❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the Chevron Gorgon Project's impact on turtle nesting beaches on Barrow Island. The Minister's response clarifies environmental conditions, nesting seasons, and denies pipeline work on nesting beaches.
AnsweredQoN 5111Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to the Chevron Gorgon Project on Barrow Island, I ask -
(1) What are the conditions imposed upon Chevron, and subcontractors to Chevron, with regards to turtle nesting beaches on Barrow Island?
(2) Can the Minister advise the approximate duration of the annual turtle nesting season on Barrow Island?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
(4) In the period 14 October 2011 to the present time, has a 24 hour pipe laying operation been ongoing on a designated turtle nesting beach on the north east shore of Barrow Island throughout turtle nesting season?
(5) If no to (4), what are the hours of work?
(6) If yes to (4), has Chevron breached any environmental conditions by undertaking this operation?
(7) If no to (6), why are conditions not in place to protect nesting and hatching turtles from the impacts of the Gorgon project?
(8) If yes to (6), what action will the Minister take to enforce compliance with these conditions?
(1) What are the conditions imposed upon Chevron, and subcontractors to Chevron, with regards to turtle nesting beaches on Barrow Island?
(2) Can the Minister advise the approximate duration of the annual turtle nesting season on Barrow Island?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
(4) In the period 14 October 2011 to the present time, has a 24 hour pipe laying operation been ongoing on a designated turtle nesting beach on the north east shore of Barrow Island throughout turtle nesting season?
(5) If no to (4), what are the hours of work?
(6) If yes to (4), has Chevron breached any environmental conditions by undertaking this operation?
(7) If no to (6), why are conditions not in place to protect nesting and hatching turtles from the impacts of the Gorgon project?
(8) If yes to (6), what action will the Minister take to enforce compliance with these conditions?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 May 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
56 days
(1)
Under Condition 16 of Ministerial Statement 800, Chevron Australia is required to develop and implement a Long-term Marine Turtle Management Plan.
The Management Plan is required to address the long-term management of marine turtles and specifies design features, management measures and operating controls to manage and, where practicable, avoid adverse impacts on turtles.
The Management Plan contains strategies to manage impacts on turtles from those activities that were identified through a risk assessment as having the potential to cause adverse impacts.
(2) The timing and duration of turtle nesting on Barrow Island varies depending on species. Green turtles nest primarily on the western and northern beaches between October and April with a peak from December to February. Flatback turtles nest on the eastern beaches between October and March with a peak in December and January. Hawksbill turtles nest, in small numbers, on both the east and west coasts between July and February with a peak in October and November.
(3) Not applicable
(4)-(5) No. The pipeline installation scope does not involve work occurring on any turtle nesting beach. The horizontal directional drilling shore crossing methodology was specifically selected to avoid work on the beach. The only pipelay operations during this time were west of Barrow Island commencing approximately 800 metres offshore and proceeding to the Gorgon and Jansz-Io gas fields.
(6) Not applicable
(7) See the answer to (1).
(8) Not applicable
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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Under Condition 16 of Ministerial Statement 800, Chevron Australia is required to develop and implement a Long-term Marine Turtle Management Plan.
The Management Plan is required to address the long-term management of marine turtles and specifies design features, management measures and operating controls to manage and, where practicable, avoid adverse impacts on turtles.
The Management Plan contains strategies to manage impacts on turtles from those activities that were identified through a risk assessment as having the potential to cause adverse impacts.
(2) The timing and duration of turtle nesting on Barrow Island varies depending on species. Green turtles nest primarily on the western and northern beaches between October and April with a peak from December to February. Flatback turtles nest on the eastern beaches between October and March with a peak in December and January. Hawksbill turtles nest, in small numbers, on both the east and west coasts between July and February with a peak in October and November.
(3) Not applicable
(4)-(5) No. The pipeline installation scope does not involve work occurring on any turtle nesting beach. The horizontal directional drilling shore crossing methodology was specifically selected to avoid work on the beach. The only pipelay operations during this time were west of Barrow Island commencing approximately 800 metres offshore and proceeding to the Gorgon and Jansz-Io gas fields.
(6) Not applicable
(7) See the answer to (1).
(8) Not applicable
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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