❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Environment regarding contaminated sites associated with the Kaltails tailings dam, seeking details on location, depth of contamination, and reasons for the site's classification. The Minister provides a map and information on groundwater contamination and the site's classification as 'possibly contaminated - investigation required'.
AnsweredQoN 2006Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a document dated 3 December 2009 titled, ‘KCGM Mining Proposal and Works Approval Application’, for the Kaltails tailings dam owned by Barrick Gold of Australia and Newmont Asia Pacific Ltd, -
(1) Can the Minister identify with a scaled map the four specific areas clearly showing the suspected known or contaminated areas reported under the
Contaminated sites Act 2003
?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister indicate the depth in metres below ground level that has been contaminated with soils and groundwater around the old Kaltails process plant?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister indicate for each of the four sites reported, why the Department of Environment and Conservation considers each to be a contaminated site?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(1) Can the Minister identify with a scaled map the four specific areas clearly showing the suspected known or contaminated areas reported under the
Contaminated sites Act 2003
?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister indicate the depth in metres below ground level that has been contaminated with soils and groundwater around the old Kaltails process plant?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister indicate for each of the four sites reported, why the Department of Environment and Conservation considers each to be a contaminated site?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
4 May 2010
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
42 days
(1) - (2) I table the attached figure showing the Kaltails Area [ ]. I have been advised that the areas reported as known or suspected contaminated sites under the
Contaminated Sites Act 2003
are marked G26/165, G26/166, P26/2373 and P26/2386.
(3)- (4) The Department of Environment and Conservation has advised me that contaminants have been detected in groundwater. The top of the groundwater table is between 3 and 15 metres below the ground surface.
(5)- (6) I have been advised that the four areas reported are treated as a single site under the Contaminated Sites Act and are classified
possibly contaminated - investigation required
. The areas were reported due to seepage from the tailings storage facility, the presence of exposed mineral tailings at the surface, and possible spillage or seepage of process water from the process plant during the period of active processing.
Soil and further groundwater investigations are required to determine the nature and extent of soil and groundwater impact and to assess the potential risk to human health, the environment and environmental values.
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
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Contaminated Sites Act 2003
are marked G26/165, G26/166, P26/2373 and P26/2386.
(3)- (4) The Department of Environment and Conservation has advised me that contaminants have been detected in groundwater. The top of the groundwater table is between 3 and 15 metres below the ground surface.
(5)- (6) I have been advised that the four areas reported are treated as a single site under the Contaminated Sites Act and are classified
possibly contaminated - investigation required
. The areas were reported due to seepage from the tailings storage facility, the presence of exposed mineral tailings at the surface, and possible spillage or seepage of process water from the process plant during the period of active processing.
Soil and further groundwater investigations are required to determine the nature and extent of soil and groundwater impact and to assess the potential risk to human health, the environment and environmental values.
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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