❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the adequacy of KCGM's license conditions W3 and W4 regarding cyanide contamination from tailings dams, specifically concerning freeboard requirements and pipeline bunding. The Minister's response clarifies the intent and application of these conditions.
AnsweredQoN 665Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to question on notice No. 532 of March 11 2003 and answers provided -
(1) Is it correct that condition W3 for KCGM’s Licence under the heading of ‘Freeboard Requirement’ states ‘The Licensee shall maintain a minimum operational freeboard of 300mm within all holding facilities containing saline water, alkaline or cyanide constituents. This includes but is not limited to tailings storage facilities, return water dams and raw water dams’?
(2) If no to (1), will the Minister state what is the specific text of the licence condition?
(3) If yes to (2), can the Minister explain how the potential contamination from cyanide in the Fimiston I and Fimiston II tailings dams contaminating surface waters, contaminating underground waters, damaging vegetation or causing pollution can be adequately covered under condition W3 given that this condition is specifically concerned with the Freeboard Requirement and not the Holding Facilities the tailings dams themselves?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Is it correct that condition W4 for KCGM’s licence under the heading of ‘Bunding of Pipelines’ states ‘The Licensee shall ensure that all pipelines containing saline, alkaline or cyanide constituents are either buried or sited within appropriately bunded facilities. This includes but is not limited to tailings delivery lines, return water lines and saline water lines?
(6) Where pipelines are situated above ground, the licensee shall ensure that catch pits are sited at appropriate low points along the pipeline route to enable the containment of spills’?
(7) If no to (5), will the Minister state what is the specific text of the licence condition?
(8) If yes to (5), can the Minister explain how the potential contamination from cyanide in the Fimiston I and Fimiston II tailings dams contaminating surface waters, contaminating underground waters, damaging vegetation or causing pollution can be adequately covered under condition W4 given that this condition is specifically concerned with the Bunding of Pipelines and not the Holding Facilities the tailings dams themselves?
(1) Is it correct that condition W3 for KCGM’s Licence under the heading of ‘Freeboard Requirement’ states ‘The Licensee shall maintain a minimum operational freeboard of 300mm within all holding facilities containing saline water, alkaline or cyanide constituents. This includes but is not limited to tailings storage facilities, return water dams and raw water dams’?
(2) If no to (1), will the Minister state what is the specific text of the licence condition?
(3) If yes to (2), can the Minister explain how the potential contamination from cyanide in the Fimiston I and Fimiston II tailings dams contaminating surface waters, contaminating underground waters, damaging vegetation or causing pollution can be adequately covered under condition W3 given that this condition is specifically concerned with the Freeboard Requirement and not the Holding Facilities the tailings dams themselves?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Is it correct that condition W4 for KCGM’s licence under the heading of ‘Bunding of Pipelines’ states ‘The Licensee shall ensure that all pipelines containing saline, alkaline or cyanide constituents are either buried or sited within appropriately bunded facilities. This includes but is not limited to tailings delivery lines, return water lines and saline water lines?
(6) Where pipelines are situated above ground, the licensee shall ensure that catch pits are sited at appropriate low points along the pipeline route to enable the containment of spills’?
(7) If no to (5), will the Minister state what is the specific text of the licence condition?
(8) If yes to (5), can the Minister explain how the potential contamination from cyanide in the Fimiston I and Fimiston II tailings dams contaminating surface waters, contaminating underground waters, damaging vegetation or causing pollution can be adequately covered under condition W4 given that this condition is specifically concerned with the Bunding of Pipelines and not the Holding Facilities the tailings dams themselves?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
13 May 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
34 days
(2) Answered by (1). (3) The freeboard requirement also applies to the tailings dams as stated in Condition W3 to prevent over topping. Leakage through dam walls is collected in the toe drains and seepage intercepting drains of the tailings dam. (4) Answered by (3). (5) Yes. (6) Yes. (7) Answered by (5). (8) The intent of this condition is to contain tailings containing cyanide within bunded area to prevent the potential contamination from cyanide at KCGM’s Fimiston operation.
(3) The freeboard requirement also applies to the tailings dams as stated in Condition W3 to prevent over topping. Leakage through dam walls is collected in the toe drains and seepage intercepting drains of the tailings dam. (4) Answered by (3). (5) Yes. (6) Yes. (7) Answered by (5). (8) The intent of this condition is to contain tailings containing cyanide within bunded area to prevent the potential contamination from cyanide at KCGM’s Fimiston operation.
(4) Answered by (3). (5) Yes. (6) Yes. (7) Answered by (5). (8) The intent of this condition is to contain tailings containing cyanide within bunded area to prevent the potential contamination from cyanide at KCGM’s Fimiston operation.
(5) Yes. (6) Yes. (7) Answered by (5). (8) The intent of this condition is to contain tailings containing cyanide within bunded area to prevent the potential contamination from cyanide at KCGM’s Fimiston operation.
(6) Yes. (7) Answered by (5). (8) The intent of this condition is to contain tailings containing cyanide within bunded area to prevent the potential contamination from cyanide at KCGM’s Fimiston operation.
(7) Answered by (5). (8) The intent of this condition is to contain tailings containing cyanide within bunded area to prevent the potential contamination from cyanide at KCGM’s Fimiston operation.
(8) The intent of this condition is to contain tailings containing cyanide within bunded area to prevent the potential contamination from cyanide at KCGM’s Fimiston operation.
(3) The freeboard requirement also applies to the tailings dams as stated in Condition W3 to prevent over topping. Leakage through dam walls is collected in the toe drains and seepage intercepting drains of the tailings dam. (4) Answered by (3). (5) Yes. (6) Yes. (7) Answered by (5). (8) The intent of this condition is to contain tailings containing cyanide within bunded area to prevent the potential contamination from cyanide at KCGM’s Fimiston operation.
(4) Answered by (3). (5) Yes. (6) Yes. (7) Answered by (5). (8) The intent of this condition is to contain tailings containing cyanide within bunded area to prevent the potential contamination from cyanide at KCGM’s Fimiston operation.
(5) Yes. (6) Yes. (7) Answered by (5). (8) The intent of this condition is to contain tailings containing cyanide within bunded area to prevent the potential contamination from cyanide at KCGM’s Fimiston operation.
(6) Yes. (7) Answered by (5). (8) The intent of this condition is to contain tailings containing cyanide within bunded area to prevent the potential contamination from cyanide at KCGM’s Fimiston operation.
(7) Answered by (5). (8) The intent of this condition is to contain tailings containing cyanide within bunded area to prevent the potential contamination from cyanide at KCGM’s Fimiston operation.
(8) The intent of this condition is to contain tailings containing cyanide within bunded area to prevent the potential contamination from cyanide at KCGM’s Fimiston operation.
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