❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Environment Minister regarding PM10 dust exceedances in Port Hedland, and whether raising the allowable limit has impacted dust levels. The Minister confirms exceedances and tables relevant data, but finds no clear trend in dust level increases.
AnsweredQoN 1657Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Regarding the maximum microgram per cubic metre (density) limit on PM10 dust and allowable annual exceedances of this limit in the Port Hedland region, I ask: (a) have there been any exceedances of the interim 70 micrograms per cubic metre limit on PM10 dust and allowable 10 annual 24-hour exceedances for the time in which it was implemented; (b) if yes to (a): (i) how many exceedances occurred; (ii) on what dates did the exceedances occur; (iii) where did the exceedances occur; and (iv) by how much was the limit exceeded; and (c) have dust levels increased since the maximum PM10 dust density allowable was increased from the national standard of 50 to 70?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
30 October 2018
Responded by
Minister for Environment; Disability Services
Response time
9 days
In 2010 the Port Hedland Dust Management Taskforce published the Port Hedland Air Quality and Noise Management Plan. The Management Plan established an interim air quality guideline measure for PM 10 of 70 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m 3 ) averaged over 24 hours, for the residential area east of Taplin Street. On 15 October 2018, the Government endorsed the recommendation in the 2016 Port Hedland Dust Management Taskforce Report to Government that the current interim guideline should continue and that it should apply to all residential areas of Port Hedland.
(a) Yes.
(b) (i) – (iv) I table exceedance data from the Port Hedland Industries Council (PHIC) for the monitoring locations east of Taplin Street, including the background location (Yule). The exceedance data is provided for the period January 2012 to September 2018.
[See tabled paper no. ]
(c) Ambient air quality monitoring in Port Hedland commenced in January 2012, after the interim air quality guideline measure was established. I table calendar year average PM 10 concentrations for each Port Hedland monitoring location (where available). Overall, the monitoring data does not show any clear trend.
[See tabled paper no. ]
(a) Yes.
(b) (i) – (iv) I table exceedance data from the Port Hedland Industries Council (PHIC) for the monitoring locations east of Taplin Street, including the background location (Yule). The exceedance data is provided for the period January 2012 to September 2018.
[See tabled paper no. ]
(c) Ambient air quality monitoring in Port Hedland commenced in January 2012, after the interim air quality guideline measure was established. I table calendar year average PM 10 concentrations for each Port Hedland monitoring location (where available). Overall, the monitoring data does not show any clear trend.
[See tabled paper no. ]
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