❓ The question concerns the environmental licence for the Jubilee Gold Mine, specifically regarding seepage from tailings storage facilities (TSFs) into groundwater and the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) monitoring and mitigation measures. The Minister's response clarifies the rationale behind licence conditions and the DEP's monitoring approach.
AnsweredQoN 574Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to question on notice No. 712 of Wednesday, May 22 2002 answers provided and the Jubilee Gold Mine environmental licence -
(1) Can the Minister explain why the Department of Environmental Protection needed to have the licence condition referred to in question (1) in order to provide as assurance that tailings do not seep into surrounding groundwater given that the groundwater is saline/hypersaline?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister explain how the assurance stated in the answer for question (5) is achieved by the Department?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(1) Can the Minister explain why the Department of Environmental Protection needed to have the licence condition referred to in question (1) in order to provide as assurance that tailings do not seep into surrounding groundwater given that the groundwater is saline/hypersaline?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister explain how the assurance stated in the answer for question (5) is achieved by the Department?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 April 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
20 days
(1) If seepage from a Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) containing elevated Weak Acid Dissociable Cyanide or with pH out of the neutral range occurs, then mitigation measures are required to minimise the extent to which this occurs. Ideally no seepage should occur from a TSFs. However, if, in practice, seepage does occur then it must be retained within close proximity to the facility. The triggers in the licence are set to ensure the company takes corrective action to minimise the extent and the impact of any seepage.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) I presume you refer to answer 6 of question on notice No. 712 of Wednesday, May 22 2002. Monitoring bores are located adjacent to TSFs and water levels are monitored on a quarterly basis. If the water level is less than 2 metres below the ground then the licensee is required to report this to Department of Environmental Protection within 24hours. If this monitoring data indicates water levels are rising, because of the nearby TSF, then the DEP requires a management strategy be put in place by the licensee.
(4) Not applicable.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) I presume you refer to answer 6 of question on notice No. 712 of Wednesday, May 22 2002. Monitoring bores are located adjacent to TSFs and water levels are monitored on a quarterly basis. If the water level is less than 2 metres below the ground then the licensee is required to report this to Department of Environmental Protection within 24hours. If this monitoring data indicates water levels are rising, because of the nearby TSF, then the DEP requires a management strategy be put in place by the licensee.
(4) Not applicable.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.