❓ Hon Robin Chapple asks about the status of care and maintenance (CM) mines in WA, including environmental conditions, inspections, landform stability, and specific details on Ravensthorpe, Mt Gibson, Magellan, and Norilsk Lake Johnston mines. The Minister provides data and commits to providing assessment reports pending tenement holder consent.
AnsweredQoN 1152Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many mines located in Western Australia are currently on care and maintenance (CM Mines)?
(2) How many CM Mines reported against Ministerial or State Mining Engineer environmental conditions on their projects in the last 12 months?
(3) How many CM Mines were inspected over the last 12 months?
(4) What was the condition of the mined landforms at those CM Mines that either reported or were inspected?
(5) What is the current state of landform stability, and level of environmental risk at the following mines on care and maintenance, -
(a) Ravensthorpe nickel mine;
(b) Mt Gibson gold mine;
(c) Magellan lead mine; and
(d) Norilsk Lake Johnston nickel mine?
(6) Does the Minister have assessment reports or other documentation relating to the condition of the mines listed in (5)?
(7) Will the Minister provide those reports or documents?
(8) If no to (6), why not?
(2) How many CM Mines reported against Ministerial or State Mining Engineer environmental conditions on their projects in the last 12 months?
(3) How many CM Mines were inspected over the last 12 months?
(4) What was the condition of the mined landforms at those CM Mines that either reported or were inspected?
(5) What is the current state of landform stability, and level of environmental risk at the following mines on care and maintenance, -
(a) Ravensthorpe nickel mine;
(b) Mt Gibson gold mine;
(c) Magellan lead mine; and
(d) Norilsk Lake Johnston nickel mine?
(6) Does the Minister have assessment reports or other documentation relating to the condition of the mines listed in (5)?
(7) Will the Minister provide those reports or documents?
(8) If no to (6), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
23 September 2009
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
36 days
1) Department of Mines and Petroleum's records show 111 mine sites on care and maintenance (CM) in Western Australia.
(2) 69 CM mines reported against State Mining Engineer environmental conditions on their projects in the last 12 months.
(3) 39 CM mines were inspected over the last 12 months.
(4) The mine related landforms were of varying condition and stability.
(5) The current state of landform stability at the following mines on care and maintenance
are:
(a) Ravensthorpe nickel mine: the site changed from active operations to care and maintenance in a short period of time, thus the landforms are in varying states of stability.
(b) Mt Gibson gold mine: the mine has been rehabilitated with varying success.
(c) Magellan lead mine: the mine changed from active operations to care and maintenance in a short period of time thus the landforms are in varying states of stability.
(d) Norilsk Lake Johnston nickel mine: the mine landforms are considered to be stable.
The environmental risks from these sites are of varying levels. The Ravensthorpe and Magellan operations are receiving greater attention by the Department of Mines and Petroleum because of the complexities associated with these sites. The Department of Mines and Petroleum is currently formalising its risk assessment guidelines so that a comparative risk rating can be determined for all exploration and mining activities. The Department of Mines and Petroleum continues to work with the owners of these particular mines to ensure appropriate management controls are in place.
(6) Yes, these are held by the Department of Mines and Petroleum.
(7) & (8) Yes, on the proviso that the relevant mining tenement holders give their written consent to the release of these documents, as required under Regulation 96(1)(b) and (2) of the
Mining Regulations 1981
. The Department of Mines and Petroleum is now seeking that consent and, if it is given, the Department will provide copies of the documents to the Hon Member.
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
(2) 69 CM mines reported against State Mining Engineer environmental conditions on their projects in the last 12 months.
(3) 39 CM mines were inspected over the last 12 months.
(4) The mine related landforms were of varying condition and stability.
(5) The current state of landform stability at the following mines on care and maintenance
are:
(a) Ravensthorpe nickel mine: the site changed from active operations to care and maintenance in a short period of time, thus the landforms are in varying states of stability.
(b) Mt Gibson gold mine: the mine has been rehabilitated with varying success.
(c) Magellan lead mine: the mine changed from active operations to care and maintenance in a short period of time thus the landforms are in varying states of stability.
(d) Norilsk Lake Johnston nickel mine: the mine landforms are considered to be stable.
The environmental risks from these sites are of varying levels. The Ravensthorpe and Magellan operations are receiving greater attention by the Department of Mines and Petroleum because of the complexities associated with these sites. The Department of Mines and Petroleum is currently formalising its risk assessment guidelines so that a comparative risk rating can be determined for all exploration and mining activities. The Department of Mines and Petroleum continues to work with the owners of these particular mines to ensure appropriate management controls are in place.
(6) Yes, these are held by the Department of Mines and Petroleum.
(7) & (8) Yes, on the proviso that the relevant mining tenement holders give their written consent to the release of these documents, as required under Regulation 96(1)(b) and (2) of the
Mining Regulations 1981
. The Department of Mines and Petroleum is now seeking that consent and, if it is given, the Department will provide copies of the documents to the Hon Member.
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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