❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses concerns regarding a 2008 leak from the BHP Billiton Kwinana Nickel Refinery pipeline, the purpose and condition of pipelines and evaporation cells at the Millar Road tailings compound, and the progress of groundwater recovery projects. The Minister's response provides some information but defers to existing reports and FOI requests for detailed data.
AnsweredQoN 6007Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What was the result of the investigation into the 2008 leak of the BHP Billiton Kwinana Nickel Refinery pipeline going to the Millar Road tailings compound?
(2) What is the purpose of all the pipelines going out to the Millar Road tailings compound?
(3) Is the Minister aware that the material being pumped out some 4.5 kilometres from the BHP Billiton Kwinana Nickel Refinery to the Millar Road tailings compound could be contained and processed on site?
(4) If yes to (3), why are the evaporation cells necessary?
(5) Will the Minister please describe the present condition of the membrane linings and the leakage rate from the evaporation cells?
(6) Are the evaporation cells included in the Kwinana Nickel Refinery's operating licence?
(7) Will the Minister provide the current licence for the Millar Road tailings compound?
(8) Will the Minister please detail the locations for the monitoring bores associated with the groundwater recovery project, including any to the west and north-west of Lake Cooloongup?
(9) Will the Minister please provide the most recent analytical results from those bores?
(10) Will the Minister please detail the progress of the ground water recovery project associated with the tailings pond leakage, including data on any increase or decrease in the contamination plume size?
(11) What tests have been carried on the tailings pond, to identify any failure of the membrane since it was encapsulated?
(12) Will the Minister please provide the results from those tests?
(2) What is the purpose of all the pipelines going out to the Millar Road tailings compound?
(3) Is the Minister aware that the material being pumped out some 4.5 kilometres from the BHP Billiton Kwinana Nickel Refinery to the Millar Road tailings compound could be contained and processed on site?
(4) If yes to (3), why are the evaporation cells necessary?
(5) Will the Minister please describe the present condition of the membrane linings and the leakage rate from the evaporation cells?
(6) Are the evaporation cells included in the Kwinana Nickel Refinery's operating licence?
(7) Will the Minister provide the current licence for the Millar Road tailings compound?
(8) Will the Minister please detail the locations for the monitoring bores associated with the groundwater recovery project, including any to the west and north-west of Lake Cooloongup?
(9) Will the Minister please provide the most recent analytical results from those bores?
(10) Will the Minister please detail the progress of the ground water recovery project associated with the tailings pond leakage, including data on any increase or decrease in the contamination plume size?
(11) What tests have been carried on the tailings pond, to identify any failure of the membrane since it was encapsulated?
(12) Will the Minister please provide the results from those tests?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 October 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
35 days
(1) The investigation has been completed by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and the results are being assessed to determine whether any enforcement action is to be taken.
It is therefore not appropriate to comment on the results of the investigation until this matter is finalised.
(2) BHP Billiton maintains four ponds that are linked to the refinery by three pipelines. The pipelines are known as the effluent pipeline, pond return line, and water treatment plant line. Collectively, these pipelines transfer recovered groundwater, refinery effluent, stormwater and other liquids between the refinery and the Baldivis ponds.
(3) No
(4) Not applicable.
(5) The Annual Groundwater Progress Report for 2011 for the facility indicates there was no recordable seepage from the evaporation cells during 2011.
(6) Yes
(7) A copy of the licence is available on DEC's website at www.dec.wa.gov.au.
(8) Seven dual pump recovery bores are located in the vicinity of the Millar Road facility in Baldivis, including two to the west and one to the north-west of Lake Cooloongup.
(9) The monitoring results are not required to be made publicly available under Ministerial Statement 377. Access to the 2011 Annual Groundwater Progress Report can be requested through a Freedom of Information application to the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA).
(10) Progress of the recovery is detailed in the 2011 Annual Groundwater Progress Report.
(11) The proponent manages the decommissioned tailing ponds by monitoring the integrity of the cell cap, the settling rate of the tailings, changes in the characteristics of the stored tailings, ingress of oxygen into the tailings and the groundwater beneath the tailings pond. The results of monitoring are reported to DEC and the OEPA annually.
(12) See the answer to (9).
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It is therefore not appropriate to comment on the results of the investigation until this matter is finalised.
(2) BHP Billiton maintains four ponds that are linked to the refinery by three pipelines. The pipelines are known as the effluent pipeline, pond return line, and water treatment plant line. Collectively, these pipelines transfer recovered groundwater, refinery effluent, stormwater and other liquids between the refinery and the Baldivis ponds.
(3) No
(4) Not applicable.
(5) The Annual Groundwater Progress Report for 2011 for the facility indicates there was no recordable seepage from the evaporation cells during 2011.
(6) Yes
(7) A copy of the licence is available on DEC's website at www.dec.wa.gov.au.
(8) Seven dual pump recovery bores are located in the vicinity of the Millar Road facility in Baldivis, including two to the west and one to the north-west of Lake Cooloongup.
(9) The monitoring results are not required to be made publicly available under Ministerial Statement 377. Access to the 2011 Annual Groundwater Progress Report can be requested through a Freedom of Information application to the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA).
(10) Progress of the recovery is detailed in the 2011 Annual Groundwater Progress Report.
(11) The proponent manages the decommissioned tailing ponds by monitoring the integrity of the cell cap, the settling rate of the tailings, changes in the characteristics of the stored tailings, ingress of oxygen into the tailings and the groundwater beneath the tailings pond. The results of monitoring are reported to DEC and the OEPA annually.
(12) See the answer to (9).
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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