❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Environment regarding reporting delays of ammonia leak and valve incidents at Yara Pilbara Fertilisers, inquiring about potential breaches of the Environmental Protection Act. The Minister's response indicates an ongoing investigation for one incident and denies reportability under the Act for the other.
AnsweredQoN 528Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
YARA PILBARA FERTILISERS PTY LTD — AMMONIA
LEAK AND VALVE INCIDENT
528. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister
representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the operations of Yara
Pilbara Fertilisers Pty Ltd, licence 17997/2002/11, on the Burrup Peninsula and
the 14 tonnes of ammonia leaked into the atmosphere and the motor-operated
valve incident on 16 January.
(1) Given that
the first incident occurred on 25 March 2016, why was the Department of
Environment Regulation not notified until 29 March 2016, some four days later?
(2) Given that
the second incident occurred on 16 January 2016, why was the department not
notified until 18 January 2016, some two days later?
(3) Did the
failure to report the incidents breach section 72 of the Environmental Protection
Act 1986?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) If yes to
(3), what action is the department taking against Yara Pilbara Fertilisers Pty
Ltd for these continued breaches?
LEAK AND VALVE INCIDENT
528. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister
representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the operations of Yara
Pilbara Fertilisers Pty Ltd, licence 17997/2002/11, on the Burrup Peninsula and
the 14 tonnes of ammonia leaked into the atmosphere and the motor-operated
valve incident on 16 January.
(1) Given that
the first incident occurred on 25 March 2016, why was the Department of
Environment Regulation not notified until 29 March 2016, some four days later?
(2) Given that
the second incident occurred on 16 January 2016, why was the department not
notified until 18 January 2016, some two days later?
(3) Did the
failure to report the incidents breach section 72 of the Environmental Protection
Act 1986?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) If yes to
(3), what action is the department taking against Yara Pilbara Fertilisers Pty
Ltd for these continued breaches?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question.
(1) The 25 March
2016 incident is the subject of an investigation by the Department of
Environment Regulation, and it is awaiting provision of the final incident
report by the licensee.
(2) Given the 16
January 2016 incident was a release of atmospheric gases, it is not considered
reportable under section 72 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
(3)–(5) See answers to (1)
and (2) above.
some notice of this question.
(1) The 25 March
2016 incident is the subject of an investigation by the Department of
Environment Regulation, and it is awaiting provision of the final incident
report by the licensee.
(2) Given the 16
January 2016 incident was a release of atmospheric gases, it is not considered
reportable under section 72 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
(3)–(5) See answers to (1)
and (2) above.
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