❓ Dr. Walker questions the Minister for Environment regarding PFAS contamination, specifically concerning civil sites, industrial hemp's potential for remediation, and interstate collaboration. The Minister acknowledges the issue but provides limited specific information.
AnsweredQoN 1394Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
INDUSTRIAL
HEMP — PFAS CONTAMINATION
1394. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer the minister to the PFAS
national environmental management plan , to which Western Australia signed
up in 2020, and to its most recent update, released in 2022.
(1) How many
civil sites, as opposed to federally controlled military sites, have been
identified by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions as
suffering from PFAS contamination, and what mitigation efforts, if any, are
currently in place or being considered for those sites?
(2) Is the
minister aware of encouraging research being undertaken in a remote section of
Maine by indigenous researchers that suggests that industrial hemp can play a central
role in removing PFAS, or ''forever chemicals'', from
contaminated soil?
(3) Will the minister commit to highlighting this
research when he next sits down with his interstate colleagues , and
ideally ahead of the next iteration of the PFAS national environmental
management plan being released; and, if not, why not?
HEMP — PFAS CONTAMINATION
1394. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer the minister to the PFAS
national environmental management plan , to which Western Australia signed
up in 2020, and to its most recent update, released in 2022.
(1) How many
civil sites, as opposed to federally controlled military sites, have been
identified by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions as
suffering from PFAS contamination, and what mitigation efforts, if any, are
currently in place or being considered for those sites?
(2) Is the
minister aware of encouraging research being undertaken in a remote section of
Maine by indigenous researchers that suggests that industrial hemp can play a central
role in removing PFAS, or ''forever chemicals'', from
contaminated soil?
(3) Will the minister commit to highlighting this
research when he next sits down with his interstate colleagues , and
ideally ahead of the next iteration of the PFAS national environmental
management plan being released; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question regarding PFAS. On behalf of the Minister for
Environment, I provide the following answer.
(1) The
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has not reported any
sites suffering from PFAS contamination under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003.
(2) The minister is not aware of the specifics of the
trial being conducted in Maine; however, the PFAS national environmental management plan provides a list of proven PFAS treatment
technologies used in Australia and guidance on technologies being trialled or
developed.
(3) The minister
receives regular briefings on the progress of the PFAS NEMP with his interstate
colleagues.
some notice of this question regarding PFAS. On behalf of the Minister for
Environment, I provide the following answer.
(1) The
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has not reported any
sites suffering from PFAS contamination under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003.
(2) The minister is not aware of the specifics of the
trial being conducted in Maine; however, the PFAS national environmental management plan provides a list of proven PFAS treatment
technologies used in Australia and guidance on technologies being trialled or
developed.
(3) The minister
receives regular briefings on the progress of the PFAS NEMP with his interstate
colleagues.
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