In light of this and other issues, will the minister advise why he has advised the Department of Health that no plans for environmental monitoring will be conducted, such as testing rainwater tanks, swabbing surfaces of homes and testing soil and local vegetation, to determine whether these refinery emissions are impacting on the health of the residents or the environment? Hon SUE ELLERY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Health will not be undertaking environmental monitoring in Yarloop along the same lines as it has done in Esperance. This is because the nature of the refinery emissions in Yarloop is not as well defined and measurable in the community or environment as is lead dust in Esperance. The Department of Health will work closely with the Department of Environment and Conservation regarding ongoing work by DEC to identify the compounds in airborne emissions and determine the potential impact they could have on a person’s health. Also the Department of Health is overseeing an independent baseline health study, which is to be undertaken by the University of Western Australia.
WAGERUP REFINERY EMISSIONS
I refer to the impact of emissions caused by the Wagerup refinery. In July 2007, the Minister for Health wrote to Messrs Cockerham and King. The reference numbers of the letters are 4-42825, 4-43439 and 4-43440. In the letters, the Minister for Health advised Messrs Cockerham and King that the air quality management branch of the Department of Environment and Conservation detected results that confirmed the ability for a plume from the refinery to descend on the local community for some hours. The minister also stated that further studies were being conducted to identify the compounds in the plume that would have the ability to impact on a person’s health. In light of this and other issues, will the minister advise why he has advised the Department of Health that no plans for environmental monitoring will be conducted, such as testing rainwater tanks, swabbing surfaces of homes and testing soil and local vegetation, to determine whether these refinery emissions are impacting on the health of the residents or the environment? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Health will not be undertaking environmental monitoring in Yarloop along the same lines as it has done in Esperance. This is because the nature of the refinery emissions in Yarloop is not as well defined and measurable in the community or environment as is lead dust in Esperance. The Department of Health will work closely with the Department of Environment and Conservation regarding ongoing work by DEC to identify the compounds in airborne emissions and determine the potential impact they could have on a person’s health. Also the Department of Health is overseeing an independent baseline health study, which is to be undertaken by the University of Western Australia.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Health will not be undertaking environmental monitoring in Yarloop along the same lines as it has done in Esperance. This is because the nature of the refinery emissions in Yarloop is not as well defined and measurable in the community or environment as is lead dust in Esperance. The Department of Health will work closely with the Department of Environment and Conservation regarding ongoing work by DEC to identify the compounds in airborne emissions and determine the potential impact they could have on a person’s health. Also the Department of Health is overseeing an independent baseline health study, which is to be undertaken by the University of Western Australia.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Health will not be undertaking environmental monitoring in Yarloop along the same lines as it has done in Esperance. This is because the nature of the refinery emissions in Yarloop is not as well defined and measurable in the community or environment as is lead dust in Esperance. The Department of Health will work closely with the Department of Environment and Conservation regarding ongoing work by DEC to identify the compounds in airborne emissions and determine the potential impact they could have on a person’s health. Also the Department of Health is overseeing an independent baseline health study, which is to be undertaken by the University of Western Australia.
WAGERUP REFINERY EMISSIONS
I refer to the impact of emissions caused by the Wagerup refinery. In July 2007, the Minister for Health wrote to Messrs Cockerham and King. The reference numbers of the letters are 4-42825, 4-43439 and 4-43440. In the letters, the Minister for Health advised Messrs Cockerham and King that the air quality management branch of the Department of Environment and Conservation detected results that confirmed the ability for a plume from the refinery to descend on the local community for some hours. The minister also stated that further studies were being conducted to identify the compounds in the plume that would have the ability to impact on a person’s health. In light of this and other issues, will the minister advise why he has advised the Department of Health that no plans for environmental monitoring will be conducted, such as testing rainwater tanks, swabbing surfaces of homes and testing soil and local vegetation, to determine whether these refinery emissions are impacting on the health of the residents or the environment? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Health will not be undertaking environmental monitoring in Yarloop along the same lines as it has done in Esperance. This is because the nature of the refinery emissions in Yarloop is not as well defined and measurable in the community or environment as is lead dust in Esperance. The Department of Health will work closely with the Department of Environment and Conservation regarding ongoing work by DEC to identify the compounds in airborne emissions and determine the potential impact they could have on a person’s health. Also the Department of Health is overseeing an independent baseline health study, which is to be undertaken by the University of Western Australia.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Health will not be undertaking environmental monitoring in Yarloop along the same lines as it has done in Esperance. This is because the nature of the refinery emissions in Yarloop is not as well defined and measurable in the community or environment as is lead dust in Esperance. The Department of Health will work closely with the Department of Environment and Conservation regarding ongoing work by DEC to identify the compounds in airborne emissions and determine the potential impact they could have on a person’s health. Also the Department of Health is overseeing an independent baseline health study, which is to be undertaken by the University of Western Australia.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Health will not be undertaking environmental monitoring in Yarloop along the same lines as it has done in Esperance. This is because the nature of the refinery emissions in Yarloop is not as well defined and measurable in the community or environment as is lead dust in Esperance. The Department of Health will work closely with the Department of Environment and Conservation regarding ongoing work by DEC to identify the compounds in airborne emissions and determine the potential impact they could have on a person’s health. Also the Department of Health is overseeing an independent baseline health study, which is to be undertaken by the University of Western Australia.
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