❓ The WA government provides information on licensed premises discharging into Cockburn Sound, including the types and amounts of authorised discharges, and details 11 unauthorised discharges since 2008, along with actions taken.
AnsweredQoN 5252Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
In relation to Cockburn Sound: (a) how many licensed premises continue to discharge into the Sound, and please list their names; (b) what are their authorised discharges; (c) how many unauthorised discharges are known to have occurred in Cockburn Sound since 2008; and (d) in each case outlined in (c): (i) what was the premise; volume; composition and nature of the discharge; and (ii) what action, including prosecution, was taken?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 May 2016
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
55 days
(a) Four licensed premises discharge cooling water into Cockburn Sound:
- BP Refinery Kwinana;
- Electricity Generation and Retail Corporation Kwinana Power Station;
- Electricity Generation and Retail Corporation Cockburn Power Station No. 1; and
- Newgen Power Kwinana.
Two licensed premises routinely discharge process waste water into Cockburn Sound:
- Water Corporation, Perth Seawater Desalination Plant; and
- Tronox (Tiwest) Pigment Plant.
Two licensed premises are authorised to discharge process wastewater to Cockburn Sound but generally discharge via the Sepia Depression Deep Ocean Outfall (SDOOL) and will only discharge to Cockburn Sound in an emergency when discharge to the SDOOL is not possible:
- BP Refinery Kwinana; and
- CSBP fertilizer plant.
(b) Authorised cooling water discharges are seawater that has been taken from the sound and returned to the sound. Licenses have limits on temperature and free chlorine which may have been added as an antifouling agent.
The Perth Seawater Desalination Plant is authorised to discharge desalination effluent including brine. Ministerial Statement Nos. 626, 655 and 832 apply to the plant. Ministerial Statement No. 832 includes conditions that require the development and implementation of a marine monitoring plan and management response to declines in dissolved oxygen in the bottom waters of Cockburn Sound.
Tronox is authorised to discharge treated process wastewaters with licence limits on suspended solids, pH and manganese. Ministerial Statement No. 452 applies to the plant, which includes conditions (proponent’s environmental management commitments) relating to the management and monitoring of wastewater discharge to Cockburn Sound.
BP Refinery Kwinana is authorised to discharge treated process wastewater with limits on hydrocarbons nutrients and selected metals. Ministerial Statement No. 161 applies to the plant but does not include any specific conditions relating to wastewater discharge to Cockburn Sound.
CSBP is authorised to discharge treated process wastewater with limits on nutrients, cyanide and selected metals. Ministerial Statement Nos. 34 and 875 apply to the plant. Ministerial Statement No. 34 includes conditions that relate to discharges of wastewater to Cockburn Sound (monitoring program and reporting arrangements).
(c) 11.
(d)
1. (i) 19 October 2008 - BP Refinery jetty pipeline - estimated 600-800 litres - leak of fire-fighting foam.
(ii) Investigated – infringement issued for $500.
2. (i) 12 September 2009 - Kwinana Power Station - estimated leak of 220 litres oil.
(ii) Investigated - letter of warning issued.
3. (i) 27 June 2011 - Alcoa Jetty Kwinana - discharge of unknown volume of fluid from vessel.
(ii) Investigated - referred to Fremantle Port Authority.
4. (i) 22 July 2011 - Kwinana Power Station - emission to air of ash.
(ii) Investigated - caused by equipment failure. No further action.
5. (i) 14 June 2012 - Alcoa Kwinana Jetty - leak of an estimated 80 litres of hydraulic oil.
(ii) Investigated - equipment failure. No further action.
6. (i) 31 December 2012 - Kwinana Power Station - discharge of an estimated 100 litres of ash contaminated water.
(ii) Cause undetermined. No further action.
7. (i) 3 March 2013 - Kwinana Power Station - discharge of an estimated 1000 litres of ash contaminated water.
(ii) Cause undetermined. No further action.
8. (i) 22 November 2013 - Coogee Chemicals Kwinana - leak of an unknown quantity of diesel fuel.
(ii) Investigated - pipeline equipment failure. Environmental Field Notice issued.
- BP Refinery Kwinana;
- Electricity Generation and Retail Corporation Kwinana Power Station;
- Electricity Generation and Retail Corporation Cockburn Power Station No. 1; and
- Newgen Power Kwinana.
Two licensed premises routinely discharge process waste water into Cockburn Sound:
- Water Corporation, Perth Seawater Desalination Plant; and
- Tronox (Tiwest) Pigment Plant.
Two licensed premises are authorised to discharge process wastewater to Cockburn Sound but generally discharge via the Sepia Depression Deep Ocean Outfall (SDOOL) and will only discharge to Cockburn Sound in an emergency when discharge to the SDOOL is not possible:
- BP Refinery Kwinana; and
- CSBP fertilizer plant.
(b) Authorised cooling water discharges are seawater that has been taken from the sound and returned to the sound. Licenses have limits on temperature and free chlorine which may have been added as an antifouling agent.
The Perth Seawater Desalination Plant is authorised to discharge desalination effluent including brine. Ministerial Statement Nos. 626, 655 and 832 apply to the plant. Ministerial Statement No. 832 includes conditions that require the development and implementation of a marine monitoring plan and management response to declines in dissolved oxygen in the bottom waters of Cockburn Sound.
Tronox is authorised to discharge treated process wastewaters with licence limits on suspended solids, pH and manganese. Ministerial Statement No. 452 applies to the plant, which includes conditions (proponent’s environmental management commitments) relating to the management and monitoring of wastewater discharge to Cockburn Sound.
BP Refinery Kwinana is authorised to discharge treated process wastewater with limits on hydrocarbons nutrients and selected metals. Ministerial Statement No. 161 applies to the plant but does not include any specific conditions relating to wastewater discharge to Cockburn Sound.
CSBP is authorised to discharge treated process wastewater with limits on nutrients, cyanide and selected metals. Ministerial Statement Nos. 34 and 875 apply to the plant. Ministerial Statement No. 34 includes conditions that relate to discharges of wastewater to Cockburn Sound (monitoring program and reporting arrangements).
(c) 11.
(d)
1. (i) 19 October 2008 - BP Refinery jetty pipeline - estimated 600-800 litres - leak of fire-fighting foam.
(ii) Investigated – infringement issued for $500.
2. (i) 12 September 2009 - Kwinana Power Station - estimated leak of 220 litres oil.
(ii) Investigated - letter of warning issued.
3. (i) 27 June 2011 - Alcoa Jetty Kwinana - discharge of unknown volume of fluid from vessel.
(ii) Investigated - referred to Fremantle Port Authority.
4. (i) 22 July 2011 - Kwinana Power Station - emission to air of ash.
(ii) Investigated - caused by equipment failure. No further action.
5. (i) 14 June 2012 - Alcoa Kwinana Jetty - leak of an estimated 80 litres of hydraulic oil.
(ii) Investigated - equipment failure. No further action.
6. (i) 31 December 2012 - Kwinana Power Station - discharge of an estimated 100 litres of ash contaminated water.
(ii) Cause undetermined. No further action.
7. (i) 3 March 2013 - Kwinana Power Station - discharge of an estimated 1000 litres of ash contaminated water.
(ii) Cause undetermined. No further action.
8. (i) 22 November 2013 - Coogee Chemicals Kwinana - leak of an unknown quantity of diesel fuel.
(ii) Investigated - pipeline equipment failure. Environmental Field Notice issued.
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