❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Environment regarding arsenic contamination at the Barrick Kanowna Belle mine, alleging high levels of arsenic in water samples and inadequate management. The Minister deflects some questions, citing inapplicable guidelines and questioning the validity of the provided samples, while addressing the physical state of the mine during inspection.
AnsweredQoN 2534Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Barrick Kanowna Belle operations, analysis results of tests conducted on soil/mud and water samples for arsenic conducted by MPL Laboratories dated 5 May 2010, and a letter from Evan Spencer, General Mine Manager for Barrick Kanowna dated 9 June 2010, which are available for viewing at,
http://www.robinchapple.org.au/node/460
entitled ‘2010-05-05 Kanowna Belle Arsenic Trioxide Results.pdf’ and ‘2010-06-09 Kanowna Belle Arsenic Letter Evan Spencer.pdf, and ask -
(1) Is it correct that the safe level for the amount of arsenic in drinking water is 0.007grams per litre, making the results of the analysis results referred to on page two of the tests referred to above, almost 286 times the allowable limit for arsenic in drinking water?
(2) If no to (1), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(3) Is it correct that the safe level for the amount of arsenic in the marine or environment is 0.05 grams per litre, making the analysis results referred to on page two of the tests referred to above 40 times the allowable limit, for arsenic in the marine or environment?
(4) If no to (3), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(5) With regards to (1) and (3), can the Minister state specifically the factual known and potential effects, to a person’s health upon ingesting water in which the level of arsenic was two grams per litre, -
(a) in small amounts; and
(b) in large amounts?
(6) If no to (5), not?
(7) With regards to (1) and (3), can the Minister state specifically the factual known and potential effects to a person’s health, upon absorbing through the skin or eyes water in which the level of arsenic was two grams per litre, -
(a) in small amounts; and
(b) in large amounts?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) Given that the samples provided for analysis were taken from a bulker bag that contained arsenic trioxide, and was disposed of underground in the upper levels of the Kanowna Belle mine, can the Minister explain how the results on page two of the analysis results referred to above, specifically state that the arsenic was contained in mud/soil instead of a consolidated substance?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(11) Can the Minister explain why the results from the samples from the water, referred to in page two of the document referred to above, that was right alongside and under and around the bulker bags containing arsenic trioxide that are disposed of underground in the Kanowna Belle Mine, contained any level of arsenic whatsoever, let alone very high levels of arsenic?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
(13) Given that it has been reported and documented that there was water flowing through the roof of the Kanowna Belle Mine, and onto the soil containing arsenic trioxide in the bulker bags that were disposed of underground in the upper levels of the mine, and causing the arsenic to leach out in very high volumes into the water, before that water proceeded to course down through the mine, can the Minister state how the management of this mine and the Department of Environment and Conservation, allowed this to happen, and for how long in years and months this was allowed to happen?
(14) If no to (13), not?
http://www.robinchapple.org.au/node/460
entitled ‘2010-05-05 Kanowna Belle Arsenic Trioxide Results.pdf’ and ‘2010-06-09 Kanowna Belle Arsenic Letter Evan Spencer.pdf, and ask -
(1) Is it correct that the safe level for the amount of arsenic in drinking water is 0.007grams per litre, making the results of the analysis results referred to on page two of the tests referred to above, almost 286 times the allowable limit for arsenic in drinking water?
(2) If no to (1), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(3) Is it correct that the safe level for the amount of arsenic in the marine or environment is 0.05 grams per litre, making the analysis results referred to on page two of the tests referred to above 40 times the allowable limit, for arsenic in the marine or environment?
(4) If no to (3), what specifically is correct concerning this matter?
(5) With regards to (1) and (3), can the Minister state specifically the factual known and potential effects, to a person’s health upon ingesting water in which the level of arsenic was two grams per litre, -
(a) in small amounts; and
(b) in large amounts?
(6) If no to (5), not?
(7) With regards to (1) and (3), can the Minister state specifically the factual known and potential effects to a person’s health, upon absorbing through the skin or eyes water in which the level of arsenic was two grams per litre, -
(a) in small amounts; and
(b) in large amounts?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) Given that the samples provided for analysis were taken from a bulker bag that contained arsenic trioxide, and was disposed of underground in the upper levels of the Kanowna Belle mine, can the Minister explain how the results on page two of the analysis results referred to above, specifically state that the arsenic was contained in mud/soil instead of a consolidated substance?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(11) Can the Minister explain why the results from the samples from the water, referred to in page two of the document referred to above, that was right alongside and under and around the bulker bags containing arsenic trioxide that are disposed of underground in the Kanowna Belle Mine, contained any level of arsenic whatsoever, let alone very high levels of arsenic?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
(13) Given that it has been reported and documented that there was water flowing through the roof of the Kanowna Belle Mine, and onto the soil containing arsenic trioxide in the bulker bags that were disposed of underground in the upper levels of the mine, and causing the arsenic to leach out in very high volumes into the water, before that water proceeded to course down through the mine, can the Minister state how the management of this mine and the Department of Environment and Conservation, allowed this to happen, and for how long in years and months this was allowed to happen?
(14) If no to (13), not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 September 2010
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
77 days
(1)-(2) The National Health and Medical Research Council's 2004
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
recommend that arsenic levels should not exceed a concentration of 0.007 milligrams
per litre in water used for human consumption in Australia. Groundwater and surface water near the Kanowna Belle mine site are naturally extremely saline and not suitable for use as a source of drinking water for human consumption. Therefore the Australian drinking Water Guidelines are not applicable.
(3)-(4) The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council's (ANZECC)
Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality 2000
do not provide a guideline value for arsenic in inland saline water bodies or in underground mines and are therefore not applicable.
(5)-(8) These questions relate to health matters and should be referred to the Minister for Health.
(9)-(12) The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has advised that the results of the soil and water sampling referred to are not the results of samples required by DEC as a licence condition for this site.
DEC has also advised that, based on this information, it is not able to confirm who took the samples, where they were taken from, the purpose for which the samples were taken, or the method used for labelling the samples. There is no confirmation, therefore, that the samples were taken from a bulker bag containing arsenic trioxide, or that it was disposed of underground in the upper levels of the mine.
I refer the Honourable Member to my answer to Question 2315 on 15 June 2010.
(13)-(14) DEC inspected the storage of arsenic trioxide underground on 7 May 2010, however, DEC officers did not see any water flowing from the roof over the stored bags of dolocrete.
DEC has advised that there was minimal water in this area, with little direct contact with the bags of dolocrete. Some water was present in drains along the side of the shaft., but this was not considered to be sufficient flow to be described as "coursing".
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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Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
recommend that arsenic levels should not exceed a concentration of 0.007 milligrams
per litre in water used for human consumption in Australia. Groundwater and surface water near the Kanowna Belle mine site are naturally extremely saline and not suitable for use as a source of drinking water for human consumption. Therefore the Australian drinking Water Guidelines are not applicable.
(3)-(4) The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council's (ANZECC)
Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality 2000
do not provide a guideline value for arsenic in inland saline water bodies or in underground mines and are therefore not applicable.
(5)-(8) These questions relate to health matters and should be referred to the Minister for Health.
(9)-(12) The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has advised that the results of the soil and water sampling referred to are not the results of samples required by DEC as a licence condition for this site.
DEC has also advised that, based on this information, it is not able to confirm who took the samples, where they were taken from, the purpose for which the samples were taken, or the method used for labelling the samples. There is no confirmation, therefore, that the samples were taken from a bulker bag containing arsenic trioxide, or that it was disposed of underground in the upper levels of the mine.
I refer the Honourable Member to my answer to Question 2315 on 15 June 2010.
(13)-(14) DEC inspected the storage of arsenic trioxide underground on 7 May 2010, however, DEC officers did not see any water flowing from the roof over the stored bags of dolocrete.
DEC has advised that there was minimal water in this area, with little direct contact with the bags of dolocrete. Some water was present in drains along the side of the shaft., but this was not considered to be sufficient flow to be described as "coursing".
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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