❓ Mr. Marmion questions the government on the implementation of Action 8 regarding Department of Health (DoH) review of hydraulic fracture stimulation projects. The response clarifies referral processes and timelines for DoH involvement.
AnsweredQoN 6241Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the government's Implementation Plan in response to the Final Report of the Independent Scientific Panel Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation, specifically Action 8 which is for the Department of Health (DOH) to review proposals where there is potential for public health impacts, and ask: (a) How many hydraulic fracture stimulation projects in the past have been referred to DOH for review and did they add or recommend further conditions to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) approval conditions; (b) If no projects have been referred by the EPA to the DOH in the past is there a reason; (c) Given that Action 7 seeks the EPA to consider under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act, "among other things", an exhaustive prescribed list of environmental and health related factors for assessment, what additional factors will DOH be able to add as part of their review of any proposals; (d) Has DOH provided the Senior Officials Steering Group (SOSG) with a draft process for DOH to review and provide advice to the EPA on the robustness of referred, peer-reviewed, site-specific risk assessments for future hydraulic fracture stimulation projects; (e) What date was Action 8 planned to be completed; and (f) When will Action 8 be completed and will it include the release of a draft discussion paper for public comment and feedback?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 August 2020
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Energy; Industrial Relations
Response time
6 days
(a) The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) has not referred any hydraulic fracture stimulation projects to DoH.
(b) The EPA chose not to assess any hydraulic fracture stimulation proposals prior to 2016 and none were received post-2016, prior to Black Mountain’s (Bennet Resources) self-referral in July 2020.
(c) DoH will review and provide advice on:
(d) Yes
(e) As set out in the publicly available Implementation Plan, the original completion date for Action 8 was May 2020.
(f) The position paper is planned to be published on the Hydraulic Fracture Website in the quarter ending 30 September 2020.
(b) The EPA chose not to assess any hydraulic fracture stimulation proposals prior to 2016 and none were received post-2016, prior to Black Mountain’s (Bennet Resources) self-referral in July 2020.
(c) DoH will review and provide advice on:
(d) Yes
(e) As set out in the publicly available Implementation Plan, the original completion date for Action 8 was May 2020.
(f) The position paper is planned to be published on the Hydraulic Fracture Website in the quarter ending 30 September 2020.
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