❓ Hon Paul Llewellyn questions the Minister for the Environment regarding KCGM's dust monitoring obligations and a potential breach following a Good Friday blast, referencing minutes, a newspaper article, and a letter from 2001. The Minister confirms KCGM's obligations and ongoing investigation, declining to comment further.
AnsweredQoN 2615Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the minutes of the KCGM CRG Meeting dated May 27 2005, a newspaper article which appeared in
The
West Australian
on Thursday, January 16 2003, titled ‘DEP in for major change’, a letter dated January 8 2001 signed by Director Pollution Prevention Division titled ‘KCGM Fimiston Operations Dust Complaints’ addressed to Mr John Shipp, Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines -
(1) Is it correct that part of the KCGM minutes dated May 27 2005 under the heading of ‘GM Update CJ’ from the General Manager of KCGM state ‘Also in regard to the Good Friday blast in 2005, it was something that we got wrong, I don’t think we could have predicted the wind shift. We didn’t do the monitoring and we had an obligation to the do the monitoring, apologies for that incident’?
(2) If no to (1), will the Minister quote the full text of minutes dated May 27 2005?
(3) Can the Minister explain why KCGM had an obligation to do the monitoring?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Is it correct that part of the letter dated January 8 2001 states ‘The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has received numerous complaints regarding dust from blasts at the Fimiston Open Pit Operations. A review of complaints has found that the last six received were when blasts occurred in the deeper levels of the pit. During these blasts the wind direction data provided by the Bureau of Meteorology demonstrated that the dust plume could have blown towards residential areas. In view of these ongoing complaints, the DEP suggests that no blasting occurs at the Open Pit Operations if the wind direction could reasonably be expected to direct the dust plume towards residential areas. Alternatively, KCGM is requested to demonstrate that dust from blasts in the deeper deposits does not cause unreasonable levels of dust in residential areas. Areas that appear to be most affected by dust include Clements Way, Johnston Street East and Federal Road, Boulder. In this regard, the placement of Hivol dust monitors in these areas with daily sampling may be appropriate as a means of showing what the actual dust levels in these areas are’?
(6) If no to (5), will the Minister specifically quote the text from the letter dated January 8 2001 sent to KCGM?
(7) Has the Environmental Enforcement Unit of the DoE been made aware of the May 27 2005 minutes in terms of evidence, in which the General Manager admits that KCGM had an obligation to do the monitoring?
(8) If yes to (7), on what date was the Environmental Enforcement Unit made aware of the Minutes?
(9) Can the Minister state when is the culture of the DoE finally going to change to clearly protecting the environment and community, and prosecuting KCGM for not adhering to obligations made to demonstrate that the DoE is a strong regulator and prosecution is not used as a last resort?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
The
West Australian
on Thursday, January 16 2003, titled ‘DEP in for major change’, a letter dated January 8 2001 signed by Director Pollution Prevention Division titled ‘KCGM Fimiston Operations Dust Complaints’ addressed to Mr John Shipp, Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines -
(1) Is it correct that part of the KCGM minutes dated May 27 2005 under the heading of ‘GM Update CJ’ from the General Manager of KCGM state ‘Also in regard to the Good Friday blast in 2005, it was something that we got wrong, I don’t think we could have predicted the wind shift. We didn’t do the monitoring and we had an obligation to the do the monitoring, apologies for that incident’?
(2) If no to (1), will the Minister quote the full text of minutes dated May 27 2005?
(3) Can the Minister explain why KCGM had an obligation to do the monitoring?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Is it correct that part of the letter dated January 8 2001 states ‘The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has received numerous complaints regarding dust from blasts at the Fimiston Open Pit Operations. A review of complaints has found that the last six received were when blasts occurred in the deeper levels of the pit. During these blasts the wind direction data provided by the Bureau of Meteorology demonstrated that the dust plume could have blown towards residential areas. In view of these ongoing complaints, the DEP suggests that no blasting occurs at the Open Pit Operations if the wind direction could reasonably be expected to direct the dust plume towards residential areas. Alternatively, KCGM is requested to demonstrate that dust from blasts in the deeper deposits does not cause unreasonable levels of dust in residential areas. Areas that appear to be most affected by dust include Clements Way, Johnston Street East and Federal Road, Boulder. In this regard, the placement of Hivol dust monitors in these areas with daily sampling may be appropriate as a means of showing what the actual dust levels in these areas are’?
(6) If no to (5), will the Minister specifically quote the text from the letter dated January 8 2001 sent to KCGM?
(7) Has the Environmental Enforcement Unit of the DoE been made aware of the May 27 2005 minutes in terms of evidence, in which the General Manager admits that KCGM had an obligation to do the monitoring?
(8) If yes to (7), on what date was the Environmental Enforcement Unit made aware of the Minutes?
(9) Can the Minister state when is the culture of the DoE finally going to change to clearly protecting the environment and community, and prosecuting KCGM for not adhering to obligations made to demonstrate that the DoE is a strong regulator and prosecution is not used as a last resort?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 November 2005
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
47 days
The Minister for the Environment; Science has provided the following response: (1) The Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mine (KCGM) Community Reference Group is not a committee of the Department of Environment. On the date in question there was no officer of the Department of Environment in attendance at that meeting. Notwithstanding the above, the minutes from the KCGM website at www.superpit.com.au state the text you quoted. (2) Not applicable. (3) The commitments made by KCGM are listed in Ministerial Statement 188. Two commitments relate to dust management. In commitment one the proponent committed to preparing and implementing an Environmental Management Programme for all of its operations. In commitment five the proponent committed to installing and supporting a Dust Monitoring Programme within the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area. (4) Not applicable. (5) Yes. (6) Not applicable. (7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(1) The Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mine (KCGM) Community Reference Group is not a committee of the Department of Environment. On the date in question there was no officer of the Department of Environment in attendance at that meeting. Notwithstanding the above, the minutes from the KCGM website at www.superpit.com.au state the text you quoted. (2) Not applicable. (3) The commitments made by KCGM are listed in Ministerial Statement 188. Two commitments relate to dust management. In commitment one the proponent committed to preparing and implementing an Environmental Management Programme for all of its operations. In commitment five the proponent committed to installing and supporting a Dust Monitoring Programme within the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area. (4) Not applicable. (5) Yes. (6) Not applicable. (7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(2) Not applicable. (3) The commitments made by KCGM are listed in Ministerial Statement 188. Two commitments relate to dust management. In commitment one the proponent committed to preparing and implementing an Environmental Management Programme for all of its operations. In commitment five the proponent committed to installing and supporting a Dust Monitoring Programme within the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area. (4) Not applicable. (5) Yes. (6) Not applicable. (7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(3) The commitments made by KCGM are listed in Ministerial Statement 188. Two commitments relate to dust management. In commitment one the proponent committed to preparing and implementing an Environmental Management Programme for all of its operations. In commitment five the proponent committed to installing and supporting a Dust Monitoring Programme within the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area. (4) Not applicable. (5) Yes. (6) Not applicable. (7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(4) Not applicable. (5) Yes. (6) Not applicable. (7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(5) Yes. (6) Not applicable. (7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(6) Not applicable. (7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(10) Not applicable.
(1) The Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mine (KCGM) Community Reference Group is not a committee of the Department of Environment. On the date in question there was no officer of the Department of Environment in attendance at that meeting. Notwithstanding the above, the minutes from the KCGM website at www.superpit.com.au state the text you quoted. (2) Not applicable. (3) The commitments made by KCGM are listed in Ministerial Statement 188. Two commitments relate to dust management. In commitment one the proponent committed to preparing and implementing an Environmental Management Programme for all of its operations. In commitment five the proponent committed to installing and supporting a Dust Monitoring Programme within the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area. (4) Not applicable. (5) Yes. (6) Not applicable. (7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(2) Not applicable. (3) The commitments made by KCGM are listed in Ministerial Statement 188. Two commitments relate to dust management. In commitment one the proponent committed to preparing and implementing an Environmental Management Programme for all of its operations. In commitment five the proponent committed to installing and supporting a Dust Monitoring Programme within the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area. (4) Not applicable. (5) Yes. (6) Not applicable. (7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(3) The commitments made by KCGM are listed in Ministerial Statement 188. Two commitments relate to dust management. In commitment one the proponent committed to preparing and implementing an Environmental Management Programme for all of its operations. In commitment five the proponent committed to installing and supporting a Dust Monitoring Programme within the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area. (4) Not applicable. (5) Yes. (6) Not applicable. (7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(4) Not applicable. (5) Yes. (6) Not applicable. (7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(5) Yes. (6) Not applicable. (7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(6) Not applicable. (7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(7) Yes. (8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(8) As this is part of an ongoing investigation I cannot give any further detail on this matter. (9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(9) It is not appropriate for me to comment, as the Department of Environment investigation into this event is ongoing. (10) Not applicable.
(10) Not applicable.
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