❓ WA Parliament Question on Notice regarding pollution incidents reported to the Pollution Watch Hotline and subsequent site investigations between 2008-2012. The response details the number of complaints, confirmed incidents, and site investigations undertaken.
AnsweredQoN 940Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
For the years 2011–2012, 2010–2011, 2009–2010, 2008–2009, I ask:
(a) how many reports of pollution incidents were received by the Pollution Watch Hotline; and
(b) how many of these were subsequently subject to site investigations?
(a) how many reports of pollution incidents were received by the Pollution Watch Hotline; and
(b) how many of these were subsequently subject to site investigations?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 September 2013
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
35 days
In the ICMS, 'complaints' are differentiated from 'incidents'. A 'complaint' is the provision of information in any form to any staff member of the department, where it concerns a potential breach of the legislation or information that identifies poor environmental practices. An 'incident' is a confirmed causal event leading to a complaint. 'Confirmed' means that it is has been determined through enquiries by departmental staff that the effects described by the complainant have occurred. The number of pollution complaints and incidents for the timeframes requested are as follows: Total 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 Complaints 7162 1705 1891 1715 1851 Incidents 2334 518 524 599 693 (b) 'Site investigations' includes 'site visits' and 'site inspections' as categorised by the ICMS. A site investigation is not necessary to confirm every report as other information such as monitoring results, photographs, videos, statutory reports from the industry concerned or telephone interviews can be used. Further, some individual incidents may result from multiple complaints, for example an odour emission impacting a large area. Approximately 25 per cent (averaged across the four years) of incidents and complaints involved a site investigation. The number of reports that resulted in site investigations is as follows: Total 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 Site investigations 1769 305 441 442 581
The number of pollution complaints and incidents for the timeframes requested are as follows: Total 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 Complaints 7162 1705 1891 1715 1851 Incidents 2334 518 524 599 693 (b) 'Site investigations' includes 'site visits' and 'site inspections' as categorised by the ICMS. A site investigation is not necessary to confirm every report as other information such as monitoring results, photographs, videos, statutory reports from the industry concerned or telephone interviews can be used. Further, some individual incidents may result from multiple complaints, for example an odour emission impacting a large area. Approximately 25 per cent (averaged across the four years) of incidents and complaints involved a site investigation. The number of reports that resulted in site investigations is as follows: Total 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 Site investigations 1769 305 441 442 581
Total 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 Complaints 7162 1705 1891 1715 1851 Incidents 2334 518 524 599 693 (b) 'Site investigations' includes 'site visits' and 'site inspections' as categorised by the ICMS. A site investigation is not necessary to confirm every report as other information such as monitoring results, photographs, videos, statutory reports from the industry concerned or telephone interviews can be used. Further, some individual incidents may result from multiple complaints, for example an odour emission impacting a large area. Approximately 25 per cent (averaged across the four years) of incidents and complaints involved a site investigation. The number of reports that resulted in site investigations is as follows: Total 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 Site investigations 1769 305 441 442 581
(b) 'Site investigations' includes 'site visits' and 'site inspections' as categorised by the ICMS. A site investigation is not necessary to confirm every report as other information such as monitoring results, photographs, videos, statutory reports from the industry concerned or telephone interviews can be used. Further, some individual incidents may result from multiple complaints, for example an odour emission impacting a large area. Approximately 25 per cent (averaged across the four years) of incidents and complaints involved a site investigation. The number of reports that resulted in site investigations is as follows: Total 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 Site investigations 1769 305 441 442 581
Total 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 Site investigations 1769 305 441 442 581
The number of pollution complaints and incidents for the timeframes requested are as follows: Total 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 Complaints 7162 1705 1891 1715 1851 Incidents 2334 518 524 599 693 (b) 'Site investigations' includes 'site visits' and 'site inspections' as categorised by the ICMS. A site investigation is not necessary to confirm every report as other information such as monitoring results, photographs, videos, statutory reports from the industry concerned or telephone interviews can be used. Further, some individual incidents may result from multiple complaints, for example an odour emission impacting a large area. Approximately 25 per cent (averaged across the four years) of incidents and complaints involved a site investigation. The number of reports that resulted in site investigations is as follows: Total 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 Site investigations 1769 305 441 442 581
Total 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 Complaints 7162 1705 1891 1715 1851 Incidents 2334 518 524 599 693 (b) 'Site investigations' includes 'site visits' and 'site inspections' as categorised by the ICMS. A site investigation is not necessary to confirm every report as other information such as monitoring results, photographs, videos, statutory reports from the industry concerned or telephone interviews can be used. Further, some individual incidents may result from multiple complaints, for example an odour emission impacting a large area. Approximately 25 per cent (averaged across the four years) of incidents and complaints involved a site investigation. The number of reports that resulted in site investigations is as follows: Total 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 Site investigations 1769 305 441 442 581
(b) 'Site investigations' includes 'site visits' and 'site inspections' as categorised by the ICMS. A site investigation is not necessary to confirm every report as other information such as monitoring results, photographs, videos, statutory reports from the industry concerned or telephone interviews can be used. Further, some individual incidents may result from multiple complaints, for example an odour emission impacting a large area. Approximately 25 per cent (averaged across the four years) of incidents and complaints involved a site investigation. The number of reports that resulted in site investigations is as follows: Total 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 Site investigations 1769 305 441 442 581
Total 2011-2012 2010-2011 2009-2010 2008-2009 Site investigations 1769 305 441 442 581
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