❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses an ammonia release at the Yara Pilbara Fertilisers plant, querying emission levels, warnings, and environmental impact. The Minister's response details monitoring limitations, lack of off-site impact indication, and existing regulatory frameworks.
AnsweredQoN 407Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
YARA PILBARA FERTILISERS PTY LTD
407. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister
representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the operations of Yara
Pilbara Fertilisers Pty Ltd, licence L7997/2002/11, on the Burrup Peninsula,
and the tabled paper of Tuesday, 10 May.
(1) What were the
parts per million or milligrams per standard cubic metre for the 14 tonnes of
ammonia released on 25 March 2016 over a two-hour period?
(2) Were nearby
factories and beachgoers warned by YPF of the release, at what time; and, if
not, why not?
(3) Were officers
of YPF dispatched to Hearson Cove beach to check on late-night beachgoers or
anglers; and, if not, why not?
(4) Given that
the licence conditions for the plant do not include ammonia limits to the
atmosphere, as the company stated to the Environmental Protection Authority in
bulletin 1036 that gaseous emissions of ammonia were nil and should such an
event occur, it will be less than once in 100 years, what action is the
department taking to ensure the safety of all personnel at nearby industries
and communities?
(5) What action
is the department taking to ensure that such releases do not impact the
petroglyphs in the national park areas?
407. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister
representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the operations of Yara
Pilbara Fertilisers Pty Ltd, licence L7997/2002/11, on the Burrup Peninsula,
and the tabled paper of Tuesday, 10 May.
(1) What were the
parts per million or milligrams per standard cubic metre for the 14 tonnes of
ammonia released on 25 March 2016 over a two-hour period?
(2) Were nearby
factories and beachgoers warned by YPF of the release, at what time; and, if
not, why not?
(3) Were officers
of YPF dispatched to Hearson Cove beach to check on late-night beachgoers or
anglers; and, if not, why not?
(4) Given that
the licence conditions for the plant do not include ammonia limits to the
atmosphere, as the company stated to the Environmental Protection Authority in
bulletin 1036 that gaseous emissions of ammonia were nil and should such an
event occur, it will be less than once in 100 years, what action is the
department taking to ensure the safety of all personnel at nearby industries
and communities?
(5) What action
is the department taking to ensure that such releases do not impact the
petroglyphs in the national park areas?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question.
(1) The release
of ammonia resulted from the malfunction of a pressure-relief valve. There is
no capacity to monitor emission concentrations from these valves. The site is
fitted with a number of ammonia detectors that trigger an alarm if ammonia is
detected. The alarms are set at a concentration threshold of 20 parts per
million. One alarm was triggered at the boundary between the Yara Pilbara
Fertilisers site and the technical ammonium nitrate plant, east of the release
location. No other alarms were triggered. The premises are classified as a major
hazards facility and are regulated by the Department of Mines and Petroleum
under the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 and associated regulations.
(2)–(3) No.
The Department of Environment Regulation was advised by the licensee that its
site response team was mobilised and determined that there was no indication of
an off-site impact.
(4) The premises
are classified as a major hazards facility and is regulated by the Department
of Mines and Petroleum under the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 and associated
regulations.
(5) The Burrup
Rock Art Technical Working Group, established on 20 September 2010, reviews the
data from an annual monitoring program and makes recommendations to the
Minister for Environment and the department. The report is published each year
and is available on the Department of Environment Regulation's website.
of the question.
(1) The release
of ammonia resulted from the malfunction of a pressure-relief valve. There is
no capacity to monitor emission concentrations from these valves. The site is
fitted with a number of ammonia detectors that trigger an alarm if ammonia is
detected. The alarms are set at a concentration threshold of 20 parts per
million. One alarm was triggered at the boundary between the Yara Pilbara
Fertilisers site and the technical ammonium nitrate plant, east of the release
location. No other alarms were triggered. The premises are classified as a major
hazards facility and are regulated by the Department of Mines and Petroleum
under the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 and associated regulations.
(2)–(3) No.
The Department of Environment Regulation was advised by the licensee that its
site response team was mobilised and determined that there was no indication of
an off-site impact.
(4) The premises
are classified as a major hazards facility and is regulated by the Department
of Mines and Petroleum under the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 and associated
regulations.
(5) The Burrup
Rock Art Technical Working Group, established on 20 September 2010, reviews the
data from an annual monitoring program and makes recommendations to the
Minister for Environment and the department. The report is published each year
and is available on the Department of Environment Regulation's website.
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