❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks clarification on whether saline groundwater and rainwater within a mining lease are considered part of the environment under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. The Minister clarifies the Department's position based on the presence of living things.
AnsweredQoN 2879Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a letter which I understand is dated August 29 2005 signed by Acting Director General, Department of Environment titled ‘Various issues relating to Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) Works Approval Application for the raise of the Fimiston I Tailings storage facility’ -
(1) Is the natural saline groundwater which may exist within the confines of Prospecting Licence 26/3126 considered by the Department to be part of the environment as defined under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
?
(2) If no to (2), can the Minister explain why not?
(3) If yes to (1), can the Minister explain why?
(4) Is the natural fresh rain water which may fall onto the confines of Prospecting Licence 26/3126 considered by the Department to be part of the environment as defined under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) If yes to (4), can the Minister explain why?
(1) Is the natural saline groundwater which may exist within the confines of Prospecting Licence 26/3126 considered by the Department to be part of the environment as defined under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
?
(2) If no to (2), can the Minister explain why not?
(3) If yes to (1), can the Minister explain why?
(4) Is the natural fresh rain water which may fall onto the confines of Prospecting Licence 26/3126 considered by the Department to be part of the environment as defined under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) If yes to (4), can the Minister explain why?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 March 2006
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
124 days
The Minister for the Environment; Science has provided the following response: The following information is correct as at 13 December 2005. (1) No (2) The Environmental Protection Act 1986 Section 3 defines environment as " subject to subsection (2), means living things, their physical, biological and social surroundings and interactions between all of these ;" The Department of Environment (DoE) considers that the naturally occurring saline groundwater which exists in the area is not a living thing. There is no evidence of living things relying on this saline water for their survival. It is worth noting that the saline water found in the area is generally hyper-saline, often many times saltier than sea water. (3) Not applicable. (4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
The following information is correct as at 13 December 2005. (1) No (2) The Environmental Protection Act 1986 Section 3 defines environment as " subject to subsection (2), means living things, their physical, biological and social surroundings and interactions between all of these ;" The Department of Environment (DoE) considers that the naturally occurring saline groundwater which exists in the area is not a living thing. There is no evidence of living things relying on this saline water for their survival. It is worth noting that the saline water found in the area is generally hyper-saline, often many times saltier than sea water. (3) Not applicable. (4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
(1) No (2) The Environmental Protection Act 1986 Section 3 defines environment as " subject to subsection (2), means living things, their physical, biological and social surroundings and interactions between all of these ;" The Department of Environment (DoE) considers that the naturally occurring saline groundwater which exists in the area is not a living thing. There is no evidence of living things relying on this saline water for their survival. It is worth noting that the saline water found in the area is generally hyper-saline, often many times saltier than sea water. (3) Not applicable. (4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
(2) The Environmental Protection Act 1986 Section 3 defines environment as " subject to subsection (2), means living things, their physical, biological and social surroundings and interactions between all of these ;" The Department of Environment (DoE) considers that the naturally occurring saline groundwater which exists in the area is not a living thing. There is no evidence of living things relying on this saline water for their survival. It is worth noting that the saline water found in the area is generally hyper-saline, often many times saltier than sea water. (3) Not applicable. (4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
" subject to subsection (2), means living things, their physical, biological and social surroundings and interactions between all of these ;" The Department of Environment (DoE) considers that the naturally occurring saline groundwater which exists in the area is not a living thing. There is no evidence of living things relying on this saline water for their survival. It is worth noting that the saline water found in the area is generally hyper-saline, often many times saltier than sea water. (3) Not applicable. (4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
The Department of Environment (DoE) considers that the naturally occurring saline groundwater which exists in the area is not a living thing. There is no evidence of living things relying on this saline water for their survival. It is worth noting that the saline water found in the area is generally hyper-saline, often many times saltier than sea water. (3) Not applicable. (4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
(3) Not applicable. (4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
(4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
(5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
(6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
The following information is correct as at 13 December 2005. (1) No (2) The Environmental Protection Act 1986 Section 3 defines environment as " subject to subsection (2), means living things, their physical, biological and social surroundings and interactions between all of these ;" The Department of Environment (DoE) considers that the naturally occurring saline groundwater which exists in the area is not a living thing. There is no evidence of living things relying on this saline water for their survival. It is worth noting that the saline water found in the area is generally hyper-saline, often many times saltier than sea water. (3) Not applicable. (4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
(1) No (2) The Environmental Protection Act 1986 Section 3 defines environment as " subject to subsection (2), means living things, their physical, biological and social surroundings and interactions between all of these ;" The Department of Environment (DoE) considers that the naturally occurring saline groundwater which exists in the area is not a living thing. There is no evidence of living things relying on this saline water for their survival. It is worth noting that the saline water found in the area is generally hyper-saline, often many times saltier than sea water. (3) Not applicable. (4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
(2) The Environmental Protection Act 1986 Section 3 defines environment as " subject to subsection (2), means living things, their physical, biological and social surroundings and interactions between all of these ;" The Department of Environment (DoE) considers that the naturally occurring saline groundwater which exists in the area is not a living thing. There is no evidence of living things relying on this saline water for their survival. It is worth noting that the saline water found in the area is generally hyper-saline, often many times saltier than sea water. (3) Not applicable. (4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
" subject to subsection (2), means living things, their physical, biological and social surroundings and interactions between all of these ;" The Department of Environment (DoE) considers that the naturally occurring saline groundwater which exists in the area is not a living thing. There is no evidence of living things relying on this saline water for their survival. It is worth noting that the saline water found in the area is generally hyper-saline, often many times saltier than sea water. (3) Not applicable. (4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
The Department of Environment (DoE) considers that the naturally occurring saline groundwater which exists in the area is not a living thing. There is no evidence of living things relying on this saline water for their survival. It is worth noting that the saline water found in the area is generally hyper-saline, often many times saltier than sea water. (3) Not applicable. (4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
(3) Not applicable. (4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
(4) Yes. (5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
(5) Not applicable. (6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
(6) The natural fresh rainwater supports living things then as per the definition in answer (2) it is considered part of the environment. The flora and fauna in the area relies on rainwater for survival.
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