❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Environment regarding environmental concerns at Barrick Gold's Kanowna Belle and Raleigh Gold mines, specifically requesting information on communications and directions issued by the DEC and legal enforceability of license conditions. The Minister confirms communications occurred and tables documents, while citing legal privilege regarding legal advice.
AnsweredQoN 2314Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Kanowna Belle Gold mine and Raleigh Gold mine both owned by Barrick Gold located near Kalgoorlie Boulder, and ask -
(1) Has any written directions, communications or environmental field notices in correspondence concerning environmental concerns for the above mines, been issued by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), for any issues in the years, -
(a) 2008;
(b) 2009; and
(c) 2010?
(2) If yes to (1), what specifically were the written directions and issues raised in correspondence/environmental field notices?
(3) Will the Minister table copies of all written correspondence, directions, communications, or environmental field notices, issued to both of the above referred to mines for the years, -
(a) 2008;
(b) 2009; and
(c) 2010?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Has the DEC checked, and/or received any legal advice to ensure that all licence conditions imposed by the Department for both mining operations are legally enforceable?
(6) If yes to (5), when on what date was this done?
(7) If no to (5), why not?
(1) Has any written directions, communications or environmental field notices in correspondence concerning environmental concerns for the above mines, been issued by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), for any issues in the years, -
(a) 2008;
(b) 2009; and
(c) 2010?
(2) If yes to (1), what specifically were the written directions and issues raised in correspondence/environmental field notices?
(3) Will the Minister table copies of all written correspondence, directions, communications, or environmental field notices, issued to both of the above referred to mines for the years, -
(a) 2008;
(b) 2009; and
(c) 2010?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Has the DEC checked, and/or received any legal advice to ensure that all licence conditions imposed by the Department for both mining operations are legally enforceable?
(6) If yes to (5), when on what date was this done?
(7) If no to (5), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 June 2010
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
42 days
(1) (a) - (c) Yes
(2) The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) issued an Environmental Field Notice to Barrick Kanowna on 5 May 2008 requesting information about the cause of the tailings dam decant spill. Following its investigations into this incident, DEC issued a letter of warning on 30 October 2009.
An inspection letter dated 26 August 2009 from DEC required Kundana Gold to undertake a range of measures relating to monitoring and management of the tailings storage facility and tyre disposal.
DEC sent an inspection letter dated 23 February 2010 to Barrick Kanowna requiring it to provide information relating to progress and timelines for improvements to calcine dam freeboard and pipeline bunding. A further inspection letter was sent on 7 May 2010 (incorrectly dated 30 April 2010) requiring Barrick Kanowna to undertake a further clean-up of the calcine dam area and provide a management plan for the control of material in this area.
(3) - (4) Yes. I table the attached documents.
(5) - (7) Where necessary, DEC seeks and receives legal advice on the drafting of licence conditions. Any legal advice DEC seeks or receives is subject to legal professional privilege and it is not appropriate for me to comment further on this.
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(2) The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) issued an Environmental Field Notice to Barrick Kanowna on 5 May 2008 requesting information about the cause of the tailings dam decant spill. Following its investigations into this incident, DEC issued a letter of warning on 30 October 2009.
An inspection letter dated 26 August 2009 from DEC required Kundana Gold to undertake a range of measures relating to monitoring and management of the tailings storage facility and tyre disposal.
DEC sent an inspection letter dated 23 February 2010 to Barrick Kanowna requiring it to provide information relating to progress and timelines for improvements to calcine dam freeboard and pipeline bunding. A further inspection letter was sent on 7 May 2010 (incorrectly dated 30 April 2010) requiring Barrick Kanowna to undertake a further clean-up of the calcine dam area and provide a management plan for the control of material in this area.
(3) - (4) Yes. I table the attached documents.
(5) - (7) Where necessary, DEC seeks and receives legal advice on the drafting of licence conditions. Any legal advice DEC seeks or receives is subject to legal professional privilege and it is not appropriate for me to comment further on this.
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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