❓ A WA parliamentary question scrutinising a 1991 EPA report on the Fimiston Project, focusing on waste dumping near residences and separation distances. The Minister's answers largely defer to the EPA's historical decisions and available information at the time.
AnsweredQoN 3644Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Fimiston Project Stage 11- mine and waste dumps Report and Recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) dated July 1991 -
(1) Is it correct that Recommendation No. 4 in the above July 1991 report stated ‘The Environmental Protection Authority recommends that, prior to the dumping of waste on the proposed north east or south east waste dumps within 500 metres of residences, the proponent should prepare and implement a management plan for waste dumping to ensure that there is no unacceptable detrimental effect on these residents, to the satisfaction of the Minister for the Environment on advice from the Environmental Protection Authority?’
(2) If no to (1), can the Minister quote the specific text of Recommendation No. 4?
(3) Can the Minister state why the EPA made Recommendation No. 4 require the proponent to prepare a plan prior to the dumping of waste as opposed to preparing a plan after the commencement of dumping of waste for the area?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister explain the rationale as to how the EPA determined for Recommendation No. 4 ‘that it is considered should dumping proceed the residents could suffer loss of amenity during unfavourable climatic conditions and if the dumping is conducted outside normal working hours?’
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister explain how the distance of 500 metres was arrived at and the rationale as to how it was determined for Recommendation No. 4 in the above July 1991 report?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) Is it correct that the EPA stated in the July 1991 report ‘The Environmental Protection Authority recognises that there are in place mechanisms to resolve those few outstanding social and land use conflicts associated with this expansion. The Authority reiterates its previous support for the use of the concept of adequate separation between mining and residential land use as the basis of a long-term mechanism to alleviate conflicts?’
(10) If yes to (9), can the Minister state what was the distance in metres that the EPA supported for the use of the concept of adequate separation between mining and residential land use as the basis of a long term mechanism to alleviate conflicts?
(11) If no to (9), can the Minister quote the specific text from the July 1991 report?
(1) Is it correct that Recommendation No. 4 in the above July 1991 report stated ‘The Environmental Protection Authority recommends that, prior to the dumping of waste on the proposed north east or south east waste dumps within 500 metres of residences, the proponent should prepare and implement a management plan for waste dumping to ensure that there is no unacceptable detrimental effect on these residents, to the satisfaction of the Minister for the Environment on advice from the Environmental Protection Authority?’
(2) If no to (1), can the Minister quote the specific text of Recommendation No. 4?
(3) Can the Minister state why the EPA made Recommendation No. 4 require the proponent to prepare a plan prior to the dumping of waste as opposed to preparing a plan after the commencement of dumping of waste for the area?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister explain the rationale as to how the EPA determined for Recommendation No. 4 ‘that it is considered should dumping proceed the residents could suffer loss of amenity during unfavourable climatic conditions and if the dumping is conducted outside normal working hours?’
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister explain how the distance of 500 metres was arrived at and the rationale as to how it was determined for Recommendation No. 4 in the above July 1991 report?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) Is it correct that the EPA stated in the July 1991 report ‘The Environmental Protection Authority recognises that there are in place mechanisms to resolve those few outstanding social and land use conflicts associated with this expansion. The Authority reiterates its previous support for the use of the concept of adequate separation between mining and residential land use as the basis of a long-term mechanism to alleviate conflicts?’
(10) If yes to (9), can the Minister state what was the distance in metres that the EPA supported for the use of the concept of adequate separation between mining and residential land use as the basis of a long term mechanism to alleviate conflicts?
(11) If no to (9), can the Minister quote the specific text from the July 1991 report?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 August 2006
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
70 days
(2) Not applicable. (3) It is normal practice to develop an environmental management plan for an activity before that activity commences. (4) Not applicable. (5) The determination was made by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (6) Not applicable. (7) The determination was made by the EPA of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(3) It is normal practice to develop an environmental management plan for an activity before that activity commences. (4) Not applicable. (5) The determination was made by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (6) Not applicable. (7) The determination was made by the EPA of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(4) Not applicable. (5) The determination was made by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (6) Not applicable. (7) The determination was made by the EPA of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(5) The determination was made by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (6) Not applicable. (7) The determination was made by the EPA of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(6) Not applicable. (7) The determination was made by the EPA of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(7) The determination was made by the EPA of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(11) Not applicable.
(3) It is normal practice to develop an environmental management plan for an activity before that activity commences. (4) Not applicable. (5) The determination was made by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (6) Not applicable. (7) The determination was made by the EPA of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(4) Not applicable. (5) The determination was made by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (6) Not applicable. (7) The determination was made by the EPA of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(5) The determination was made by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (6) Not applicable. (7) The determination was made by the EPA of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(6) Not applicable. (7) The determination was made by the EPA of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(7) The determination was made by the EPA of the day, on the information available to them at the time, applying the standards of the time. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(9) Yes. (10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(10) I am advised that, except in the case of dumping of waste on dumps previously referred to, the available information indicates that the EPA did not recommend particular separation distances as this matter was to be addressed through other mechanisms. (11) Not applicable.
(11) Not applicable.
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