❓ A parliamentary question regarding PFAS contamination levels in water and soil, specifically concerning Alcoa's operations and a Forrestfield spoil stockpile. The response partially deflects responsibility to another minister.
AnsweredQoN 235Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PFAS
CONTAMINATION — PUBLIC DRINKING WATER
235. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the Deputy Premier's
comments on 3 March 2023 regarding Alcoa's pumping of PFAS-tainted
water over a drinking water dam in WA's south west, which he described
as very disturbing and concerning.
(1) What level of
PFAS has the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation determined was
likely when it stated that the pipeline was ''likely to contain PFAS
contaminated wastewater''?
(2) What levels of PFAS were
recorded by DWER in the pipeline?
(3) What levels
of PFAS have been recorded and registered from 2017 to 2023 in the 600 000
cubic metres of PFAS-contaminated Forrestfield–Airport Link spoil
stockpiled at 777 Abernethy Road, Forrestfield?
(4) Has any of
the PFAS from 777 Abernethy Road, Forrestfield leaked or leached into any
groundwater or surface water; and, if so, does this area provide any public
drinking water?
CONTAMINATION — PUBLIC DRINKING WATER
235. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the Deputy Premier's
comments on 3 March 2023 regarding Alcoa's pumping of PFAS-tainted
water over a drinking water dam in WA's south west, which he described
as very disturbing and concerning.
(1) What level of
PFAS has the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation determined was
likely when it stated that the pipeline was ''likely to contain PFAS
contaminated wastewater''?
(2) What levels of PFAS were
recorded by DWER in the pipeline?
(3) What levels
of PFAS have been recorded and registered from 2017 to 2023 in the 600 000
cubic metres of PFAS-contaminated Forrestfield–Airport Link spoil
stockpiled at 777 Abernethy Road, Forrestfield?
(4) Has any of
the PFAS from 777 Abernethy Road, Forrestfield leaked or leached into any
groundwater or surface water; and, if so, does this area provide any public
drinking water?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided by the
Minister for Environment, which I provide on behalf of the parliamentary
secretary.
(1) Previous
investigation reports submitted by Alcoa to the Department of Water and
Environmental Regulation for the Orion sumps reported levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, specifically
perfluorooctane sulfonate, above the Australian and New Zealand Environment and
Conservation Council freshwater guideline criteria, for 99 per cent
species protection, of 0.00023 micrograms per litre in all but one sample
collected. Total PFAS—the sum of all individual PFAS compounds analysed—reported
in Orion sumps OS3 and OS4 were 0.0861 micrograms per litre and 0.0706 micrograms
per litre respectively. Orion is one of the three mining areas within the
Willowdale mine.
(2) To minimise
risk, the pipeline was not operated for the purposes of obtaining a sample.
Departmental officers collected a freshwater sample from the Orion sump used to
supply the pipeline. Results of this analysis have not been received at this
time.
(3) This question
should be directed to the Minister for Transport.
(4) The first
part of this question should be directed to the Minister for Transport. The
location 777 Abernethy Road, Forrestfield does not lie within any public
drinking water source area.
some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided by the
Minister for Environment, which I provide on behalf of the parliamentary
secretary.
(1) Previous
investigation reports submitted by Alcoa to the Department of Water and
Environmental Regulation for the Orion sumps reported levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, specifically
perfluorooctane sulfonate, above the Australian and New Zealand Environment and
Conservation Council freshwater guideline criteria, for 99 per cent
species protection, of 0.00023 micrograms per litre in all but one sample
collected. Total PFAS—the sum of all individual PFAS compounds analysed—reported
in Orion sumps OS3 and OS4 were 0.0861 micrograms per litre and 0.0706 micrograms
per litre respectively. Orion is one of the three mining areas within the
Willowdale mine.
(2) To minimise
risk, the pipeline was not operated for the purposes of obtaining a sample.
Departmental officers collected a freshwater sample from the Orion sump used to
supply the pipeline. Results of this analysis have not been received at this
time.
(3) This question
should be directed to the Minister for Transport.
(4) The first
part of this question should be directed to the Minister for Transport. The
location 777 Abernethy Road, Forrestfield does not lie within any public
drinking water source area.
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