❓ The WA parliamentary question concerns the Department of Environment Regulation's (DER) oversight of the Non Organic Disposals site in Darch, specifically regarding waste removal, dust suppression, and groundwater protection. The answer details inspection schedules, compliance findings, and monitoring practices.
AnsweredQoN 5363Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to inspections by the Department of Environmental Regulation (DER) of the Non Organic Disposals site in Darch in November last year and the requirement then imposed to remove stockpiled residual waste from the site subject to ongoing compliance monitoring and I ask: (a) can you supply details of the times and dates of any subsequent visits by DER and their findings; (b) when was the last time the operator of that site provided results to DER of monitoring on the characteristics, volume and effects of the waste being discharged and the results thereof, and when are the next results of monitoring due to be provided to DER; (c) what measures have been taken by DER to monitor compliance with conditions on dust suppression, separation distance between excavation and groundwater and separation of uncontaminated stormwater run off; and (d) with what frequency does DER undertake the compliance checks referred to in (c)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 May 2016
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
34 days
(a) The Department of Environment Regulation (DER) has inspected the premises in question (L6832/1997/12) on the following dates:
- 9 March 2016 at 9am,
- 23 March 2016 at 10.30am,
- 7 April 2016 at 10.45am; and
- 21 April 2016 at 12.30pm.
Since 23 March 2016, DER has been inspecting the premises on a fortnightly basis. The licensee is progressively removing material from the premises and has advised that an estimated 12,000m 3 has been removed offsite since August 2015.
DER inspections also focus on compliance with the dust management requirements of the above licence. To date, officers have not observed any unreasonable dust or odour emissions from the premises during these inspections.
(b) Landfilling is no longer undertaken on this premises. On 4 December 2015, the above licence was amended to remove the category 63 landfilling. DER understands that landfilling has not been undertaken on the site since 2009, when the current licensee took over.
The licensee is required to provide DER with an Annual Environmental Report (AER), which is to include a summary of inputs and outputs, monitoring of ambient groundwater quality with an assessment against previous monitoring results, monitoring of landfill gas, complaints summary and a declaration of compliance with the licence. The last AER was assessed in May 2016 with no major issues identified.
(c)-(d) There are a number of dust management and mitigation controls in place onsite including: water carts, sprinklers on stockpiles and on the crushing and screening infrastructure. There are also a number of controls in place in respect of asbestos management onsite. Excavation is no longer being undertaken, therefore, separation to groundwater relative to excavation is no longer relevant to current operations. Notwithstanding this, groundwater monitoring is required to be undertaken every six months.
Condition 1.3.15 of the above licence requires diversion drains to direct stormwater away from unprocessed waste storage areas.
With the exception of the non-conforming waste onsite, the licensee has been found to be compliant with conditions of the above licence.
DER currently inspects the premises on a fortnightly basis to monitor the removal of non-conforming waste and dust and odour management onsite. DER reviews the annual environmental returns on an annual basis. The premises is also subject to inspection under the Department’s Annual Compliance Program. DER has also inspected this premises separately for landfill levy and asbestos management requirements. DER may also inspect the premises as a result of complaints received.
- 9 March 2016 at 9am,
- 23 March 2016 at 10.30am,
- 7 April 2016 at 10.45am; and
- 21 April 2016 at 12.30pm.
Since 23 March 2016, DER has been inspecting the premises on a fortnightly basis. The licensee is progressively removing material from the premises and has advised that an estimated 12,000m 3 has been removed offsite since August 2015.
DER inspections also focus on compliance with the dust management requirements of the above licence. To date, officers have not observed any unreasonable dust or odour emissions from the premises during these inspections.
(b) Landfilling is no longer undertaken on this premises. On 4 December 2015, the above licence was amended to remove the category 63 landfilling. DER understands that landfilling has not been undertaken on the site since 2009, when the current licensee took over.
The licensee is required to provide DER with an Annual Environmental Report (AER), which is to include a summary of inputs and outputs, monitoring of ambient groundwater quality with an assessment against previous monitoring results, monitoring of landfill gas, complaints summary and a declaration of compliance with the licence. The last AER was assessed in May 2016 with no major issues identified.
(c)-(d) There are a number of dust management and mitigation controls in place onsite including: water carts, sprinklers on stockpiles and on the crushing and screening infrastructure. There are also a number of controls in place in respect of asbestos management onsite. Excavation is no longer being undertaken, therefore, separation to groundwater relative to excavation is no longer relevant to current operations. Notwithstanding this, groundwater monitoring is required to be undertaken every six months.
Condition 1.3.15 of the above licence requires diversion drains to direct stormwater away from unprocessed waste storage areas.
With the exception of the non-conforming waste onsite, the licensee has been found to be compliant with conditions of the above licence.
DER currently inspects the premises on a fortnightly basis to monitor the removal of non-conforming waste and dust and odour management onsite. DER reviews the annual environmental returns on an annual basis. The premises is also subject to inspection under the Department’s Annual Compliance Program. DER has also inspected this premises separately for landfill levy and asbestos management requirements. DER may also inspect the premises as a result of complaints received.
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