❓ A WA parliamentary question reveals groundwater contamination at Kemerton Industrial Estate and breaches of EPA licenses by several companies. The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has taken actions to address these breaches.
AnsweredQoN 3337Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
In relation to the Kemerton Industrial Estate near Bunbury, could the Minister please advise:
(a) if contamination has occurred to groundwater in and around the industrial estate by industrial activities in the estate; and
(i) if so, what is the level and nature of the contamination;
(b) whether any of the industries in the estate have breached their Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) licence agreements or conditions in the last three years; and
(c) if yes to (b):
(i) which industries or companies have breached their EPA licence agreement;
(ii) for each of the industries or companies listed at (i):
(A) what those breaches have been; and
(B) what actions have the Department of Environment and Conservation and/or the Minister’s office taken to remedy the breaches?
(a) if contamination has occurred to groundwater in and around the industrial estate by industrial activities in the estate; and
(i) if so, what is the level and nature of the contamination;
(b) whether any of the industries in the estate have breached their Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) licence agreements or conditions in the last three years; and
(c) if yes to (b):
(i) which industries or companies have breached their EPA licence agreement;
(ii) for each of the industries or companies listed at (i):
(A) what those breaches have been; and
(B) what actions have the Department of Environment and Conservation and/or the Minister’s office taken to remedy the breaches?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 September 2010
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
77 days
(a-i) The Minister for Environment has been advised by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) that it is aware of groundwater contamination from industry discharges in the Kemerton Industrial Estate. The contamination includes increased salinity, acidity and nutrients at various locations around the estate. As a result of seepage from a salt storage area at one premises identified in 1994, localised groundwater salinity levels of up to 55,000 milligrams per litre (mg/L) were recorded on that site. That level has now reduced to between 6,500 and 15,700 mg/L and, at the site boundary, levels are between 122 and 2,600 mg/L.
As a result of a cooling tower overflow from another premises in 2004, localised groundwater salinity levels of up to 15,600 mg/L were recorded on that site. That level has now reduced to between 150 and 1,200 mg/L.
The naturally occurring background levels of salinity in the groundwater under the Kemerton Industrial Estate are highly variable, and range up to 20,000 mg/L.
Minor acid spills at a third site have influenced groundwater acidity and range from
2.7 to 8.7 pH at this site.
Background groundwater acidity, expressed as pH, is currently in the range of 2.8 to 7.3 across the industrial estate.
Elevated salinity levels in groundwater beneath industrial premises do not pose a health risk to the community outside the industrial estate.
(b) Yes.
(c) DEC has conducted investigations into breaches of licence conditions by four companies in this area in the last three years. These breaches included:
· late submission, or incomplete submission, of the company's annual report to DEC;
· exceedance of air discharge limits;
· incorrect measurement of air emissions; and
· incorrect frequency and/or parameters of samples.
DEC's actions to address the breaches have included issuing letters of warning, reviewing licence conditions where appropriate and scheduling specific site inspections.
DEC is currently undertaking three investigations related to licence breaches. However, it is not appropriate to disclose information while investigations are ongoing. DEC takes appropriate enforcement action in accordance with its
Enforcement and Prosecution Policy 2008
.
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
As a result of a cooling tower overflow from another premises in 2004, localised groundwater salinity levels of up to 15,600 mg/L were recorded on that site. That level has now reduced to between 150 and 1,200 mg/L.
The naturally occurring background levels of salinity in the groundwater under the Kemerton Industrial Estate are highly variable, and range up to 20,000 mg/L.
Minor acid spills at a third site have influenced groundwater acidity and range from
2.7 to 8.7 pH at this site.
Background groundwater acidity, expressed as pH, is currently in the range of 2.8 to 7.3 across the industrial estate.
Elevated salinity levels in groundwater beneath industrial premises do not pose a health risk to the community outside the industrial estate.
(b) Yes.
(c) DEC has conducted investigations into breaches of licence conditions by four companies in this area in the last three years. These breaches included:
· late submission, or incomplete submission, of the company's annual report to DEC;
· exceedance of air discharge limits;
· incorrect measurement of air emissions; and
· incorrect frequency and/or parameters of samples.
DEC's actions to address the breaches have included issuing letters of warning, reviewing licence conditions where appropriate and scheduling specific site inspections.
DEC is currently undertaking three investigations related to licence breaches. However, it is not appropriate to disclose information while investigations are ongoing. DEC takes appropriate enforcement action in accordance with its
Enforcement and Prosecution Policy 2008
.
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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