❓ A Member of Parliament questions the Minister for the Environment regarding the Kaltails Tailings Dam, seeking information on a scoping document and the conditions of the works approval, particularly concerning potential water contamination. The Minister declines to investigate due to the age of the records and lack of evidence of impact.
AnsweredQoN 2174Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
With reference to the Kaltails Tailings Dam, the lakeside conservation reserve for the preservation of sandalwood and the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) environmental scoping document dated 20 January 2006, titled
Fimiston Gold Mine Operations Extension (stage 3) and Mine Closure Planning
, I ask -
(1) Will the Minister release the full text of the scoping document?
(2) Is it correct that the operator of the Kaltails facility was issued a works approval to construct the Tailings Dam with a condition which stated that all matter containing saline, alkaline, or cyanide constituents shall be retained within impervious holding facilities such that there is no discernible impairment of surface or underground waters?
(a) If no, will the Minister release the full text of the works approval issued to construct the Tailings Dam; and
(b) If yes, on what specific date was this works approval condition imposed?
Fimiston Gold Mine Operations Extension (stage 3) and Mine Closure Planning
, I ask -
(1) Will the Minister release the full text of the scoping document?
(2) Is it correct that the operator of the Kaltails facility was issued a works approval to construct the Tailings Dam with a condition which stated that all matter containing saline, alkaline, or cyanide constituents shall be retained within impervious holding facilities such that there is no discernible impairment of surface or underground waters?
(a) If no, will the Minister release the full text of the works approval issued to construct the Tailings Dam; and
(b) If yes, on what specific date was this works approval condition imposed?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 May 2007
Responded by
Minister for the Environment
Response time
34 days
(b) If yes, on what specific date was this works approval condition imposed?
(2) The Kaltails Tailings facility has not been actively deposited to for some years, and the records associated with its activity are in archive. The period in question is from almost twenty years ago and I do not support the use of the resources of the Department of Environment and Conservation to locate and retrieve these files. I am advised that there is no evidence to suggest that there are any impacts as a result of this facility, and there are no active investigations into Newmont Kaltails with respect to seepage, and/or impacts relating to the facility.
(2) The Kaltails Tailings facility has not been actively deposited to for some years, and the records associated with its activity are in archive. The period in question is from almost twenty years ago and I do not support the use of the resources of the Department of Environment and Conservation to locate and retrieve these files. I am advised that there is no evidence to suggest that there are any impacts as a result of this facility, and there are no active investigations into Newmont Kaltails with respect to seepage, and/or impacts relating to the facility.
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