Hon Jim Scott questions the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding Western Power's alleged unlicensed discharge of pollutants into Cockburn Sound. The Minister responds that the reported amounts were an assessment of potential discharges, not readily monitored, and future assessments will treat them as actual discharges.

AnsweredQoN 175Legislative Council
Asked
9 August 2001
Portfolio
the Environment and Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

According to discharge amounts reported in the State of Cockburn Sound report, Western Power discharged 9000 kg total nitrogen, 200 kg phosphorous, 12 kg aluminium, 360 kg copper and 1800 kg oil into Cockburn Sound in the Year 2000. According to discharge licences tabled in Parliament in response to Questions on Notice 1711 of April 2000 and 770 of October 1999 Western Power had no licences to discharge such substances -
(1) What action did the DEP take over this unlicensed discharge into Cockburn Sound?
(2) Will the Minister please table any correspondence between the DEP and the Minister for the Environment on Western Power’s unlicensed discharges into Cockburn Sound?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
19 September 2001
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
41 days
I am advised that the discharge amounts referred to are an assessment of potential discharges into Cockburn Sound. The amounts reported cannot be readily monitored given the significant dilution that occurs due to the large volumes of cooling water used at the Western Power premises. Future licence assessments will treat the reported amounts as if they are actual discharges to Cockburn Sound. (2) There is no correspondence between DEP and the Minister for the Environment and Heritage relating to Western Power's unlicensed discharges into Cockburn Sound given the answer to (1).
(2) There is no correspondence between DEP and the Minister for the Environment and Heritage relating to Western Power's unlicensed discharges into Cockburn Sound given the answer to (1).

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