❓ Dr. Pettitt questions Alcoa's mining management plan and lease renewal, focusing on environmental concerns and public access. The Minister responds, detailing approvals, EPA involvement, and lease renewal processes, clarifying the government's position on imposing new conditions.
AnsweredQoN 1769Legislative Council
Asked
30 November 2023
Member
Portfolio
State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Alcoa is reporting that it has submitted a revised Mining Management Plan (MMP) for 2023 - 2027 to address concerns that have been raised, and that it is expecting approval decisions to be made by this government before the end of the year. I refer to this advised Mining Management Plan (MMP), and I ask: (a) will the Minister table Alcoa's revised Mining Management Plan 2023-2027; (b) if no to (a), why not; (c) Will the Minister give a commitment that the public will be given the opportunity to see Alcoa's Mining Management Plan and on what date; and (d) if not to (c), why not? (2) Alcoa has reported that it has made three concessions in its revised MMP: agreed additional water controls; agreed distances between mining disturbance and key reservoirs; and agreed rehabilitation acceleration. Will the Minister provide detail on what changes Alcoa is proposing to make to address environmental and public health concerns: (a) if no to (2), why not; (b) has there has been agreement between Alcoa and the State Government on these concessions; and (c) if yes to (2), with which government body did Alcoa agree to these concessions? (3) Alcoa has reported that it believes it is doing all the right things to either avoid an EPA assessment of its MMP, or to at least not have its permits held back.: (a) does the Minister consider that the changes Alcoa has made to its revised MMP satisfy environmental and public health concerns; and (b) Is the revised MMP fit for approval? (4) Please outline the process and timeline for the renewal of Alcoa's 21-year lease? (5) Is the Minister aware that the third 21-year lease renewal process provides for the State Government to implement new conditions and limitations: (a) will the Minister review the current conditions and undertake a commitment to implement new conditions and limitations in line with contemporary expectations; and (b) if no to (5), why not? (6) What new conditions and limitations, if any, does the Minister consider to be appropriate given that the lease and State Agreement Act were granted in the 1960s?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
27 February 2024
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services representing the Minister for State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade
Response time
2 days
(1 – 2) Alcoa’s 2023-2027 Mining and Management Program was approved by the Minister for State and Industry Development on 20 December 2023 and was accompanied by conditions. The approved Mining and Management Program 2023-2027, and accompanying approval conditions, is publicly available on Alcoa’s website.
(3) (a – b) Following a third-party referral of Alcoa’s Mining and Management Programs for the periods 2022-2026 and 2023-2027 to the Environmental Projection Authority (EPA), on 18 December 2023, the EPA announced its decision to assess these activities through a Public Environmental Review process.
(4) In accordance with clause 9(5)(a) of the Alumina Refinery Agreement Act 1961 , Alcoa is required to notify Government that it intends to renew its Mining Lease 1SA for a further 21 years from 2024 to 2045. This notification was submitted to the Minister for State and Industry Development on 7 December 2023.
(5) Government is aware that this is applicable upon Alcoa’s application for its Mining Lease 1SA renewal, but only from 2045 onwards.
(a) Government cannot place new conditions on Alcoa’s Mining Lease 1SA until 2045. However, Government has placed a number of limitations on Alcoa’s operations through both the Environmental Protection (Darling Range Bauxite Mining Proposals) Exemption Order 2023 and the conditions placed on the 2023-2027 Mining and Management Program, which aim to transition Alcoa to a contemporary approvals regime.
(b) Not applicable.
(6) Not applicable.
(3) (a – b) Following a third-party referral of Alcoa’s Mining and Management Programs for the periods 2022-2026 and 2023-2027 to the Environmental Projection Authority (EPA), on 18 December 2023, the EPA announced its decision to assess these activities through a Public Environmental Review process.
(4) In accordance with clause 9(5)(a) of the Alumina Refinery Agreement Act 1961 , Alcoa is required to notify Government that it intends to renew its Mining Lease 1SA for a further 21 years from 2024 to 2045. This notification was submitted to the Minister for State and Industry Development on 7 December 2023.
(5) Government is aware that this is applicable upon Alcoa’s application for its Mining Lease 1SA renewal, but only from 2045 onwards.
(a) Government cannot place new conditions on Alcoa’s Mining Lease 1SA until 2045. However, Government has placed a number of limitations on Alcoa’s operations through both the Environmental Protection (Darling Range Bauxite Mining Proposals) Exemption Order 2023 and the conditions placed on the 2023-2027 Mining and Management Program, which aim to transition Alcoa to a contemporary approvals regime.
(b) Not applicable.
(6) Not applicable.
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