❓ A parliamentary question regarding the storage and monitoring of Lynas Corporation's rare earth concentrate at Bibra Lake, focusing on radioactivity and public safety. The Minister provides a partial answer, referencing regulations and Lynas's compliance.
AnsweredQoN 344Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LYNAS CORPORATION LTD RARE EARTH PROJECT
344. Ms A.S. CARLES to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the export of rare earth by Lynas Corporation Ltd
.
(1) What is the location at Bibra Lake where the rare earth
concentrate is currently being stockpiled?
(2) What is
the current amount of rare earth concentrate that has been stockpiled in Bibra
Lake since March?
(3) Have local
residents and workers been informed that radioactive material is being stored
at this site, and is radioactive signage in place?
(4) Has
radiation monitoring been conducted on this stockpile, as required by the
radiation monitoring plan?
(5) Can the minister please table these monitoring results?
344. Ms A.S. CARLES to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the export of rare earth by Lynas Corporation Ltd
.
(1) What is the location at Bibra Lake where the rare earth
concentrate is currently being stockpiled?
(2) What is
the current amount of rare earth concentrate that has been stockpiled in Bibra
Lake since March?
(3) Have local
residents and workers been informed that radioactive material is being stored
at this site, and is radioactive signage in place?
(4) Has
radiation monitoring been conducted on this stockpile, as required by the
radiation monitoring plan?
(5) Can the minister please table these monitoring results?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Fremantle for giving me a tiny bit of
notice for this question; it was a bit late though as I was only given notice
at 2.10 pm. It is quite a detailed question. I cannot answer in detail but I
can give the member some information about the Lynas rare earth project.
(1)–(5)
The transportation of radioactive substances is regulated under the Radiation
Safety (Transport of Radioactive Substances) Regulations 2002, which is
overseen by the Radiological Council. The levels of radioactivity in the Lynas
rare earth concentrate are below the requirements for classification under the
radiation safety regulations. However, the regulations classify this material
as radioactive, and require signage to be placed at premises where storage
occurs for longer than 24 hours. Therefore, Lynas has advised it has placed
appropriate signage at the Bibra Lake holding yard and the various stevedoring
areas at the port of Fremantle in accordance with the regulations. The Lynas
radiation management plan, which has been approved by the Environmental
Protection Authority on advice from the Radiological Council, indicates that
exposure to the public under very conservative scenarios would be many times
less than the levels found in the natural environment.
notice for this question; it was a bit late though as I was only given notice
at 2.10 pm. It is quite a detailed question. I cannot answer in detail but I
can give the member some information about the Lynas rare earth project.
(1)–(5)
The transportation of radioactive substances is regulated under the Radiation
Safety (Transport of Radioactive Substances) Regulations 2002, which is
overseen by the Radiological Council. The levels of radioactivity in the Lynas
rare earth concentrate are below the requirements for classification under the
radiation safety regulations. However, the regulations classify this material
as radioactive, and require signage to be placed at premises where storage
occurs for longer than 24 hours. Therefore, Lynas has advised it has placed
appropriate signage at the Bibra Lake holding yard and the various stevedoring
areas at the port of Fremantle in accordance with the regulations. The Lynas
radiation management plan, which has been approved by the Environmental
Protection Authority on advice from the Radiological Council, indicates that
exposure to the public under very conservative scenarios would be many times
less than the levels found in the natural environment.
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