Application form: Works Approval / Licence / Renewal / Amendment / Registration Part V, Division 3, Environmental Protection Act 1986 Environmental Protection Regulations 1987
Part 1: Application type INSTRUCTIONS: Completion of this form is a statutory requirement under section 54(1)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) (EP Act) for works approval applications; section 57(1)(a) for licence applications; section 59B(1)(a) for applications for an amendment; and under regulation 5B(2)(a) of the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 (WA) (EP Regulations) for applications for registration of premises. The instructions set out in this application form are general in nature. A reference to ‘you’ in these instructions is a reference to the applicant. The information provided to you by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) in relation to making applications does not constitute legal advice. DWER recommends that you obtain independent legal advice. Applicants seeking further information relating to requirements under the EP Act and/or EP Regulations are directed to the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office website (www.legislation.wa.gov.au). Schedule 1 of the EP Regulations contains the categories of prescribed premises. For prescribed premises where activities fall within more than one category, ALL applicable categories must be identified. This applies for existing prescribed premises seeking renewal or amendment, as well as new prescribed premises. The application form must be completed with all relevant information attached. If there is insufficient space on any part of this form, please continue on a separate sheet of paper and attach to this form. If an application form has been submitted which is incomplete or materially incorrect, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DWER will decline to deal with the application and advise the applicant accordingly. On completing this application form, please submit it to DWER in line with the instructions in Part 14 of the form.
1.1 This is an application for: Works approval [select only one option] under Part V, Division 3 of the EP Act Licence Please see Guidance Statement: Decision Existing registration number(s): [ ] Making for more information relating to the Existing works approval number(s): [ ] process for assessing and determining applications. Renewal Existing licence number: [ ]
Amendment Number of the existing licence or works approval to be amended: [ ]
Registration (works approval already obtained) Existing works approval number(s): [ ]
1.2 This application is for the following Category 5: Processing of ore categories of prescribed premises: Category 12: Screening etc. of material
Category 54: Sewage facility Category 73: Storage of fuel
All activities that meet the definition of a prescribed premises as set out in Schedule 1 of the EP Regulations have been specified above (tick, if yes).
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Completion Matrix The matrix below explains what sections are required to be completed for different types of applications. New Application/ Application Form Section Renewal Amendment Registration
Part 1: Application type ● ● ●
Part 2: Applicant details – sections 2.1 ● ● ●
Part 2: Applicant details – section 2.1 onwards ● ● Δ
Part 3: Premises details ● ● Δ
Part 4: Proposed activities ● ● ●
Part 5: Index of Biodiversity Surveys for Assessment If required. If required. If required.
Part 6: Other DWER approvals ● ● ●
Part 7: Other approvals and consultation ● ● ●
Part 8: Fit and competent operator ● ● Δ
Part 9: Emissions, discharges, and waste ● ● Δ
Part 10: Siting and location ● ● N/A
Part 11: Submission of any other relevant information ● ● If required.
Part 12: Proposed fee calculation ● ● ●
Part 13: Commercially sensitive or confidential ● ● ● information
Part 14: Submission of application ● ● ●
Part 15: Declaration and signature ● ● ●
Attachment 1A: Proof of occupier status ● ● N/A
Attachment 1B: ASIC company extract ● ● N/A
Attachment 1C: Authorisation to act as a representative If required. If required. If required. of the occupier
Attachment 2: Premises map/s ● ● Δ
Attachment 3A: Proposed activities ● ● Δ
Attachment 3B: Map of area proposed to be cleared ● ● ● (only applicable if clearing is proposed)
Attachment 3C: Additional information for clearing If required. If required. If required. assessment
Attachment 4: Biodiversity surveys (only applicable if ● ● ● biodiversity surveys included in application)
Attachment 5: Other approvals and consultation ● ● Δ documentation
Attachment 6A: Emissions and discharges If required. If required. If required.
Attachment 6B: Waste acceptance If required. If required. If required.
Attachment 7: Siting and location ● ● Δ
Attachment 8: Additional information submitted If required. If required. If required.
Attachment 9: Proposed fee calculation ● ● ●
Attachment 10: Request for exemption from publication If required. If required. If required.
Key: ● Must be submitted Δ to the extent changed/required in relation to the amendment N/A Not required with application, but may be requested subsequently depending on DWER records “If required” Sections for applicants to determine.
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Part 2: Applicant details
INSTRUCTIONS: The applicant (the occupier of the premises) must be an individual(s), a company, body corporate, or public authority, but not a partnership, trust, or joint-venture name. Applications made by or on behalf of business names or unincorporated associations will not be accepted. If applying as an individual, your full legal name must be inserted. If applying as a company, body corporate, or public authority, the full legal entity name must be inserted. Australian Company Number's (ACN) must be provided for all companies or body corporates. DWER prefers to send all correspondence electronically via email. We request that you consent to receiving all correspondence relating to instruments and notices under Part V of the EP Act (“Part V documents”) electronically via email, by indicating your consent in Section 2.3. Companies or body corporates making an application must nominate an authorised representative from within their organisation. Proof of authorisation will be required. Details of a contact person must be provided for DWER enquiries in relation to your application. This contact person can be a consultant if authorised to represent the applicant. Written evidence of this authorisation must be provided. Details of the occupier of the premises must be provided. One of the options must be selected and if you have been asked to specify, please provide details. For example, if ‘lease holder’ has been selected, please specify the type of lease (for example, pastoral lease, mining lease, or general lease) and provide a copy of the lease document(s). Note that contracts for sale of land will not be sufficient evidence of occupancy status.
2.1 Applicant name/s (full legal name/s): [the proposed holder of the works approval, licence or registration]
ACN (if applicable):
2.2 Trading as (if applicable):
2.3 Authorised representative Name details: [the person authorised to receive correspondence and Position Part V documents on behalf of the applicant under the EP Telephone Act. Where ‘yes’ is selected, all correspondence will be sent Email to you via email, to the email address provided in this Yes No section. Where ‘no’ has been selected, Part V documents I consent to all written correspondence between myself (the will be posted to you in hard applicant) and DWER, regarding the subject of this copy to the postal / business application, being exclusively via email, using the email
address specified in section address I have provided above. 2.4. Other general correspondence may still be sent to you via email.]
2.4 Address for receipt of Part V documents under the EP Act: [this must be a physical address to which a Part V document may be delivered.
2.5 Postal address for all other correspondence: [if different from section 2.4]
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Part 2: Applicant details
2.6 Contact person details for Name DWER enquiries relating to the application (if different from the authorised Position representative): [for example, could be a Organisation consultant or a site based employee] Address
Telephone
2.7 Occupier status: Registered proprietor on certificate of title [Occupier is defined in section 3 of the EP Act and Lease holder (please specify, including date of expiry of lease) includes a person in occupation or control of the Mining Lease (ML) 4SA is granted to Hamersley Iron Pty Limited pursuant to premises, or occupying a the Iron Ore (Hamersley Range) Agreement Act 1963 (WA). different part of the premises whether or not that person is General Purpose Leases and Miscellaneous Licences, also held by the owner.] Hamersley Iron Pty Limited. Details are provided in the attached Works Approval Supporting Document.
Public authority that has care, control or management of the land Other (please specify – for example, joint venture operating entity, contract, or other legal document)
Attachments N/A Yes 2.8 Attachment 1A: Proof of Copies of certificate of title, lease or other instruments occupier status evidencing proof of occupier status, including the expiry
date or confirmation that there is no expiry date, have been provided and labelled as Attachment 1A. 2.9 Attachment 1B: ASIC A current company information extract purchased from the company extract ASIC website(s) for all new applications/registrations has been provided and labelled as Attachment 1B. 2.10 Attachment 1C: A copy of the documentation authorising the applicant to Authorisation to act as act on the occupier’s behalf as their authorised
representative of the agent/representative has been provided and labelled as occupier Attachment 1C.
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Part 3: Premises details
3.1 Premises legal description (whole or ML4SA, General Purpose Leases and Miscellaneous Licences part to be specified): held by Hamersley Iron Pty Limited. [Include the land description (volume and folio number, lot or location number/s); Details are provided in the attached Works Approval Crown lease or reserve number; pastoral Supporting Document. lease number; or mining tenement number (as appropriate), of all properties, as shown on title details registered with Landgate.]
Premises street address [Include the suburb.]
Premises name (if applicable):
3.2 Local Government Authority area: Shire of Ashburton [City, Town or Shire]
3.3 GPS or map coordinates: Details are provided in the attached Works Approval [GPS coordinates (latitude and longitude) Supporting Document. must be provided where cadastre or mining tenements are not used as the premises boundary] Attachments N/A Yes 3.4 Attachment 2: An aerial photograph, map and site plan of the premises must be Premises map/s included as an attachment to this application form and labelled Attachment 2. You must provide an aerial photograph of sufficient scale showing the prescribed premises. You must also provide a map or maps of the prescribed premises, identifying: layout of key infrastructure and buildings, clearly labelled;
the premises boundary; emission and discharge points (with GPS coordinates where available); sensitive receptors and land uses; and all areas proposed to be cleared (if applicable). Maps must contain a north arrow, clearly marking the area in which the activities are carried out. The map or maps must be of reasonable clarity and have a visible scale.
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Part 4: Proposed activities INSTRUCTIONS: You must provide a description and the scope, size and scale of all prescribed activities of Schedule 1 to the EP Regulations including the maximum production or design capacity of each prescribed activity. If applying for a works approval or licence amendment involving the construction of new infrastructure, you must provide information on infrastructure to be constructed and how long construction is expected to take. You must confirm if commissioning is to occur and how long it will take. If applying for a works approval or licence amendment not involving the construction of new infrastructure, provide details of the proposed amendment. You must identify all emission sources on the premises map/s. You must also provide information on activities which directly relate to the prescribed premises category which have, or are likely to result in, an emission or discharge. If clearing activities are proposed provide a description and details. If a relevant exemption under Schedule 6 of the EP Act or regulation 5 of the Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004 (WA) (Clearing Regulations) may apply, provide details. 4.1 Description/overview:
This Works Approval application seeks approval for the proposed construction and commissioning of iron ore processing facilities (Category 5) and other supporting facilities including fuel storage facilities (Category 73) at Western Turner Syncline to sustain production from Greater Tom Price. This application also includes the operation of mobile crushing and screening plant/s (Category 12) adjacent to proposed facilities to provide material during construction. This Works Approval application also seeks approval for the construction and commissioning of sewage treatment facilities (Category 54) to replace old and failing existing facilities at the Tom Price mine. Details are provided in the attached Works Approval Supporting Document.
4.2 Estimated operating period of the project / premises (e.g. based on N/A estimated infrastructure life):
4.3 Proposed date/s for commencement of works (if applicable): Details are provided in the attached Works Approval 4.4 Proposed date/s for commissioning of works (if applicable): Supporting Document.
4.5 Proposed date/s for commencement of operations (if applicable):
4.6 Maximum production or design capacity for each category applied Category 5 – 36,000,000 tonnes for (based on infrastructure operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a per annual period. week): [Refer to categories listed in 1.2. Units must be consistent with Schedule Category 12 – 10,000,000 1 of the EP Regulations] tonnes per annual period. Category 54 – 80 m3 per day. Category 73 – 704 m3 per day.
4.7 Estimated/actual throughput for each category applied for: Close to design capacity [Refer to categories listed in 1.2. Units must be consistent with Schedule 1 of the EP Regulations] 4.8 Proposed activities: You must provide details of proposed activities, identifying: scope, size and scale, including details as to frequency and production or design capacity; key infrastructure and equipment; description of processes or operations (a process flow chart may be included as an attachment); emission/discharge points; locations of waste storage or disposal; and activities occurring during construction, commissioning and operation (if applicable). Additional information relating to the proposed activities may be included in Attachment 3A (see 4.10 below).
Details are provided in the attached Works Approval Supporting Document.
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Part 4: Proposed activities Attachments N/A Yes 4.9 Attachment 2: Emission/discharge points are clearly labelled on the map/s
Premises map required for Part 3.4 (Attachment 2). 4.10 Attachment 3A: Additional information relating to the proposed activities
Proposed activities has been included in Attachment 3A (if required). Clearing activities [4.11 to 4.17 are only required if the application includes clearing of native vegetation] 4.11 Proposed clearing area (hectares and/or number of individual trees to be removed): 4.12 Details of any relevant exemptions: Any clearing will be authorised [refer to DWER’s A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing via existing approvals. No native vegetation] additional approval for clearing 4.13 Proposed method of clearing: will be sought for this Proposal.
4.14 Period within which clearing is proposed to be undertaken: [for example, May 2019 – June 2019] 4.15 Purpose of clearing:
Clearing activities – Attachments N/A Yes 4.16 Attachment 3B: You must provide an aerial photograph or map of sufficient Map of area scale showing the proposed clearing area and prescribed proposed to be premises boundary cleared OR if you have the facilities, a suitable portable digital storage device of the area proposed to be cleared as an ESRI shapefile with the following properties: Geometry type: Polygon Shape Coordinate system: GDA 1994 (Geographic latitude/longitude) Datum: GDA 1994 (Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994). 4.17 Attachment 3C: Additional information to assist in the assessment of the clearing Additional proposal may be attached to this application (for example, information for reports on salinity, fauna or flora studies or other environmental clearing reports conducted for the site). assessment
Part 5: Index of Biodiversity Surveys for Assessments (IBSA) INSTRUCTIONS: Biodiversity surveys submitted to support this application must meet the requirements of the EPA’s Instructions for the preparation of data packages for the Index of Biodiversity Surveys for Assessments (IBSA). If these requirements are not met, DWER will decline to deal with the application. Attachments N/A Yes 5.1 Attachment 4: All biodiversity surveys submitted with this application meet the requirements of the EPA’s Instructions for the preparation of Biodiversity surveys data packages for the Index of Biodiversity Surveys for Assessments (IBSA).
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Part 6: Other DWER approvals INSTRUCTIONS: If you have applied, or intend to apply, for other approvals within DWER that may be relevant to this application, you must provide relevant details. If you have referred, or intend to refer, your proposal to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), you must provide details. Pre-application scoping
6.1 Have you had any pre-application / pre- No referral / scoping meetings with DWER regarding any planned applications? Yes – provide details: An overview of the Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mine and expected Part V approvals was provided to DWER on 24 September 2018.
Environmental Impact Assessment (Part IV of the EP Act)
6.2 Have you referred or do you intend to Yes (referred) – reference (if known): refer the proposal to the EPA? Section 37B(1) of the EP Act defines a ‘significant Yes – intend to refer (proposal is a ‘significant proposal’) proposal’ as “a proposal likely, if implemented, to have a significant effect on the environment”. Yes – intend to refer (proposal will require a section 45C If DWER considers that the proposal in this amendment to the current Ministerial Statement): application is likely to constitute a ‘significant MS [ ] proposal’, DWER is required under section 38(5) of the EP Act to refer the proposal to the EPA for assessment under Part IV, if such a referral has No – a valid Ministerial Statement applies: The Western not already been made. Turner Syncline Revised Proposal was approved subject If a relevant Ministerial Statement already exists, to conditions of Ministerial Statement (MS) 1031 in June please provide the MS number in the space 2016. The activities that are the subject of the Works provided. Approval application are considered approved, subject to conditions of MS 1031.
No – not a ‘significant proposal’: Any clearing for the proposed sewage treatment facilities will be managed via existing CPS 5795 (and any amendments as required).
Clearing of Native Vegetation (Part V, Division 2 of the EP Act and Country Area Water Supply Act 1947)
6.3 Have you applied or do you intend to Yes – clearing application reference (if known): [ ] apply for a native vegetation clearing permit? No – this application includes clearing (please complete questions 4.11 to 4.17) In accordance with the Guidance Statement: Decision Making, where clearing of native vegetation is of an exempt kind under the No – a valid permit applies: CPS 5795 Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004 (WA), or is being No – exemption applies (explain why): Clearing carried assessed by a relevant authority which would lead out under Schedule 6, Clause 2 – formal assessment by to an exemption under Schedule 6 of the EP Act, the clearing will not be assessed by DWER or be the EPA (Clearing has been previously assessed and subject to any additional controls by DWER. approved via MS 1031). If the proposed clearing action is to be assessed in accordance with, or under, an Environment No – permit not required Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act) accredited process, such as the assessment bilateral agreement, Form Annex C7 – Assessment bilateral agreement must be completed and attached to your clearing permit application.
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Part 6: Other DWER approvals
6.4 Have you applied or do you intend to Yes – application reference (if known): [ ] apply for a Country Area Water Supply Act 1947 licence? No – a valid licence applies: [ ] If a clearing exemption applies in a Country Area Water Supply Act 1947 (CAWS) controlled No – licence not required catchment, or if compensation has previously been paid to retain the subject vegetation, a Country Area Water Supply Act 1947 clearing licence is required. If yes, contact the nearest DWER regional office for a Form 1 Application for licence. Map of CAWS Act controlled catchments
Water Licences and Permits (Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914)
6.5 Have you applied, or do you intend to Yes –application reference (if known): apply for: 1. a licence or amendment to a licence No – a valid licence / permit applies: [ ] to take water (surface water or groundwater); or No – licence / permit not required 2. a licence to construct wells (including bores and soaks); or 3. a permit or amendment to a permit to interfere with the bed and banks of a watercourse?
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Part 7: Other approvals and consultation
INSTRUCTIONS: Please provide copies of all relevant documentation indicated below, including any conditions, exclusions, or expiry dates. Major Project means: A State Development Project, where the lead agency is the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (including projects to which a State Agreement applies); or A Level 2 or 3 Major Resource Project, as defined in the Lead Agency Framework. N/A No Yes
7.1 Is the proposal a Major Project?
7.2 Is the proposal subject to a State Agreement Act?
If yes, specify which Act: Iron Ore (Hamersley Range) Agreement Act 1963 (WA).
7.3 Has the proposal been allocated to a “Lead Agency”?
If yes, specify Lead Agency contact details:
7.4 Has the proposal been referred and/or assessed under the EPBC Act (Commonwealth)? If yes, please specify referral, assessment
and/or approval number:
7.5 Has the proposal obtained all relevant planning approvals?
If planning approval is necessary but has not been obtained, please provide details indicating why:
If planning approval is not necessary, please provide details indicating why:
Activities on tenure granted pursuant to the Mining Act 1978 are exempt from the requirement for Planning Approval.
7.6 For renewals or amendment applications, are the relevant planning
approvals still valid (that is, not expired)? 7.7 Has the proposal obtained all other necessary statutory approvals (not including any other DWER approvals identified in Part 6)?
If no, please provide details of approvals already obtained, outstanding approvals, and expected dates for obtaining these outstanding approvals:
N/A No Yes
7.8 Has consultation been undertaken with parties considered to have a direct interest in the proposal (that is, interested parties or persons who are considered to be directly affected by the proposal)? DWER will give consideration to submissions from interested parties or persons in accordance with the Guidance Statement: Decision Making.
Attachments N/A Yes
7.9 Attachment 5: Other Details of other approvals specified in Part 7 of this approvals and application, including copies of relevant decisions and any
consultation consultation undertaken with direct interest stakeholders documentation have been provided and labelled Attachment 5.
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Part 8: Applicant history Note: Under this section, DWER will undertake an internal due diligence of the applicant’s fitness and competency based on DWER’s compliance records. If you wish to provide additional information for DWER to consider in making this assessment, you may provide that information as a separate attachment (see Part 11).
N/A No Yes
8.1 If the applicant is an individual, has the applicant previously held, or do they currently hold, a licence or works approval under Part V of the EP Act?
8.2 If the applicant is a corporation, has any director of that corporation previously held, or do they currently hold, a licence or works approval under Part V of the EP Act?
8.3 If yes to 8.1 or 8.2 above, specify the name of company and/or licence or works approval number:
Existing Licence L4762/1972 is held by Hamersley Iron Pty Limited
8.4 If the applicant is an individual, has the applicant ever been convicted, or paid a penalty, for an offence under a provision of the EP Act, its subsidiary legislation,
or similar environmental protection or health-related legislation in Western Australia or elsewhere in Australia? 8.5 If the applicant is a corporation, has any director of that corporation ever been convicted, or paid a penalty, for an offence under a provision of the EP Act, its
subsidiary legislation, or similar environmental protection or health-related legislation in Western Australia or elsewhere in Australia? 8.6 If the applicant is a corporation, has any person concerned in the management of the corporation, as referred to in section 118 of the EP Act, ever been convicted of, or paid a penalty, for an offence under a provision of the EP Act, its subsidiary legislation, or similar environmental protection or health-related legislation in Western Australia or elsewhere in Australia? 8.7 If the applicant is a corporation, has any director of that corporation ever been a director of another corporation that has been convicted, or paid a penalty, for an offence under a provision of the EP Act, its subsidiary legislation, or similar environmental protection or health-related legislation in Western Australia or elsewhere in Australia? 8.8 With regards to the questions posed in 8.4 to 8.7 above, have any legal proceedings been commenced, whether convicted or not, against the applicant for an offence under a provision of the EP Act, its subsidiary legislation, or similar environmental protection or health-related legislation in Western Australia or elsewhere in Australia? 8.9 Has the applicant had a licence or other authority suspended or revoked due to a breach of conditions or an offence under the EP Act or similar environmental
protection or health-related legislation in Western Australia or elsewhere in Australia? 8.10 If the applicant is a corporation, has any director of that corporation ever had a licence or other authority suspended or revoked due to a breach of conditions or
an offence under the EP Act or similar environmental protection or health-related legislation in Western Australia or elsewhere in Australia? 8.11 If the applicant is a corporation, has any director of that corporation ever been a director of another corporation that has ever had a licence or other authorisation suspended or revoked due to a breach of conditions or an offence under the EP Act or similar environmental protection or health-related legislation in Western Australia or elsewhere in Australia? 8.12 If yes to any of 8.4 to 8.11 above, you must provide details of any charges, convictions, penalties paid for an offence, and/or licences or other authorisations suspended or revoked:
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Part 9: Emissions, discharges, and waste
INSTRUCTIONS: Please see Guidance Statement: Risk Assessments and provide all information relating to emission sources, pathways and receptors relevant to the application. You must provide details on sources of emissions (for example, kiln stack, baghouses or discharge pipelines) including fugitive emissions (for example, noise, dust or odour), types of emissions (physical, chemical, or biological), and volumes, concentrations and durations of emissions. The potential for emissions should be considered for all stages of the proposal (where relevant), including during construction, commissioning and operation of the premises. No Yes
9.1 Are there potential emissions or discharges arising from the proposed activities?
If yes, identify all potential emissions and discharges arising from the proposed activities and complete the Emission Table below. Gaseous and particulate emissions (e.g. Dust (e.g. from equipment, unsealed roads emissions from stacks, chimneys or baghouses) and/or stockpiles) Wastewater discharges (e.g. treated sewage, Waste and leachate (e.g. emissions through wash water, or process water discharged to lands seepage, leaks and spills of waste from storage, or waters) process and handling areas) Noise (e.g. from machinery operations and/or Odour (e.g. from wastes accepted at putrescible vehicle operations) landfills) Contaminated or potentially contaminated Electromagnetic radiation* stormwater (e.g. stormwater with the potential to come into contact with chemicals or waste materials) Other (please specify) [ ]
*For electromagnetic radiation, copies/details of other relevant approvals (such as from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety or the Radiological Council) must be provided where applicable. Details of any pollution control equipment or waste treatment system, including any control mechanisms used to ensure proper operation of this equipment, must be included in the proposed controls column of the ‘Emissions and discharges table’ below. Details of management measures employed to control emissions should also be included. Additional rows may be added as required and/or further information may be included as an attachment (see section 9.3). Emissions and discharges table:
Source of Emission or Volume and Proposed Location (on site emission or discharge type frequency controls layout plan – see 3.4) discharge
Details are provided in the attached Works Approval Supporting Document.
No Yes
9.2 Is there waste accepted, buried, stored, or recycled on the premises?
(includes leachate and contaminated storm water generated and stored on the premises)
Solid waste types must be described with reference to Landfill Waste Classification and Waste Definitions 1996 (as amended December 2009) and the Environmental Protection (Controlled Waste) Regulations 2004. Liquid waste types must be described with reference to the Environmental Protection (Controlled Waste) Regulations 2004. Detail must be provided on storage type (for example, hardstand and containment infrastructure), capacity, likely storage volumes, and containment features (for example, lining and bunding). Additional rows may be added as required and/or further information may be included as an attachment (see section 9.4).
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Part 9: Emissions, discharges, and waste
Waste acceptance table:
Waste type Quantity (e.g. Storage Monitoring (if Location (on tonnes, litres, infrastructure applicable) site layout plan cubic metres) (including – see 3.4) specifications)
Attachments N/A Yes
9.3 Attachment 6A: Emissions If required, further information for Part 9.1 has been and discharges (if required) included as an attachment labelled Attachment 6A.
9.4 Attachment 6B: Waste If required, further information for Part 9.2 has been acceptance (if required) included as an attachment labelled Attachment 6B.
Part 10: Siting and Location
10.1 What is the distance to the nearest sensitive land uses (that is, a Details are provided in the attached residence or other land use which may be affected by an Works Approval Supporting Document. emission or discharge associated with the proposed activities): No Yes 10.2 Is the premises located within, or within close proximity to, any specified ecosystems, or any environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) as declared under the Environmental Protection (Environmentally Sensitive) Notice 2005? (See Guidance Statement: Environmental Siting) If no, identify the distance in which there are no specified ecosystems and/or ESAs. If yes, provide details of the specified ecosystems and/or ESAs, and the distance to these:
Details are provided in the attached Works Approval Supporting Document.
10.3 If yes to 10.2, you must also provide further information including details on topography, geology, soil type, depth to groundwater and quality of groundwater at the premises. For premises answering no to 10.2, additional information including topography, geology, soil type, groundwater depth, and water quality is recommended to be included if this information is available.
Attachments N/A Yes
10.4 Attachment 7: Siting You must provide details and a map describing the siting and and location location of the premises, including identification of distances to sensitive land uses and/or any specified ecosystems.
Details are provided in the attached Works Approval Supporting Document.
Part 11: Submission of any other relevant information Attachments No Yes 11.1 Attachment 8: Applicants seeking to submit further information may include Additional information information labelled Attachment 8. If submitting multiple submitted additional attachments, label them 8A, 8B, etc. Where supplementary documentation is submitted, please specify the name of documents below.
List title of supplementary document/s attached: Greater Tom Price Iron Ore Mine (L4762/1972) Western Turner Syncline Hub Proposal Works Approval Application Supporting Documentation
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Part 12: Proposed fee calculation
INSTRUCTIONS: To pay a fee via BPoint, or for information for paying via secure electronic funds transfer or cheque, consult DWER’s website at https://dwer.wa.gov.au/make-a-payment. If paying by credit card, select biller code “Industry Regulation”. Fee calculators are available online to assist in completing this section. Licence: www.der.wa.gov.au/LicenceFeeCalculator Works approval: www.der.wa.gov.au/WorksApprovalFeeCalculator Amendment:: www.der.wa.gov.au/AmendmentFeeCalculator Different fee units apply for different fee components. Fee units may also have different amounts depending on the period in which the calculation is made. Further information on fees can be found in the Fact Sheet: Industry Regulation fees, available from DWER’s website.
12.1 Only the relevant fee calculations are to be completed Section 12.3 for works approval applications as follows: Section 12.4 for licence applications [mark the box to indicate sections completed - for Section 12.5 for registration applications concurrent applications, each relevant fee section is to be completed] Section 12.6 for amendment applications Section 12.7 for applications requiring clearing of native vegetation 12.2 All information and data used for the calculation of proposed fees has been provided in
accordance with section 12.8. 12.3 Proposed works approval fee Proposed works approval fee (see Schedule 3 of the EP Regulations) Fees relate to the cost of the works, including all capital costs (inclusive of GST) associated with the construction and establishment of the works proposed under the works approval application. This includes, for example, costs associated with earth works, hard stands, drainage, plant hire, equipment, processing plant, relocation of equipment and labour hire. Costs exclude: - the cost of land; - the cost of buildings to be used for purposes unrelated to the purposes in respect of which the premises are, or will become, prescribed premises; costs for buildings unrelated to the prescribed premises activity or activities; and - consultancy fees relating to the works. Fee component Proposed fee
Cost of works: 43
12.4 Proposed licence fee Detailed licence fee calculations Part 1 Premises component (see regulation 5D and Part 1 of Schedule 4 of the EP Regulations) The production or design capacity should be the maximum capacity of the premises. For most categories the production or design capacity refers to an annual rate. The figure should be based on 24 hour operation for 365 days, unless there is another regulatory approval or technical reason that restricts operation. The premises component fee applies to the category in Part 1, Schedule 4 incurring the higher or highest amount of fee units in accordance with regulation 5D(2) of the EP Regulations. List all categories (insert additional rows as required). Use only the higher or highest amount of fee units to determine the Part 1 fee component. Category Production or design capacity Fee units
Using the higher or highest amount of fee units, Part 1 component subtotal $
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Part 12: Proposed fee calculation
Part 2 Waste (see regulation 5D(1a)(b) and Part 2 of Schedule 4 of the EP Regulations) If your premises includes one or more of the following categories specify any applicable Part 2 waste amounts. Do not include Part 3 waste components of these discharges in the below sections. Categories: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 44, 46, 53, 54A, 70, 80, or 85B Part 2 waste means waste consisting of – (a) tailings; or (b) bitterns; or (c) water to allow mining of ore; or (d) flyash; or (e) waste water from a desalination plant. If the premises does not fall into one of the categories listed above, or there are no applicable Part 2 waste amounts, the sub total for this section will be $0. Insert additional rows as required. Sum all Part 2 waste fees to determine the sub total. Discharge quantity (tonnes/year) Fee units
Part 2 component subtotal $ Part 3 Waste - Discharges to air, onto land, into waters (see Part 3 of Schedule 4 of the EP Regulations) Choose the appropriate location of the discharge and enter the discharge amount(s) in the units specified in the EP Regulations. This should be the amount of waste expected to be discharged over the next 12 months, expressed in the units and averaging period applicable for that waste kind (for example, g/minute or kg/day). Amounts can be measured, calculated, or estimated and can be based on data acquired over the previous 12 months, but should be based on the maximum premises capacity and not the forecast operating hours. Where there are discharges, all prescribed waste types must be considered in the fee calculation. If a specified waste type is not present in the discharge, this must be justified using an appropriate emission estimation technique (for example, sampling data, industry sector guidance notes, National Pollution Inventory guides and emission factors).
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Discharges to air
Discharge rate Discharge rate Discharges to air Discharges to air (g/min) (g/min) Carbon monoxide Nickel Oxides of nitrogen Vanadium Sulphur oxides Zinc Particulates (Total PM) Vinyl chloride Volatile organic compounds Hydrogen sulphide Inorganic fluoride Benzene Pesticides Carbon oxysulphide Aluminium Carbon disulphide Arsenic Acrylates Chromium Beryllium Cobalt Cadmium Copper Mercury Lead TDI (toluene-2, 4-di-iso-cyanate) Manganese MDI (diphenyl-methane di-iso-cyanate) Molybdenum Other waste Part 3 component subtotal $ Discharges onto land or into waters Discharge rate 1. Liquid waste that can potentially deprive (a) biochemical oxygen demand (in receiving waters of oxygen (for each the absence of chemical oxygen kilogram discharged per day) — demand limit) (b) chemical oxygen demand (in the absence of total organic carbon limit) (c) total organic carbon 2. Bio-stimulants (for each kilogram discharged (a) phosphorus per day) — (b) total nitrogen
3. Liquid waste that physically alters the (a) total suspended solids (for each characteristics of naturally occurring kilogram discharged per day) waters — (b) surfactants (for each kilogram discharged per day) (c) colour alteration (for each platinum cobalt unit of colour above the ambient colour of the waters in each megalitre discharged per day) (d) temperature alteration (for each 1°C above the ambient temperature of the waters in each megalitre discharged per day) — (i) in the sea south of the Tropic of Capricorn (ii) in other waters
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4. Waste that can potentially accumulate in the (a) aluminium environment or living tissue (for each kilogram discharged per day) — (b) arsenic (c) cadmium (d) chromium (e) cobalt (f) copper (g) lead (h) mercury (i) molybdenum (j) nickel (k) vanadium (l) zinc (m) pesticides (n) fish tainting wastes (o) manganese 5. E. coli bacteria as indicator species (in each (a) 1,000 to 5,000 organisms per 100 megalitre discharged per day) — ml (b) 5,000 to 20,000 organisms per 100 ml (c) more than 20,000 organisms per 100 ml 6. Other waste (per kilogram discharged per (a) oil and grease day) — (b) total dissolved solids (c) fluoride (d) iron (e) total residual chlorine (f) other Part 3 component subtotal $ Summary – Proposed licence fee Part 1 Component Part 2 Component Part 3 Component Total proposed licence fees: $
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Part 12: Proposed fee calculation
12.5 Prescribed fee for registration A fee of 24 units applies for an application for registration of premises, unless the occupier of the premises holds a licence in respect of the premises, in (Tick to acknowledge) accordance with regulation 5B(2)(c) of the EP Regulations. 12.6 Works approval amendment or licence amendment fee Proposed works approval amendment or licence amendment fee (see Schedule 4 Part 1 of the EP Regulations). The fee prescribed for an application for an amendment to a works approval or licence is calculated in accordance with regulation 5BB(1)(a) of the EP Regulations: for a single category of prescribed premises to which the works approval or licence relates, by using the fee unit number corresponding to the prescribed premises category and relevant production or design capacity threshold in Schedule 4 Part 1 of the EP Regulations. for multiple categories of prescribed premises to which the works approval or licence relates, by using the highest fee unit number corresponding to the prescribed premises categories and production design or capacity threshold in Schedule 4 Part 1 of the EP Regulations. The relevant fee unit under Schedule 4 Part 1 of the EP Regulations for calculating the application form amendment fee is to be determined by reference to the actual production or design capacity reported for the preceding year’s annual licence fee. If an annual licence fee has not previously been paid or is not applicable as is the case for works approvals, the fee unit for an application for amendment is to be determined by reference to the production or design capacity currently prescribed in the licence or works approval. Fee Units Proposed fee $ 12.7 Prescribed fee for clearing permit In accordance with the Guidance Statement: Decision Making, where a concurrent application for clearing of native vegetation is made, DWER may elect to either jointly or separately determine the clearing component of the application. Where DWER separately determines the clearing component of a concurrent application, the application will be deemed to be an application for a clearing permit under section 51E of the EP Act and the CEO will waive the payment of the fee (Tick to acknowledge) prescribed in the Clearing Regulations for an application for clearing permit. Note: If a clearing permit application has been separately submitted and accepted by DWER, a refund for the clearing permit application will not be provided where DWER determines to address clearing requirements as part of a related works approval application. 12.8 Information and data used to calculate proposed fees The detailed calculations of fee components, including all information and data used for the calculations are to be provided as attachments to this application, labelled as Attachment 9, with an appropriate suffix (for example 9A, 9B etc.). Please specify the relevant attachment number in the space/s provided below. Proposed fee for works approval Attachment No Details for cost of works Proposed fee for licence Attachment No Part 1: Premises Part 2: Waste types Part 3: Discharges to air, onto land, into waters
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Part 13: Commercially sensitive or confidential information
NOTE: Information submitted as part of this application will be made publicly available. If you wish to submit commercially sensitive or confidential information, please identify the information in Attachment 10, and include a written statement of reasons why you request each item of information be kept confidential. Information submitted later in the application process may also be made publicly available at DWER’s discretion. For any commercially sensitive or confidential information, please follow the same process as described above. DWER will take reasonable steps to protect genuinely confidential or commercially sensitive information. Please note in particular that all submitted information may be the subject of an application for release under the Freedom of Information Act 1992. All information which you would propose to be exempt from public disclosure has been separately placed in Attachment 10 (located at the end of this form). Grounds for claiming exemption in accordance with Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 1992 must be specified.
Part 14: Submission of application Check one of the boxes below to nominate how you will submit your application. Files larger than 50MB cannot be received via email by DWER. Files larger than 50MB can be sent via File Transfer. Alternatively, email DWER to make other arrangements. A full, signed, electronic copy of the application form including all attachments has been submitted via email to [email protected]; OR A signed, electronic copy of the application form has been submitted via email to [email protected] and attachments have been submitted via File Transfer, or electronically by other means as arranged with DWER; OR A full, signed hard copy has been sent to: APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS Department of Water and Environmental Regulation Locked Bag 33 Cloisters Square PERTH WA 6850
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Part 15: Declaration and signature General I/We confirm and acknowledge that: the information contained in this application is true and correct and I/we acknowledge that knowingly providing information which is false or misleading in a material particular constitutes an offence under section 112 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) and may incur a penalty of up to $50,000; I/We have legal authority to sign on behalf of the applicant (where authorisation provided); I/We have not altered the requirements and instructions set out in this application form; I/We have provided a valid email address in Part 2.3 for receipt of correspondence electronically via email from DWER in relation to this application; I/We acknowledge that successful delivery to my/our server constitutes receipt of correspondence sent electronically via email from DWER in relation to this application; and I/We have provided a valid postal and/or business address in Part 2.4 for the service of all Part V documents.
Publication I/We confirm and acknowledge: this application (including all attachments apart from the sections identified in Attachment 10) is a public document and may be published; biodiversity surveys provided in accordance with Part 5 will be published and used, for the purposes of the IBSA project, in accordance with your declaration made in the Metadata and Licensing Statement; all necessary consents for the publication of information have been obtained from third parties; information considered exempt from public disclosure has been placed in Attachment 10 with reasons as to why the information should be exempt in accordance with the grounds specified in Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (WA); subsequent information provided in relation to this application will be a public document and may be published unless written notice has been given to DWER by the applicant, at the time the information is provided, claiming that the information is considered exempt from public disclosure; and the decision to not publish information will be at the discretion of the CEO of DWER and will be made consistently with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (WA).
Signature Date
Name
Position
NOTE: This form may be signed: if the applicant is an individual, by the individual; if the applicant is a corporation, by: the common seal being affixed in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001; or two directors; or a director and a company secretary; or if a proprietary company has a sole director who is also the sole company secretary, by that director; and by a person with legal authority to sign on behalf of the applicant.
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Works Approval Supporting Documentation
Greater Tom Price Iron Ore Mine (L4762/1972)
Western Turner Syncline Hub Proposal
November 2019
RTIO-HSE-0338477
RTIO-HSE-0338477
Disclaimer and Limitation This report has been prepared by Rio Tinto Iron Ore (Rio Tinto), on behalf of Hamersley Iron Pty Limited specifically for the Greater Tom Price Iron Ore Mine. Neither the report nor its contents may be referred to without the express approval of Rio Tinto, unless the report has been released for referral and assessment of proposals.
Document Status
Approved for Issue Rev Author Reviewer/s Date To Whom Date
Department of Water C.Nixon, A S.Savage November 2019 and Environmental 2 December 2019 D.Lunt Regulation
RTIO-HSE-0338477
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Licensee Information ...... 1 1.1 Occupier Details ...... 1
2 Premises Details ...... 1 2.1 Prescribed Activity Overview ...... 1 2.2 Legal Land Description ...... 3 2.3 Location and Siting ...... 5 2.4 Topography ...... 11 2.5 Geology and Soils ...... 11 2.6 Water Resources ...... 13 2.7 Biological ...... 15 2.8 Stakeholder and Community Consultation ...... 20
3 Prescribed Premises Categories ...... 22 3.1 Current Environmental Protection Act 1986 (Part V Licence) ...... 22 3.2 Other Approvals / Licences / Permits ...... 24
4 Proposal Description ...... 27 4.1 Category 5: Processing facilities ...... 27 4.2 Category 12: Screening etc. of material ...... 33 4.3 Category 73: Fuel storage and refuelling ...... 35 4.4 Category 54: Sewage treatment facilities ...... 41
5 Construction, Commissioning and Operation Schedule ...... 48
6 Risk Identification and Assessment ...... 50
7 Emissions, Management and Controls ...... 62 7.1 Dust Emissions ...... 62 7.2 Noise Emissions ...... 65 7.3 Light emissions ...... 67 7.4 Odour Emissions ...... 69 7.5 Discharges to the Environment ...... 71 7.6 Hydrocarbons ...... 76 7.7 Solid / Liquid Wastes ...... 79 7.8 Flora and Fauna ...... 82
8 Rehabilitation and Closure ...... 83
9 Project Costs ...... 84
10 Summary of Controls ...... 85
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TABLES
Table 2-1 Indicative coordinates of the proposed facilities within the Prescribed Premise boundary ...... 5 Table 2-2 Distance from Prescribed Premises to sensitive land uses ...... 8 Table 2-3 Distance from Prescribed Premises to specified ecosystems ...... 8 Table 2-4 Distance from Prescribed Premises to other environmental receptors or relevant factors ...... 9 Table 2-5: Habitats of the Tom Price region ...... 18 Table 2-6: Habitats of the Western Turner Syncline region ...... 18 Table 3-1 Prescribed Premise category details under existing Licence L4762/1972 ...... 22 Table 3-2 Proposed Prescribed Premise category details under Works Approval ...... 23 Table 3-3 Proposed Prescribed Premise category details under Licence L4762/1972 ...... 24 Table 4-1 Manufacturers specifications: expected waste water (effluent) quality ...... 43 Table 4-2 Monitoring during commissioning ...... 44 Table 4-3 Monitoring during operation ...... 45 Table 5-1 Indicative schedule of construction, commissioning and operation ...... 49 Table 6-1: Risk Rating Matrix ...... 50 Table 6-2: Consequence Matrix ...... 50 Table 6-3: Likelihood Matrix ...... 51 Table 6-4: Risk Assessment ...... 52 Table 9-1: Estimated Project Costs ...... 84
FIGURES
Figure 2-1: Regional location of the Tom Price and Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mines ...... 6 Figure 2-2: Indicative location of proposed facilities within the proposed Works Approval Prescribed Premise boundary ...... 7 Figure 4-1: Indicative location of the proposed processing facilities at the Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mine ...... 30 Figure 4-2: Indicative design of the proposed processing facilities at the Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mine ...... 31 Figure 4-3: Indicative design of the proposed overland conveyor at the Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mine ...... 32 Figure 4-4: Indicative location of the proposed fuel storage and refuelling facilities at the Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mine ...... 38 Figure 4-5: Indicative design of the proposed fuel storage and refuelling facilities at the Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mine ...... 39 Figure 4-6: Indicative plan of the proposed fuel storage and refuelling facilities at the Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mine ...... 40
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Figure 4-7: Indicative location of the proposed sewage treatment facilities at the Tom Price Iron Ore Mine ...... 46 Figure 4-8: Typical process flow diagram of proposed waste water treatment facilities at the Tom Price Iron Ore Mine ...... 47
APPENDICES
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Abbreviations
AMD Acid mine drainage BC Act Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (WA) BOD Biochemical oxygen demand BGL Below ground level DBCA Department of Biological Conservation and Attractions DWER Department of Water and Environmental Regulation DMIRS Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety EPA Environmental Protection Authority EP Act Environmental Protection Act 1986 EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwth) ESA Environmentally Sensitive Area GL Gigalitres GWL Groundwater Licence Ha Hectare HSEC Health, Safety, Environment and Communities and Social HV Heavy Vehicle HVRF Heavy Vehicle Refuelling Facility IBRA Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia ILUA Indigenous Land Use Agreement LIC Local Implementation Committee LV Light vehicle Mining Act Mining Act 1978 MNES Matters of National Environmental Significance MS Ministerial Statement Mtpa Million tonnes per annum NWQMS National Water Quality Management Strategy OLC Overland conveyor OWS Oily Water Separator PAF Potentially acid forming PEC Priority Ecological Community PDWSA Public Drinking Water Source Area RiWI Act Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 ROM Run of Mine RT Rio Tinto SCARD Spontaneous Combustion and Acid Rock Drainage SOP Saleable ore product
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TEC Threatened Ecological Community TRH Total Recoverable Hydrocarbons WC Act Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 WTS Western Turner Syncline WTS1 Western Turner Syncline Stage 1 WTS2 Western Turner Syncline Stage 2
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1 Licensee Information
1.1 Occupier Details
The occupier (the Licensee) of the land subject to this Works Approval application is: Hamersley Iron Pty Limited 152-158 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 ACN: 008 694 246
The Proponent is Hamersley Iron Pty Limited.
The contact person for the Works Approval application is: Carly Nixon Government Approvals Specialist Rio Tinto 152-158 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 Telephone: 0448 873 730 Email: [email protected]
2 Premises Details
2.1 Prescribed Activity Overview
The Tom Price Iron Ore Mine (Tom Price mine), located approximately 1.5 kilometres (km) south of the township of Tom Price in the Pilbara region of Western Australia (Figure 2-1), became operational in 1966 and is the largest and oldest of the Hamersley Iron operations in Western Australia. The Tom Price mine includes open cut above and below water table mining of iron ore, ore processing in central processing facilities at approximately 35 Million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) and the rail network which transports processed ore to port facilities located at Dampier.
This Works Approval application seeks approval for the construction and commissioning of sewage treatment facilities to replace old and failing existing facilities at the Tom Price mine.
The Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mine, located approximately 20 km north-west of the Tom Price mine and 20 km west of the town of Tom Price (Figure 2-1), includes the open cut above and below water table mining of iron ore from the Section 10, Section 17 and B1 deposits and transfer of ore to central processing facilities at the Tom Price mine.
This Works Approval application also seeks approval for the proposed construction and commissioning of iron ore processing facilities and other supporting facilities (including fuel storage and refuelling facilities) at Western Turner Syncline to support the expansion of production from the existing B1 deposit as well as development of new mining areas at B1 and Section 17 to sustain production from Greater Tom Price at 35 Mtpa saleable ore product (SOP).
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Risks associated with operations will also be assessed within this Works Approval application however, Licence Amendments will be sought for the operation of the prescribed activities following construction and commissioning under the Works Approval.
In summary, this Works Approval application seeks approval for the following prescribed activities:
Category 5: Processing of ore (40,000,000 tonnes per annual period).
New processing facilities will be required for processing high grade ore mined from the B1 and Section 17 deposits and an overland conveyor to transport ore from the processing facilities to Section 10. This Works Approval application requests approval for the proposed construction, commissioning and time limited operation of processing facilities (with total design capacity for processing on the Premise not exceeding 40,000,000 tonnes per annual period).
Category 12: Screening etc. of material (10,000,000 tonnes per annual period). This Works Approval application requests approval for an amendment to the existing Prescribed Premise boundary to allow for the operation of mobile crushing and screening plant/s adjacent to proposed facilities to provide competent material during construction (with total design capacity for mobile crushing / screening on the Premise not exceeding 10,000,000 tonnes per annual period).
Category 73: Fuel storage and refuelling.
A new Heavy Vehicle Refuelling Facility (HVRF) will be required to support the mining fleet. The HVRF will include three 200 kL permanent fuel storage tanks. Additional temporary fuel storage tanks will also be required to support construction. The proposed fuel storage does not meet the Category 73 threshold for licensing and as such, approval for the construction and operation of proposed fuel storage facilities is not sought via this Works Approval application. However, the cumulative total of fuel storage capacity on the Premises will exceed the Category 73 threshold for licensing (with total design capacity for fuel storage on the Premise not exceeding 2,250 cubic metres in aggregate) so this category is proposed to be assessed via this Works Approval application.
Category 54: Sewage facility (328 cubic metres per day). The existing waste water treatment facilities at the Tom Price mine were installed to service the minesite more than 30 years ago. The existing mine site facilities each have a maximum design capacity of 36 m³/day. The existing mine camp facilities have a combined maximum design capacity of 248 m³/day (total design capacity on the Premise not exceeding 320 m³/day). This Works Approval application requests approval for new sewage treatment facilities to replace old and failing existing facilities at the Tom Price mine site. The proposed facilities will each have a maximum design capacity of 40 m³/day (with total design capacity for sewage treatment on the Premise not exceeding 328 m³/day).
Indicative locations of the proposed prescribed activities are included in Figure 2-2.
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2.2 Legal Land Description
The Licensee currently holds Licence L4762/1972 for the Greater Tom Price Iron Ore Mine Prescribed Premise which includes Tom Price and Western Turner Syncline, granted in July 2013 under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act).
The existing Prescribed Premises are primarily located on State Agreement Mining Lease (ML) 4SA granted pursuant to the Iron Ore (Hamersley Range) Agreement Act 1963 (WA). The Premises also extend onto other tenure (General Purpose Leases and Miscellaneous Licences) that have been granted under the Mining Act 1978 (WA) (Mining Act):
General Purpose Lease G47/01258 granted for purposes of mineral, ore, tailing, topsoil and waste transport, processing and storage facilities, and infrastructure including roads, water and laydown areas and any other purpose permitted pursuant to the Iron Ore (Hamersley Range) Agreement Act 1963;
Miscellaneous Licence L47/00161 granted for White Quartz Road; to conduct all activities necessary for the planning, design, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of a road and all associated infrastructure including the taking of borrow for the purposes of construction and maintenance of the road;
Miscellaneous Licence L47/00209 granted for the purposes of a road, conveyor, powerline, communications and taking water;
Miscellaneous Licence L47/00210 granted for the purposes of a road, administration buildings, workshop and vehicle facilities and equipment and fuel storage areas;
Miscellaneous Licence L47/00342 granted for the purposes of a road, tunnel, bridge, powerline, communications, taking water, bores, pipeline, water management infrastructure, storage or transportation facilities for minerals, minesite administration facilities, workshop and storage facilities;
Miscellaneous Licence L47/00552 granted for the purposes of a road, powerline, communications, taking water, bores, pump station, pipeline, workshop and storage facilities, and storage or transportation facility for minerals or mineral concentrate;
Miscellaneous Licence L47/00645 granted for the purposes of a road, conveyor, powerline, communications, taking water, bores, pipeline, water management infrastructure, storage or transportation facilities for minerals, minesite administration facilities, workshop and storage facilities;
Miscellaneous Licence L47/00668 granted for the purposes of a road, drainage channel, powerline, communications, taking water, bores, pump station and pipeline; and
Miscellaneous Licence L47/698 granted for the purposes of a road, power generation and transmission facilities, communications, taking water, bores, pump station, pipeline, water management facilities, administration facilities, workshop and storage facilities, and storage or transportation facility for minerals or mineral concentrate.
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The existing Prescribed Premises also co-exist with leases granted pursuant to the Land Administration Act 1997.
The northern portion of the Prescribed Premise boundary overlies Hamersley Pastoral Station (Lease N050438) and Rocklea Pastoral Station (Lease N050372), held by Hamersley Iron, primarily for pastoral purposes. Hamersley Station covers an area of approximately 2,665 km² between Tom Price and Pannawonica. Rocklea Station covers an area of approximately 3,598 km² between Tom Price and Paraburdoo.
The Prescribed Premise boundary intersects Special Lease I144501, held by Hamersley Iron for the purpose of ‘drawing of water’; the Hardey River borefield and pipeline, located between Tom Price and Western Turner Syncline, provides water to the Tom Price and Western Turner Syncline mining operations.
The proposed Works Approval Prescribed Premise boundary (Figure 2-2) is requested to encompass the existing Prescribed Premises and extend onto other tenure (General Purpose Leases and Miscellaneous Licences) that have been granted (or are subject to grant) under the Mining Act including:
General Purpose Lease G47/01260 granted for the purposes of mineral, ore, tailing, topsoil and waste transport, processing and storage facilities, and infrastructure including roads, water and laydown areas and any other purpose permitted pursuant to the Iron Ore (Hamersley Range) Agreement Act 1963;
General Purpose Lease G47/01271 (subject to grant1) for the purposes of mineral, ore, tailing, topsoil and waste transport, processing, storage and treatment facilities; infrastructure including roads, powerlines, water and wastewater storage and distribution facilities, laydown and storage areas and any other purpose permitted pursuant to the Iron Ore (Hamersley Range) Agreement Act 1963;
Miscellaneous Licence L47/00721 granted for the purposes of a road, drainage channel, powerline, taking water, borefield, bores, pump station, pipeline and water management facilities;
Miscellaneous Licence L47/00745 (subject to grant1) for the purposes of a road, drainage channel, powerline, communications facilities, pump station, pipeline and water management facilities;
Miscellaneous Licence L47/00824 (subject to grant1) for the purposes of a road, bridge, tunnel, conveyor system, drainage channel, powerline, communications facilities, taking water, borefield, bores, pipeline, administration facilities, workshop and storage facilities, and storage or transportation facility for minerals or mineral concentrate;
Miscellaneous Licence L47/00826 (subject to grant1) for the purposes of a road, bridge, tunnel, conveyor system, drainage channel, powerline, communications facilities, borefield, bores, pipeline, administration facilities, workshop and storage facilities, and storage or transportation facility for minerals or mineral concentrate; and
4 RTIO-HSE-0338477
Miscellaneous Licence L47/00858 (subject to grant1) for the purposes of a road, bridge, drainage channel, powerline, communications facilities, taking water, bores and a pipeline.
The proposed Works Approval Prescribed Premises also overlies Rocklea Pastoral Station (N050372) and Hamersley Pastoral Station (N050438).
A Licence Amendment will be sought to amend the existing Prescribed Premise boundary.
2.3 Location and Siting
2.3.1 Location Context
The proposed facilities are located within the proposed Works Approval Prescribed Premise boundary, within the indicative coordinates shown in Table 2-1 (Figure 2-2).
Table 2-1 Indicative coordinates of the proposed facilities within the Prescribed Premise boundary Corner Easting (m) Northing (m)
Processing facilities (G47/1258) North West 547,723 7,490,189 North East 547,887 7,490,206 South West 547,742 7,490,008 South East 547,906 7,490,025
Conveyor (G47/01260, G47/01271, L47/00645, L47/00824 and L47/00826) West 547,890 7,490,116 East 560,997 7,492880
Fuel storage and refuelling facilities (L47/00645) North West 548,224 7,490,883 North East 548,627 7,490,927 South West 548,292 7,490,576 South East 548,813 7,490,680
Sewage treatment facilities (ML4SA) North West 578,724 7,484,200 North East 578,740 7,484,204 South West 578,731 7,484,174 South East 578,748 7,484,180
All coordinates are provided using map projection MGA 94 Zone 50
5 RTIO-HSE-0338477
Figure 2-1: Regional location of the Tom Price and Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mines
6 RTIO-HSE-0338477
Figure 2-2: Indicative location of proposed facilities within the proposed Works Approval Prescribed Premise boundary
7 RTIO-HSE-0338477
2.3.2 Sensitive Land Uses
Existing land uses within and surrounding the proposed Works Approval Prescribed Premise boundary include pastoral activities (Hamersley and Rocklea Stations), mineral exploration and mining. The nearest sensitive receptors are the residents of the township of Tom Price, located 700 m north of the Prescribed Premises (Figure 2-1). Tom Price is a remote iron ore mining town built in the 1960s to house the residential workforce for the Tom Price mining operations, but was not a gazetted townsite until 1985. At the 2016 census, the township of Tom Price had a population of 2,956 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016).
The Premises are remote from other sensitive receptors. Jundamunah Village (the Tom Price mine camp) is located within the Prescribed Premises, north of the Tom Price mine and the Brockman 4, Nammuldi and West Pilbara Villages (the Brockman 4 Nammuldi mine camps) are located more than 16.8 km north of the Prescribed Premises however, these villages are Rio Tinto owned premises as such, will not be considered as sensitive receptors.
The distances from the Prescribed Premises to residential and other sensitive land uses are detailed in Table 2-2.
Table 2-2 Distance from Prescribed Premises to sensitive land uses
Sensitive land uses Distance from Prescribed Premises
Closest residential premises: Approximately 700 m north of the Premises (Tom Price) but more than 6.0 km north of the proposed sewage treatment facilities and more than 31.0 km east of the proposed Township of Tom Price processing and fuel storage facilities.
Other residential premises (not considered sensitive receptors):
Jundamunah Village (Tom Within the Premises (Tom Price) but more than 1.7 km north of the proposed sewage Price mine camp) treatment facilities.
Brockman 4, Nammuldi and More than 16.8 km north of the Premises (Western Turner Syncline) and more than 20.5 West Pilbara Villages km north west of the proposed processing and fuel storage facilities
Hamersley Pastoral Lease Overlies the Premises but more than 11.7 km north of the proposed sewage treatment (N050438) facilities and more than 16.2 km north east of the proposed processing and fuel storage facilities.
Rocklea Pastoral Lease Overlies the Premises but more than 18.7 km north west of the proposed sewage (N050372) treatment facilities and more than 5.1 km north of the proposed processing and fuel storage facilities.
2.3.3 Specified Ecosystems
The distances from the Prescribed Premises to specified ecosystems are provided in Table 2-3.
Table 2-3 Distance from Prescribed Premises to specified ecosystems
Specified ecosystems Distance from Prescribed Premises
Department of Biodiversity No Parks and Wildlife Services Conservation Reserves or other Managed Areas are Conservation and Attractions - located within or near the Premises. The nearest Reserve; Karijini National Park is Conservation Reserves and located more than 7.9 km east of the Premises (Tom Price) and more than 13.7 km east Managed Areas of the proposed sewage treatment facilities.
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Specified ecosystems Distance from Prescribed Premises
Public Drinking Water Source Beneficial use of groundwater at the Premises is limited. The nearest PDWSA; the Area (PDWSA) Paraburdoo Water Reserve, intersects the Premises (Tom Price) but is located more than 950 m south of the proposed sewage treatment facilities.
RAMSAR wetlands No RAMSAR wetlands are located within or near the Premises.
Mount Bennet Within the Prescribed Premises (Tom Price) but more than 3.9 km east of the (site number 229) proposed sewage treatment facilities.
Mount Samson Within the Premises (Western Turner Syncline) but more than 14.7 km east of the (site number S706207) proposed processing and fuel storage facilities.
Geomorphic Wetlands No geomorphic wetlands are located within or near the Premises.
Threatened Ecological No Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) or Priority Ecological Communities Communities and Priority (PECs) are located within or near the Premises. Ecological Communities
Threatened Flora No Threatened Flora are located within or near the Premises.
2.3.4 Other environmental receptors
The distances from the Prescribed Premises to other landscape features, environmental receptors or relevant factors are provided in Table 2-4.
Table 2-4 Distance from Prescribed Premises to other environmental receptors or relevant factors
Other landscape features Distance from Prescribed Premises environmental receptors or relevant factors
Vegetation and Flora Three of the vegetation communities recorded in the Greater Tom Price region represent communities considered to be of elevated local conservation significance, deemed to be ecosystems at risk (Kendrick 2003); ‘lower slope’ and ‘valley floor’ Mulga (occurring extensively on low hills and plains within the region however, none of these represent groved or banded mulga communities) and ‘riparian Eucalypts along major ephemeral creeks’ (not represented by any of the vegetation communities however, some minor creeks are characterised by the facultative phreatophyte, Eucalyptus victrix and are considered locally significant). Seventeen Priority (P) flora species have also been recorded within the Tom Price region: three P1 species: Goodenia pedicellata, Eucalyptus lucens and Hibiscus sp. Mt Brockman; one P2 species: Indigofera ixocarpa; fourteen P3 species: Amaranthus centralis, Cyanthillium gracile, Dampiera anonyma, Eremophila magnifica subsp. velutina, Geijera salicifolia, Goodenia sp. East Pilbara, Grevillea saxicola, Indigofera sp. Bungaroo Creek, Lepidium catapycnon, Olearia mucronata, Ptilotus subspinescens, Rostellularia adscendens var. latifolia, Sida sp. Barlee Range and Sida sp. Hamersley Range; and three P4 species: Acacia bromilowiana, Eremophila magnifica subsp. Magnifica and Goodenia nuda. None of the proposed facilities intersect vegetation communities considered to be of elevated local conservation significance or Priority flora however, some disturbance is unavoidable. The communities and species recorded are well represented in the Greater Tom Price region and throughout the Hamersley subregion and as such, the loss of some vegetation communities of elevated conservation significance or some Priority flora individuals as a result of clearing is not considered to represent significant loss to the representation of vegetation at a local or regional scale or expected to alter the conservation status or representation or threaten the continued existence of any Priority flora species at a local or regional scale.
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Other landscape features Distance from Prescribed Premises environmental receptors or relevant factors
Fauna Greater Tom Price contains ‘gorges, breakaways and gullies’ and ‘creek’ habitats considered to be of higher local conservation significance, representing potential core habitat (defined as ‘critical to the survival of the species’) for three species of National Environmental Significance, listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 recorded during surveys of the region; the Pilbara Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus barroni), Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia) and Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas). Other species of conservation significance, listed under the State Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 which have been recorded in the Greater Tom Price region include the Lined Soil-crevice Skink (Notoscincus butleri) and the Western Pebble-mound Mouse (Pseudomys chapmani). None of the proposed facilities intersect locally significant ‘gorges, breakaways and gullies’ or ‘creek’ habitats or Threatened or Priority fauna species. As such, the proposed facilities are not expected to have an impact on any habitats (including habitats considered to be of elevated conservation significance), have an impact on any population, alter the conservation status or threaten the continued existence of any conservation significant fauna species at a local or regional scale.
Surface water The Premises intersect the Hardey River, Seven Mile Creek, Turee Creek and Beasley River sub-catchments of the regional Ashburton River Basin Significant watercourses, tributaries of the regional Ashburton River, are located near or intersect the Premises: Bellary Creek is located immediately adjacent to the south of the Premises (Tom Price). The Hardey River passes 2.8 km to the north of the Premises (Tom Price), intersects the Premises (Western Turner Syncline) and flows south of the Premises (Western Turner Syncline) The Beasley River (which merges with the Hardey River) passes 4.0 km north west of the Premises (Western Turner Syncline) and flows south west of the Premises (Western Turner Syncline). The distances from each of the prescribed activities to Bellary Creek, the Hardey River and Beasley River and are included below.
Prescribed activity Distance to Distance to Distance to Bellary Creek Hardey River Beasley River
Processing facilities - 5.8 km 8.8 km
Fuel storage facilities - 5.5 km 8.6 km
Sewage treatment facilities 8.5 km 6.2 km -
Other minor ephemeral tributaries are also located within the Premises.
Groundwater Interaction with groundwater is not expected for the activities that are the subject of the Works Approval application.
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2.4 Topography
Greater Tom Price is characterised by rugged mountainous ranges and prominent scarps dissected by series of spectacular rocky gorges, gullies and plateaux (expansive elevated plains and wide, alluvial valley floors) with local ephemeral drainage lines between hills, which are generally well defined due to the incised nature of the topography.
The Department of Agriculture produced mapping of the state which broadly describes Land Systems (Rangelands) by recurring patterns of geological and ecological features across regional landscapes. The proposed facilities will intersect 3 Land Systems mapped in the Regional Inventory of the Pilbara Rangelands (Van Vreeswyk et al. 2004):
Platform: Dissected slopes and raised plains supporting hard spinifex grasslands;
Newman: Rugged jaspilite plateaux, ridges and mountains supporting hard spinifex grasslands; and
Boolgeeda: Stony lower slopes and plains at the base of hill systems supporting hard and soft Spinifex grasslands and Mulga shrublands.
These Land Systems are not unique on a local or regional scale.
2.5 Geology and Soils
2.5.1 Geology
The Pilbara is situated in the south-eastern comer of the Archaean Pilbara Craton. The craton is overlain by the iron-ore-bearing sedimentary rocks of the Fortescue and Hamersley Basins. The Hamersley Basin is divided into three stratigraphic groups: the Turee Creek Group, Hamersley Group and Fortescue Group. The Hamersley Group, which hosts all of the banded iron formation derived iron ore deposits of the Hamersley Basin, is underlain by the Fortescue Group and overlain by the Turee Creek Group.
The main structural feature of the Greater Tom Price region is the regional, north‐west to south‐east trending Turner Syncline. Mineralisation at Greater Tom Price is associated with the Brockman Iron Formation of the Hamersley Group, and is typical of Banded Iron Formation derived deposits that occur throughout the Pilbara.
Iron ore deposits at Tom Price are located along the southern limb of the Turner Syncline. The Syncline is intercepted by several faults and dykes and is significantly folded with secondary synclines parallel to the main structure. Mineralisation at Tom Price is associated with the Marra Mamba Iron Formation or the Joffre and Dales Gorge Members of the Brockman Iron Formation. The Brockman Iron Formation overlies the Mount McRae Shale and Mount Sylvia Formation.
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The Section 10 deposit is situated along the northern limb of the Turner Syncline. Mineralisation at Section 10 is associated with the Dales Gorge Member, and to a lesser extent the Joffre and Whaleback Shale Members of the Brockman Iron Formation. The B1 and Section 17 deposits are located to the west of the Turner Syncline, on the northern and southern limbs respectively. Mineralisation at B1 is associated with the Joffre and Dales Gorge Members, and to a lesser extent the Whaleback Shale Member of the Brockman Iron Formation, within synclinal structures that plunge gently to the east south-east over a strike length of approximately 10 km. Mineralisation at Section 17 is associated mainly in the Dales Gorge Member, and to a lesser extent the Joffre and Whaleback Shale Members of the Brockman Iron Formation, with bedding dipping to the north over a strike length of approximately 5 km. The deposits are intersected and bounded by folding, faulting and swarms of dolerite dykes and are underlain by the Mount McRae Shale Formation.
2.5.2 Soils
Topsoil is recognised as an important factor in achieving high quality rehabilitation results. However, topsoil is often a limited resource in the Pilbara with topsoil recovery often being restricted due to the nature and terrain of the landscape.
Rio Tinto has well established management strategies to manage rehabilitation material at its Pilbara operations. Rehabilitation material has been, and will continue to be, managed via Soil Resource Management Procedures to ensure rehabilitation material removed by clearing is collected and managed such that it is available for future rehabilitation programs. Where practical, a minimum of 200 mm of topsoil is collected when new areas are cleared. An inventory of rehabilitation material is maintained. The inventory of rehabilitation material suggests that there is a topsoil deficit at Tom Price and Western Turner Syncline. Alternative growth mediums, such as detritals, are being considered for rehabilitation.
Characterisation of soils provides an indication of soil properties and the potential for vegetation establishment, growth and landform stability. Soils within the proposed Premises are typical of the soils within the Greater Tom Price and Pilbara region, characterised as gravelly and / or sandy loams that are generally moderately permeable and well drained. Depth varies from very shallow (<0.1 m) to deep (>1.0 m). Shallower soils are typically found on the ridges and slopes. Deeper soils are typically found on the lower slopes and stony plains. Coarse fragments are typically abundant on the surface and within the soil profile. Occasional areas of bare rock occur throughout the region. Alluvial, rocky sand occurs along minor ephemeral drainage lines.
2.5.3 Material Characterisation
Erodible materials The Section 10 and Section 17 deposits contain a high proportion of resilient / low erodibility material however, some materials are susceptible to erosion. The B1 deposit contains a high proportion of material that will be highly erodible.
High erodibility material will not be used during construction of the proposed facilities.
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Potentially Acid Forming (PAF) materials Exposure of potentially acid forming (PAF) materials, if encountered and not appropriately managed, can potentially cause Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). Rio Tinto has undertaken an extensive program of geochemical testing over several years to understand the potential for acidification and/or metalliferous drainage to occur as a result of exposing various waste rock types common to mining operations in the Pilbara.
The AMD risk assessment for the B1 and Section 10 deposits recognises a moderate potential for the rock types that have been, and will be, mined to generate AMD. The AMD risk assessment for Section 17 recognises a low to moderate potential for the rock types that have been, and will be, mined to generate AMD.
Rio Tinto has well established management strategies to manage PAF materials at its Pilbara operations. Whilst the likelihood of encountering PAF materials at Western Turner Syncline is low, if encountered, PAF materials will be appropriately managed via existing management strategies specified in the Rio Tinto Iron Ore (WA) Mineral Waste Management Plan and the Spontaneous Combustion and ARD (SCARD) Management Plan.
Fibrous materials Fibrous minerals present a health hazard if fibres of a (defined) respirable size become airborne and are inhaled. The most common silicate mineral encountered within the iron formations present in the Western Turner Syncline region is non-fibrous riebeckite. The presence of riebeckite does not necessarily pose a fibrous mineral risk but the asbestiform variety of riebeckite is crocidolite, or blue asbestos. To date, no fibrous materials have been excavated within the Western Turner Syncline mining area, and is not expected to be encountered.
Rio Tinto has well established management strategies to manage potentially hazardous materials at its Pilbara operations. Whilst the likelihood of encountering fibrous materials is low, if encountered, fibrous materials will be appropriately managed via existing management strategies specified in the Rio Tinto Iron Ore (WA) Fibrous Minerals Management Plan.
2.6 Water Resources
2.6.1 Hydrology
The Premises intersect the Hardey River, Seven Mile Creek, Turee Creek and Beasley River sub-catchments of the regional Ashburton River Basin (catchment area of approximately 71,360 km²).
Tom Price is located on the divide between the Hardey River (7,052 km²), Seven Mile Creek (2,468 km²) and Turee Creek (4,928 km²) sub-catchments. The catchments are characterised by intermittent flow and infrequent wide-spread flooding.
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In the Western Turner Syncline region, steep ridges of the Brockman Iron Formation form the regional catchment divide between the Beasley River (2,050 km²) and the Hardey River (7,052 km²) sub-catchments. Section 10 and Section 17 are located within the Hardey River sub-catchment. B1 is located on the catchment divide between the Beasley River and the Hardey River sub-catchments. The catchments are characterised by intermittent flow and infrequent wide-spread flooding.
Significant watercourses in the region include Bellary Creek, the Hardey River and Beasley River (tributaries of the Ashburton River). As for most parts of the Pilbara, rivers and creeks are ephemeral; surface water flow typically only occurs seasonally depending on the occurrence of significant rainfall events.
Bellary Creek flows south from the Tom Price mine and merges with Seven Mile Creek immediately downstream of the township of Paraburdoo. Seven Mile Creek discharges into the Ashburton River at Deolan Pool more than 120 km downstream of the Tom Price mine.
The Hardey River is a major tributary of the Ashburton River. The Hardey River flows from the ranges to the north and west of Tom Price in a north westerly direction, then south westerly towards the Ashburton River. The Hardey River intersects the Premises (Western Turner Syncline) adjacent to the Section 10 deposit with a significant upstream catchment at that point of approximately 648 km².
The Beasley River flows from the Hamersley Ranges in a south westerly direction prior to merging with the Hardey River approximately 70 km to the south west of Western Turner Syncline. At its nearest point, Beasley River passes some 4 km north west of the Premises (Western Turner Syncline) with a significant upstream catchment at that point of approximately 465 km².
The Hardey River discharges into the Ashburton River at Hardey Junction more than 80 km downstream of the confluence of the Hardey River and Beasley River, more than 150 km downstream of Western Turner Syncline. As for most parts of the Pilbara, creeks are ephemeral; surface water flow typically only occurs following significant rainfall events.
No significant interruption to natural surface water flows in Bellary Creek, the Hardey River, or Beasley River are expected. Minor flows in local, ephemeral (unnamed) tributaries may be interrupted by the proposed processing facilities however, rainfall events resulting in surface water flows are uncommon and local catchments are small. Proposed processing facilities are located on the catchment divide between the Hardey River and Beasley River sub- catchments and only small catchment areas are intercepted. The small reductions in these sub-catchments are not expected to have significant impacts on existing hydrologic regimes.
2.6.2 Hydrogeology
The regional aquifer within the Greater Tom Price area is associated with the dolomite of the Wittenoom Formation, often hydraulically connected to the overlying Tertiary detritals (alluvial / colluvial sediments), bound to the north by a ridge of the Marra Mamba Iron Formation and the south by a ridge of the Brockman Iron Formation.
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Local orebody aquifers are associated with the Brockman Iron Formation and the Marra Mamba Iron Formation which are disconnected from the regional Wittenoom Formation and confined by geological structures such as faults, folds, swarms of dolerite dykes and low permeability geological units; Mount McRae Shale, Mount Sylvia Formation, Yandicoogina Shale and unmineralised BIF. However, areas where the shales are intensely fractured and / or mineralised provide pathways for groundwater flow.
In the Western Turner Syncline region, groundwater elevation dips gently from the south west (500 mAHD) where the Hardey River cuts through the southern limb of the Turner Syncline to the north east (550 mAHD). Regional groundwater flow generally occurs in a westerly direction, sub-parallel with the Turner Syncline axis. Groundwater typically occurs at 50 – 80 m below ground level, depending on the overlying topography. However, abstraction from the borefields over more than 35 years (particularly in the Mt Lionel Borefield which commenced operation in 1976) has altered pre‐mining groundwater flow, reversing local groundwater gradients with flow direction towards the borefields.
Recharge is limited to infiltration of streamflow from the intersecting Hardey River and other local ephemeral creeks and via seepage from the orebody aquifers across the Mount Sylvia Formation / McRae Shale Formation to the deeper Wittenoom Formation. Average annual recharge is estimated to be less than 1% of the rainfall volume falling over the catchment.
2.7 Biological
Greater Tom Price is are located within the Pilbara Biogeographic Region (PIL) as recognised by the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA 2012). The Pilbara Bioregion has several subregions including the Hamersley, Fortescue, Chichester and Roebourne subregions. Greater Tom Price is located within the Hamersley subregion, characterised by mountainous Proterozoic sedimentary ranges and prominent scarps dissected by series of spectacular gorges with Eucalyptus leucophloia over Triodia hummock grasses and plateaux (expansive elevated plains and wide, alluvial valley floors), with Mulga (Acacia aneura) low woodland over bunch grasses (Kendrick 2001).
2.7.1 Vegetation and Flora
Greater Tom Price is located within the Fortescue Botanical District of the Eremaean Botanical Province as defined by Beard (1975a, 1975b). The vegetation of this Province is typically described as being Eucalypt (Eucalyptus leucophloia) woodland interspersed with Mulga (Acacia aneura) / Acacia sp. shrublands over Triodia sp. hummock grasslands (Beard 1975, 1990). This vegetation is typical of arid landscapes
Vegetation and Flora surveys have been undertaken across the Tom Price area since 1990, covering an area in excess of 9,500 ha. Surveys have been undertaken across the Western Turner Syncline area since 2005, covering an area in excess of 35,000 ha. The combined coverage of these surveys has enabled a detailed understanding of the existing vegetation and a considerable reference for the distribution of species (including Priority flora) in the Greater Tom Price region.
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No Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) or Priority Ecological Communities (PECs) have been recorded within the Greater Tom Price region. The nearest TEC, the “Themeda Grasslands on cracking clays (Hamersley Station, Pilbara)”, is located approximately 14.5 km to the north of the Premises. This TEC is found on cracking clay plains characterised by grassland of perennial Themeda spp. (kangaroo grass) and annual herbs and grasses. No vegetation associations with these characteristics were described in the Greater Tom Price region.
Vegetation Communities Some vegetation communities which represent ‘ecosystems at risk’ (Kendrick 2003) are known to occur within the Tom Price region; ‘lower slope’ and ‘valley floor’ Mulga communities and ‘riparian Eucalypts along major ephemeral watercourses’ are considered to be of elevated local conservation significance.
Mulga (Acacia aneura) shrubland with spinifex (Triodia epactia and / or Triodia basedowii) hummock grassland occur extensively on low hills and plains within the region. None of these represent groved or banded mulga communities (mosaic patterns of mulga groves or bands with relatively bare intergroves in between).
‘Riparian Eucalypts along major ephemeral creeks’ are not represented by any of the vegetation communities recorded in the region however, tributaries of Bellary Creek and the Hardey and Beasley Rivers support riparian Eucalypt communities, characterised by Eucalyptus victrix (communities EvExAcTHtCEc and EvAciTeCEc) or Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus victrix (community EcEvAci). These communities are recognised as being of elevated local conservation significance, supporting species which are groundwater dependent / phreatophytic. Eucalyptus camaldulensis are considered facultative phreatophytes, Eucalyptus victrix are considered facultative phreatophytes or occasionally vadophytes. These species opportunistically access groundwater to satisfy at least some part of their environmental water requirement.
The proposed facilities have been intentionally designed to avoid disturbance to vegetation communities considered to be of elevated local conservation significance as far as practicable however, the loss or degradation of some Mulga (Acacia aneura) shrubland and riparian Eucalypt woodland along ephemeral tributaries of Bellary Creek, the Hardey River and Beasley River (the major creeks of the region) is unavoidable. These communities are well represented in the Greater Tom Price region and throughout the Hamersley subregion and as such, the loss of some vegetation communities of elevated conservation significance as a result of clearing is not considered to represent significant loss to the representation of vegetation at a local or regional scale.
Flora No flora listed under the under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), or gazetted as Threatened under the Western Australian Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (BC Act) have been recorded or are expected to occur within the Greater Tom Price region however, Priority flora have been recorded.
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Twenty-one Priority flora species have been recorded within the Prescribed Premise (Rio Tinto Priority flora database):
three Priority 1 species: Goodenia pedicellata, Eucalyptus lucens and Hibiscus sp. Mt Brockman;
one Priority 2 species: Indigofera ixocarpa;
fourteen Priority 3 species: Amaranthus centralis, Cyanthillium gracile, Dampiera anonyma, Eremophila magnifica subsp. velutina, Geijera salicifolia, Goodenia sp. East Pilbara, Grevillea saxicola, Indigofera sp. Bungaroo Creek, Lepidium catapycnon, Olearia mucronata, Ptilotus subspinescens, Rostellularia adscendens var. latifolia, Sida sp. Barlee Range and Sida sp. Hamersley Range; and
three Priority 4 species: Acacia bromilowiana, Eremophila magnifica subsp. Magnifica and Goodenia nuda.
The proposed facilities have been intentionally designed to avoid disturbance to known locations of Priority flora as far as practicable however, the loss or degradation of some individuals is unavoidable. The nearest Priority flora records, Indigofera sp. Bungaroo Creek (P3) and Eremophila magnifica subsp. magnifica (P4) have been recorded 260 m from the proposed processing facilities. Goodenia pedicellata (P1), Goodenia sp. East Pilbara (P3), Sida sp. Barlee Range (P3) and Eremophila magnifica subsp. magnifica (P4) have been recorded 600 m from the proposed conveyor alignment. Hibiscus sp. Mt Brockman (P1) have been recorded 760 m from proposed processing facilities. All of the Priority flora species recorded are well represented in the Greater Tom Price region and throughout the Hamersley subregion, the potential loss of some individuals is not expected to alter the conservation status or representation or threaten the continued existence of any Priority flora species at a local or regional scale.
2.7.2 Fauna
Terrestrial fauna surveys have been undertaken in the Tom Price area since 1990. Fauna surveys have been undertaken in the Western Turner Syncline area since 2009 covering an area of approximately 27,000 ha. The combined coverage of these surveys has enabled a detailed understanding of the existing fauna habitats and a considerable reference for the distribution of species in the Greater Tom Price region.
Habitats Five fauna habitats have been recorded within the Tom Price region. A description for each habitat is provided in Table 2-5:
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Table 2-5: Habitats of the Tom Price region
Habitat Description
Gullies and steep slopes supporting scattered Eucalyptus leucophloia trees over Acacia Gullies and steep slopes aptaneua, A.pruinocarpa shrubland over open tussock grassland.
Hillcrests and slopes atop hills supporting scattered Corymbia hamersleyana, Eucalyptus Hill crests and slopes leucophloia trees over Acacia hamersleyensis, A.maitlandii shrubland over Triodia brizoides hummock grassland.
Low undulating hills supporting scattered Eucalyptus leucophloia trees over scattered Low hills E.gamophylla (Mallee) over shrubland over Triodia wiseana hummock grassland.
Stony plains supporting Acacia aptaneura, A.ayersiana, A.pruinocarpa woodlands / shrublands Stony plains over Triodia melvillei hummock grasslands.
Small tributaries in hill slopes supporting scattered Corymbia hamersleyana, Eucalyptus victrix Minor creeks and / or E.leucophloia trees over Acacia ayersiana, A.pruinocarpa and A.citrinoviridis shrubland over hummock grassland.
Sixteen fauna habitats have been recorded within the Western Turner Syncline region. A description for each habitat is provided in Table 2-6:
Table 2-6: Habitats of the Western Turner Syncline region
Habitat Description
Rocky gorges supporting Eucalypt (E.victrix) woodland over Melaleuca (M.glomerata) shrubland over tussock grassland.
Rocky gorges, gullies and steep slopes supporting scattered Corymbia hamersleyana and Snappy Gum (E.leucophloia) over Mulga (A.aneura) / Acacia shrubland over Triodia hummock Rocky gorges, grassland / tussock grassland. breakaways and gullies Rocky gorges and gullies supporting scattered Snappy Gum (E.leucophloia) over Acacia / Gossypium shrubland over Triodia (T.epactia) hummock grassland.
Breakaways supporting scattered Snappy Gum (E.leucophloia) over Acacia scrubland over Triodia hummock grassland.
Rocky hill slopes supporting scattered Corymbia hamersleyana and Snappy Gum (E.leucophloia) over Acacia (A.hamersleyensis, A.maitlandii) shrubland over Triodia hummock grassland. Rocky hill slopes Rocky hill slopes supporting Mulga (A.aneura) / Acacia shrublands over Triodia hummock grasslands.
Low hills and slopes supporting Snappy Gum (E.leucophloia) woodland, scattered Mallee (E.gamophylla) over Acacia shrubland over Triodia hummock grassland. Low hills and slopes Low hills and slopes supporting emergent Acacia and Cassia shrubs over Triodia hummock grassland.
Low hills and stony plains supporting Corymbia hamersleyana woodland over Acacia shrubland over tussock grassland. Low hills and stony Low hills and stony plains supporting Acacia shrublands over Triodia hummock grasslands plains Stony plains supporting Eucalypt woodland over Acacia (A.aptaneura, A.pruinocarpa) shrubland over Triodia hummock grassland.
Clay plains Clay plains supporting Acacia (A.xiphophylla) shrubland over Triodia hummock grassland.
Major creeks supporting Eucalypt (E.victrix) woodland over Acacia (A.citrinoviridis) shrubland. Creeks Moderate creeks supporting Eucalypt woodland over Acacia shrubland over Triodia hummock grassland.
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Habitat Description
Minor creeks supporting Mulga (A.aneura) / Acacia shrubland over Cenchrus ciliaris tussock grassland. Occasional scattered Eucalypts (E.camaldulensis, E.victrix). Creeks Minor creeks supporting Eucalypt woodland over Acacia spp. shrubland over tussock or hummock grassland.
All of the fauna habitats present in the Greater Tom Price region are typical, widespread and well represented in the Hamersley Range. Two of the habitats recorded; ‘gorges, breakaways and gullies’ and ‘creeks’ are considered to be of higher local conservation significance. These habitats provide shelter, foraging and dispersal opportunities for Threatened and Priority species recorded or assessed as likely to occur within the region.
Species Five species of elevated conservation significance, listed under the EPBC Act (Cwth) and / or the BC Act (WA) have been recorded during surveys of the Greater Tom Price region: the Pilbara Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus barroni), listed under Federal legislation as ‘Vulnerable’ and State legislation as Schedule 3; Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia) and Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas), both listed under Federal legislation as ‘Vulnerable’ and State legislation as Schedule 3; Lined Soil-crevice Skink (Notoscincus butleri), listed under State legislation as Priority 4; and Western Pebble-mound Mouse (Pseudomys chapmani), listed under State legislation as Priority 4.
None of the proposed facilities intersect locally significant ‘gorges, breakaways and gullies’ or ‘creek’ habitats or Threatened or Priority fauna species. As such, the proposed facilities are not expected to have an impact on any habitats (including habitats considered to be of higher local conservation significance), have an impact on any population, alter the conservation status or threaten the continued existence of any conservation significant fauna species at a local or regional scale.
2.7.3 Subfauna
None of the proposed facilities intersect subterranean habitat and as such, the proposed facilities are not expected to have an impact on any subfauna.
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2.8 Stakeholder and Community Consultation
2.8.1 Regulator Consultation
Works Approvals and Licences required under Part V of the EP Act are regulated by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER). The Licensee provided DWER with a brief overview of the Proposal on 24 September 2019. It was agreed that a Works Approval (this application) followed by amendments to existing Licence L4762/1972 were appropriate for the proposed works.
2.8.2 Community Consultation
The Licensee has a long-term commitment to working with Pilbara communities and recognises that local communities have a direct interest in their activities. The Licensee has sought to keep relevant stakeholders up-to-date with the mining activities at Tom Price. Community consultation will continue to be undertaken to keep relevant communities up-to- date throughout the operations and during closure of the Tom Price mine.
The construction and operation of the proposed facilities is not expected to affect any communities and therefore no specific community consultation has been undertaken.
2.8.3 Aboriginal Heritage
The Eastern Guruma People and the Yinhawangka People are the traditional custodians of the land within which the Tom Price, Western Turner Syncline Section 10 and B1 deposits (Eastern Guruma People) and Section 17 deposit (Yinhawangka People) are located.
The Licensee has Commercial Agreements as well as Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA) with both groups that include an established consultation framework for ongoing engagement on relevant aspects of the operations. The Eastern Guruma ILUA was registered with the National Native Title Tribunal on 23 June 2008. The Yinhawangka ILUA was registered with the National Native Title Tribunal on 5 July 2013. These comprehensive Agreements set obligations for processes such as land access, tenure acquisition, heritage management, environmental management, mining benefit payments, and reporting, consultation and communication between the parties.
The identification and management of cultural heritage is in accordance with the heritage protocols within the Agreements and Indigenous Land Use Agreement as well as the principles and practices outlined within Rio Tinto’s Communities and Social Performance Guidelines and the Rio Tinto Cultural Heritage Group Procedure.
Extensive archaeological and ethnographic surveys carried out to date in and around the Greater Tom Price region indicate that there are a number of heritage sites and features of cultural significance in the region, including rock shelters, scar trees, artefact scatters, petroglyphs and gnamma holes. A number of these heritage sites are located within the proposed Prescribed Premises.
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The Licensee is committed to avoiding sites of ethnographic and / or archaeological significance to Traditional Owners wherever possible at its Pilbara operations. Approval under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 will be requested where disturbance to sites cannot be avoided. Cultural material contained within those sites which cannot be avoided will be managed in accordance with the approval conditions set by the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and in consultation with the Traditional Owners.
The Licensee also regularly consults with Traditional Owners on the protection and management of cultural heritage sites within their country. Issues relevant to the Eastern Guruma and Yinhawangka People are discussed at biannual Local Implementation Committee (LIC) meetings.
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3 Prescribed Premises Categories
3.1 Current Environmental Protection Act 1986 (Part V Licence)
The existing Tom Price and Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mines have been assessed as ‘Prescribed Premises’, as defined by Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 (as amended). The Licensee currently holds Part V Operating Licence L4762/1972 for the Greater Tom Price Iron Ore Mine Prescribed Premises, which includes the categories and design capacities shown in Table 3-1.
Table 3-1 Prescribed Premise category details under existing Licence L4762/1972
Category Category Description Category Premises Production or Number Design Capacity
5 Processing or beneficiation of 50,000 tonnes or more per year 40,000,000 tonnes per annual metallic or non-metallic ore period
6 Mine dewatering 50,000 tonnes or more per year 3,000,000 tonnes per annual period (South East Prongs) 11,000,000 tonnes per annual period (B1 and Section 17) 7,300,000 tonnes per annual period (Section 10)
12 Screening, etc. of material 50,000 tonnes or more per year 10,000,000 tonnes per annual period
54 Sewage facility 100 cubic metres or more per day 320 cubic metres per day
64 Class II putrescible landfill site 20 tonnes or more per year 8,000 tonnes per annual period
73 Bulk storage of chemicals, etc. 1,000 cubic metres in aggregate 1,546 cubic metres in aggregate
Works Approval: This Works Approval application seeks approval for the construction and commissioning of the following facilities within the proposed Works Approval Prescribed Premise boundary (Figure 2-2):
Processing facilities (Category 5);
Mobile crushing and screening facilities (Category 12);
Fuel storage and refuelling facilities (Category 73); and
Sewage treatment facilities (Category 54).
Processing of up to 40,000,000 tonnes of ore per annual period (Category 5) is an existing prescribed activity already assessed and approved via Licence L4762/1972. No changes to the existing Category 5 design capacity are proposed. However, construction and commissioning of additional processing facilities are proposed to be assessed via this Works Approval application.
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Screening etc. of up to 10,000,000 tonnes of material per annual period (Category 12) is also an existing prescribed activity already assessed and approved via Licence L4762/1972. No changes to the Category 12 design capacity are proposed. However, the operation of mobile crushing and screening plant/s adjacent to proposed facilities during construction are proposed to be assessed via this Works Approval application.
Storage of up to 1,546 cubic metres of fuel (Category 73) is an existing prescribed activity already assessed and approved via Licence L4762/1972. Additional fuel storage facilities are required. The proposed fuel storage does not meet the Category 73 threshold for licensing and as such, approval for the construction and operation of proposed fuel storage facilities is not sought via this Works Approval application. However, the cumulative total of fuel storage capacity on the Premises (2,250 cubic metres) will exceed the Category 73 threshold for licensing so this category is proposed to be assessed via this Works Approval application.
Treatment of up to 320 cubic metres of sewage per day (Category 54) is an existing prescribed activity already assessed and approved via Licence L4762/1972. Construction and commissioning of sewage treatment facilities, required to replace existing facilities, are proposed to be assessed via this Works Approval application.
This Works Approval application includes the proposed categories and design capacities shown in Table 3-2.
Table 3-2 Proposed Prescribed Premise category details under Works Approval
Category Category Description Category Premises Production or Number Design Capacity
5 Processing or beneficiation of 50,000 tonnes or more per year 36,000,000 tonnes per annual metallic or non-metallic ore period
12 Screening, etc. of material 50,000 tonnes or more per year 10,000,000 tonnes per annual period
54 Sewage facility 100 cubic metres or more per day 80 cubic metres per day
73 Fuel facility 1,000 cubic metres in aggregate 704 cubic metres in aggregate
Licence Amendment/s: Amendments to the existing Licence L4762/1972 will be sought for the ongoing operation of the proposed facilities within an amended Prescribed Premise boundary, following construction, commissioning and time limited operation (if required) under the Works Approval.
Subject to approval, the amended Licence L4762/1972 is proposed to include the categories and design capacities shown in Table 3-3.
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Table 3-3 Proposed Prescribed Premise category details under Licence L4762/1972
Category Category Description Category Premises Production or Number Design Capacity
5 Processing or beneficiation of 50,000 tonnes or more per year 40,000,000 tonnes per annual metallic or non-metallic ore period
6 Mine dewatering 50,000 tonnes or more per year 3,000,000 tonnes per annual period (South East Prongs) 11,000,000 tonnes per annual period (B1 and Section 17) 7,300,000 tonnes per annual period (Section 10)
12 Screening, etc. of material 50,000 tonnes or more per year 10,000,000 tonnes per annual period
54 Sewage facility 100 cubic metres or more per day 328 cubic metres per day
64 Class II putrescible landfill site 20 tonnes or more per year 8,000 tonnes per annual period
73 Bulk storage of chemicals, etc. 1,000 cubic metres in aggregate 2,250 cubic metres in aggregate
3.2 Other Approvals / Licences / Permits
3.2.1 Environmental Protection Act 1986 (Part IV)
Development of the Tom Price mine was approved under the Iron Ore (Hamersley Range) Agreement Act 1963 (Agreement Act) and operations commenced in 1966, prior to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) (EP Act). As such, no environmental approvals under Part IV of the EP Act or specific environmental conditions (other than those under the Agreement Act) have been applied to the Tom Price mine since operations commenced.
The Western Turner Syncline Stage 1 Proposal, which involved the development of the Section 10 deposit and transport of ore to the existing Tom Price mine, was referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) under Section 38 of the EP Act in January 2008 and approved, subject to conditions of Ministerial Statement (MS) 807, in September 2009. The Western Turner Syncline Stage 2 Proposal, which involved the development of the B1 and Section 17 deposits and transport of ore to Section 10, was referred to the EPA under Section 38 of the EP Act in May 2012 and approved, subject to conditions of MS 946, in August 2013.
In 2015 environmental approval was sought for extension to the Section 10 Hub (to include Brockman, Brockman West and Marra Mamba East and West), discharge of surplus dewatering water to Hardey River and to create one contemporised MS to manage all of the deposits at Western Turner Syncline and associated infrastructure required to mine, process and transport ore to the existing Tom Price Iron Ore Mine within the Western Turner Syncline Development Envelope. The Western Turner Syncline Revised Proposal was approved, subject to conditions of MS 1031, in June 2016. MS 1031 supersedes the previous Ministerial Statements associated with the Western Turner Syncline Project.
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The proposed facilities that are the subject of this Works Approval application are considered part of the Proposals that were previously assessed and approved and will be managed via the existing Ministerial Statement 1031. The Ministerial Statement includes conditions relevant to the management of the proposed facilities including:
Condition 5 which requires the Proponent to prepare and implement an Environmental Management Plan to maintain the health of riparian vegetation of the Beasley and Hardey River Systems; and
Condition 6 which requires the Proponent to prepare and implement a Mine Closure Plan to ensure that the Proposal is decommissioned in an ecologically sustainable manner.
3.2.2 Environmental Protection Act 1986 (Part V Clearing)
Since operations at the Tom Price mine commenced in 1966, prior to the establishment of the EP Act (WA) and EPBC Act (Cwth), land clearing at Tom Price was originally approved via Notices of Intent and subsequently, via Permits to Clear Native Vegetation, granted by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) under Section 51E of the EP Act. Clearing Permit (CPS) 5795 allows for the clearing of up to 824 hectares (ha) on ML4SA (Tom Price), General Purpose Lease 3SA, Miscellaneous Licences L47/209 and L47/136 for the purposes of ‘mineral exploration, mineral production and associated activities’. Any clearing for the proposed sewage treatment facilities will be managed via CPS 5795 (and any amendments as required).
Existing Clearing Permits also allow for clearing at Western Turner Syncline. CPS 4915 allows for the clearing of up to 180 ha on ML4SA (Western Turner Syncline), Miscellaneous Licenses L47/161 and L47/668 for the purposes of ‘mineral exploration, hydrogeological and geotechnical investigations, a construction camp, communications, pipeline and associated activities’. Any clearing for the proposed processing and fuel storage facilities that is not considered approved via the existing Ministerial Statement will be managed via CPS 4915 (and any amendments as required).
3.2.3 Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914
Groundwater is abstracted from the Southern Fortescue and Hardey River supply borefields (which operate to supply the Tom Price town with potable water, and the Tom Price mine operations with processing and potable water) and dewatering borefields at Tom Price (which operate to dewater the orebodies), the Section 10 and B1 dewatering borefields (which operate to dewater the orebodies with dewatering water used to supply water for the Western Turner Syncline operations) and the Mt Lionel, Section 10 and B1 water supply borefields (which operate as required to supplement operations with process and potable water where deficit occurs (i.e. when dewatering is insufficient to meet operational water demands)) in accordance with the conditions of Groundwater Licence (GWL) 167297, issued under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 (RiWI Act).
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Existing Licence to Take Groundwater; GWL 107418 allows for abstraction of 11,000,000 kL per annum from the Southern Fortescue and Hardey River supply borefields and dewatering borefields at Tom Price.
Existing Licence to Take Groundwater; GWL167297 allows for abstraction of 11,000,000 kL per annum from the Mt Lionel, Section 10 and B1 water supply and dewatering borefields at Western Turner Syncline.
Surplus dewatering water from Section 10 is discharged to the Hardey River and surplus dewatering water from B1 is discharged to the Beasley River. Discharge is approved via MS 1031 and the existing Part V Operating Licence L4762/1972 for the Greater Tom Price Iron Ore Prescribed Premises.
Groundwater abstraction volumes and quality will continue to be managed via the existing Ministerial Statement, Groundwater Licences, GWL 107418 and GWL 167297 and associated Groundwater Operating Strategy, and any amendments as required.
3.2.4 State Agreement, Tenure and Mining Act 1978
The Tom Price mine, Tom Price town, Tom Price to Dampier railway and the mining component of the Western Turner Syncline Project are located on State Agreement Mineral Lease (ML) 4SA, granted in 1965 subject to the Iron Ore (Hamersley Range) Agreement Act 1963 (WA).
The proposed sewage treatment facilities will be located on ML4SA.
The infrastructure associated with the Western Turner Syncline Project that is located outside of ML4SA is supported by other tenure (General Purpose Leases and Miscellaneous Licences) that have been granted (or are subject to grant) under the Mining Act 1978 (WA) (Mining Act).
Facilities that are the subject of this Works Approval application extend onto the following tenure:
Processing facilities will be located on G47/01258, G47/01260, L47/00645, L47/0824 (pending) and L47/00826 (pending); and
Fuel storage and refuelling facilities will be located on G47/01258 and L47/00645.
Facilities on General Purpose Leases and Miscellaneous Licences will be subject to a Mining Proposal under the provisions on the Mining Act.
3.2.5 Local Government
Approval for the proposed facilities will be sought from the Shire of Ashburton as required.
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4 Proposal Description
4.1 Category 5: Processing facilities
4.1.1 Facility Overview
Processing facilities are required to support the expansion of production from the existing B1 deposit as well as development of new mining areas at B1 and Section 17 to sustain production from Greater Tom Price (which includes the Tom Price mining area, the Western Turner Syncline Stage 1 (WTS1) mining area including the Section 10 deposit, and the Western Turner Syncline Stage 2 (WTS2) mining area including the B1 and Section 17 deposits).
Proposed processing facilities include:
a new Run-of-Mine (ROM) Pad;
a new primary gyrator crusher;
new conveyors; and
a new transfer station at WTS1 (including a surge bin and apron feeder).
The indicative location and design of the proposed processing facilities and overland conveyor are included as Figure 4-1, Figure 4-2 and Figure 4-3 respectively.
4.1.2 Detailed Design
The processing facilities at WTS2 will include a ROM pad with heavy vehicle access from both B1 and Section 17. Material from the ROM pad will be fed to the ROM bin, which will be designed to accommodate feed (100% rehandle to allow blending to meet product specifications) from two haul trucks tipping simultaneously at a rate of 36 Mtpa. Ore will be transferred from the ROM bin onto an apron feeder, to a vibrating grizzly (to separate the fines material) with oversize material being fed to the primary crusher. The primary crushing facility will be a gyratory crusher, designed to process 36 Mtpa (Figure 4-2).
For dust control, a dust extraction system will be mounted externally to the crusher building with dust extraction points located at the ROM bin apron feeder, the vibrating grizzly apron feeder and at the primary crusher discharge chute (Figure 4-2). Dust suppression sprays will also be installed at the primary crusher discharge chute.
Primary crushed ore and fines material from B1 and Section 17 will continue to be transported approximately 14 kilometres (km) east to Section 10 via road train until 2021. An overland conveyor (OLC) is proposed to transport the ore from 2021 onwards. The OLC is proposed to transport ore at a rate of approximately 36 Mtpa. The OLC includes a permanent cover to reduce spillage and dust (Figure 4-3).
Ore from the primary crusher will be fed to the OLC via a transfer conveyor. The load points of each conveyor include skirts or covers and dust suppression sprays.
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The OLC ties in to the existing Section 10 OLC at the eastern extent through a transfer station which includes a surge bin (to maintain stable feed during brief upstream surges or interruptions) and apron feeder. Transfer points are enclosed to reduce dust.
Consistent with existing operations, ore will subsequently be transported from Section 10 to existing central processing facilities at the Tom Price mine.
Surface water management Local surface water management structures (such as drains) will be installed to exclude surface water flows beneath the proposed processing facilities.
The surface water management structures installed to prevent the ingress of surface water into the processing area will also be used to retain potentially sediment laden surface water and direct it to sediment ponds to allow for sedimentation before being discharged.
The area under and surrounding the proposed processing facilities will be concrete hardstand. Concrete hardstand will be graded such that surface water run-off will be directed into a drive-in collection sump to allow for sedimentation (Figure 4-2). Sumps are designed to be drive-in to allow removal of sediments that settle in the collection sump. A drying pad adjacent to the collection sump will allow hydrocarbon contaminated solids removed from the sump to dry before being disposed of. Water from the collection sumps will be allowed to evaporate (depending on climatic conditions and volumes reporting to sumps). Potentially hydrocarbon contaminated surface water will be directed to the oily water collection and treatment system to remove hydrocarbons.
4.1.3 Proposed Construction, Commissioning and Operation
Based on the current schedule, it is expected that construction of the new processing facilities will commence in March 2020.
Commissioning will be carried out in six stages:
Stage 1: Construction Verification – verify construction completion to design intent.
Stage 2: Pre-commissioning – functional testing of equipment.
Stage 3: No-load Commissioning – dynamic testing of operating systems without process materials.
Stage 4: Load Commissioning – running the facilities with feedstock and incremental load tuning. Note during this stage the facilities will be running under operational conditions.
Stage 5: Care Custody and Control – operations and maintenance teams will seek to rectify any operating issues and aim to achieve stable performance from the new plant.
Stage 6: Performance Verification – ramp up production rate and confirm achievement of designed through-put.
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Commissioning Stages 1 to 3 are expected to commence in March 2021. The Licensee seeks to undertake commissioning Stages 1 to 3 under the Works Approval. A three month commissioning period is requested to enable commissioning Stages 1 to 3 to occur. Once construction and commissioning Stages 1 to 3 are completed, a compliance document detailing compliance with the conditions of the Works Approval will be submitted. Upon submission of the compliance document, commissioning Stages 4 to 6 are expected to commence in June 2021 and take up to 12 months. The Licensee seeks to commence commissioning Stages 4 to 6 under the Works Approval.
It also is requested that time limited operation be undertaken under the Works Approval, a six month time limited operation period is requested to enable commissioning Stages 4 to 6 to be completed, the Licensee to submit the compliance document and to allow for the assessment and determination of a Licence Amendment application (Stage 2).
The construction, commissioning and operation schedule is provided in Section 5.
4.1.4 Compliance and Reporting
Subject to approval, the proposed processing facilities will be operated in accordance with the requirements of an amended Licence L4762/1972. Compliance with the conditions of the Licence will be presented in the Annual Environmental Report.
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Figure 4-1: Indicative location of the proposed processing facilities at the Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mine
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Figure 4-2: Indicative design of the proposed processing facilities at the Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mine
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Figure 4-3: Indicative design of the proposed overland conveyor at the Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mine
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4.2 Category 12: Screening etc. of material
4.2.1 Facility Overview
Crushing and screening of material is a prescribed activity (Category 12) as defined by Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 (as amended) already assessed and approved via existing Licence L4762/1972. An amendment to the Prescribed Premise boundary is proposed to allow for the operation of crushing and screening plant/s adjacent to proposed facilities to provide competent material during construction (Figure 2- 2).
4.2.2 Detailed Design
Existing mobile crushing and screening plant/s are expected to be used if they are available at the Premises. If not available, new mobile crushing and screening plants may be located to the Premises. However, the design capacity of mobile crushing and screening plants on the Premises will not exceed 10,000,000 tonnes per annual period.
Mobile crushing and screening plant/s are expected to be a Jaw Crusher and Heavy Duty Screen with basic specifications attached (Appendix A) or similar. The specific make of the mobile crushing and / or mobile screening plant/s will be determined based on availability, however, specifications and environmental controls are similar. Borrow material is loaded into a jaw crusher via a hopper. The processed material is delivered to screens to ensure material meets size specification before being used during construction.
The mobile crushing plant includes dust suppression on the main conveyor.
4.2.3 Proposed Construction, Commissioning and Operation
Based on the current schedule it is expected that construction of new facilities will commence in March 2020. The crushing and screening plants will be mobilised to site ahead of construction in Quarter 1 2020 to provide material for construction.
The crushing and screening plant/s will arrive onsite ready for commissioning. Commissioning is limited to setting the crusher aperture and installing the screens to produce materials of the desired size. During commissioning, dust suppression sprays will also be tested to ensure functionality. Commissioning will be completed within a month of mobilising crushing and screening plant/s to site. Operation is proposed to commence immediately upon the completion of commissioning. Given the short commissioning requirement, it is requested operation of the plant commence without the need for a compliance document to be submitted.
The Licensee seeks to undertake commissioning of the crushing and screening plant/s under the Works Approval. It also is requested that time limited operation be undertaken under the Works Approval, a six month time limited operation period is requested to enable the assessment and determination of a Licence Amendment application (Stage 1).
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The construction, commissioning and operation schedule is provided in Section 5.
4.2.4 Compliance and Reporting
Subject to approval, operation of the proposed mobile crushing and screening facilities are expected to commence in May 2020, subject to the existing requirements of Licence L4762/1972, including: existing Conditions requiring:
In dry conditions, the Licensee shall manage dust generated from the Mobile Crushing and Screening Plant(s) by:
Using dust suppression on work areas, access roads and stockpiles to minimise dust during storage and handling of borrow and screened material as required;
Using hydraulically angle-adjustable stockpiling conveyors (if fitted) to minimise drop heights; and
Operating belt sprayers (if fitted) to dampen crushed material.
The Licensee shall manage stormwater runoff from the Mobile Crushing and Screening Plant(s) in accordance with the following actions:
The mobile plant(s) shall be located at least 50 meters from any permanent water body;
Uncontaminated stormwater from the surrounding areas shall be diverted around the mobile plant area; and
The mobile plant area is bunded so no contaminated runoff leaves the area.
Compliance with the conditions of the Licence will be presented in the Annual Environmental Report.
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4.3 Category 73: Fuel storage and refuelling
4.3.1 Facility Overview
A Heavy Vehicle Refuelling Facility (HVRF) is proposed to support the mining fleet for the Proposal. The following infrastructure will be located at the proposed HVRF:
Road train unloading to supply fuel to the HVRF;
Three 200 kL fuel storage tanks;
Heavy vehicle refuelling bays with fuel arms to suit the HV fleet and associated bunds as per Australian Standard 1940-2004 (AS 1940-2004): The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids;
Light vehicle refuelling;
Storage for engine oil, hydraulic oil, coolant and grease at each of the refuel bays;
Spillage drive-in collection sump; and
Oily water collection and treatment system.
The HVRF will be located near the ROM with direct access to the fuel storage and refuelling facilities from the proposed Haul Road. The indicative location, layout and plan of the proposed HVRF are included as Figure 4-4, Figure 4-5 and Figure 4-6 respectively.
Additional temporary fuel facilities (two 52 kL fuel storage tanks) will be required to support construction of the Proposal.
The existing fuel storage capacity on the Premises is 1,546 kL. The proposed fuel storage capacity is 704 kL. The proposed fuel storage capacity does not meet the Category 73 threshold for licensing, so this category has not been included in this Works Approval application. However, once the HVRF is constructed, the cumulative total of fuel storage capacity on the Premises (the existing fuel storage capacity and the additional fuel storage capacity, totalling 2,250 kL) will exceed the Category 73 threshold for licensing so this category is proposed to be included in a Licence Amendment application (Stage 1).
4.3.2 Detailed Design
Road Train / Tanker Unloading A road train / tanker unloading facility will be provided to supply fuel to the HVRF (Figure 4-5). Two tanker unloading pumps will unload the road train / tankers delivering fuel. Tanker unloading will occur over a concrete hardstand with roll-over bunds which will drain into the adjacent pump station bunded area (connected to the oily water collection and treatment system). The transfer of fuel from the tankers to the fuel storage tanks will be metered.
The design of the HVRF provides for segregation between the tankers delivering fuel and the heavy vehicles refuelling from the facility.
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The tanker unloading facility will also include a light vehicle (LV) refuelling station. A single bowser will be located on the end of the delivery pad (Figure 4-5) and will be connected to the metering system.
Fuel Storage Diesel fuel will be stored at the HVRF in three 200 kL self-bunded fuel storage tanks (Figure 4-5). The tanks will be designed and constructed to as per AS 1940-2004: The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids and DMIRS licensing requirements. All fuel storage tanks and transfer points will be above ground, self bunded or within bunded areas / secondarily contained (in accordance with AS 1940-2004).
Concrete hardstands are not proposed to be installed under fuel storage tanks that are self bunded owing that the risk of a hydrocarbon spill from a self-bunded tank is negligible, with the outer tank containing any hydrocarbon spills.
Heavy Vehicle Refuelling Bays The HVRF will include two refuelling bays designed to support the fleet of heavy vehicles (including haul trucks and nominated other heavy support vehicles) (Figure 4-5). Vehicle refuelling will occur over a concrete hardstand with roll-over bunds (connected to the oily water collection and treatment system) via a fuel arm designed to suit the HV fleet.
Oily Water Collection and Treatment Concrete hardstand will be installed under all areas where there is potential for hydrocarbon spills (including road tanker unloading pads, unloading pump, dispensing pump and heavy vehicle refuelling bays) to direct water to the oily water collection and treatment system.
Concrete hardstands will be graded such that water will be directed into a drive-in collection sump (Figure 4-5). Sumps are designed to be drive-in to allow removal of sediments that settle in the collection sump. The oily water will be transferred to the Oily Water Separator (OWS).
An Ultraspin (HD25) hydro-cyclone OWS is proposed to be located adjacent to the fuel storage tanks (Figure 4-5). The OWS separates oil and water based on density. Oily water is pumped into the separator. Lighter oils migrate into the centre of the vortex via centrifugal force generating two streams; treated water and separated oil. The OWS is designed to treat oily water so that effluent has a Total Recoverable Hydrocarbons (TRH) concentration below 15 mg/L. Treated oily water will be used onsite (i.e. for dust suppression) where possible. Waste oil will be transported offsite and disposed of at an appropriate facility by a licensed contractor.
4.3.3 Proposed Construction, Commissioning and Operation
Construction of the HVRF is proposed to commence in May 2020. The proposed fuel storage does not meet the Category 73 threshold for licensing, so this category has not been included in this Works Approval application. However, the HVRF will be constructed in accordance with the following commitments:
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Fuel storage tanks will be designed and constructed and tested to AS 1940-2004: The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids;
Fuel storage tanks will be above ground, self bunded or within bunded areas / secondarily contained to ensure any spills are contained;
Concrete hardstand will be installed under proposed fuel storage and refuelling facilities where there is potential for hydrocarbon spills;
Potentially contaminated surface water will be directed to the oily water collection and treatment system; and
Spill response will be provided.
Operation is proposed to commence immediately upon the completion of construction (estimated August 2020).
Once construction of the proposed fuel storage facilities are completed, the cumulative total of fuel storage capacity on the Premises (the existing fuel storage capacity and the additional fuel storage capacity) will exceed the Category 73 threshold for licensing so this category is proposed to be included in a Licence Amendment application (Stage 1).
The construction, commissioning and operation schedule is provided in Section 5.
4.3.4 Compliance and Reporting
Operation of the proposed HVRF is expected to commence in August 2020, subject to the existing requirements of Licence L4762/1972, including existing Conditions requiring: The Licensee shall, as soon as practicable, recover or remove and dispose of any spills or leaks of fuel, oil or other hydrocarbons. The Licensee shall utilise and maintain protective bunding, silt traps, fuel and oil traps, drains and collection sumps to enable recovery of spills and protection of surrounding soils and groundwater, as practicable.
Compliance with the conditions of the Licence will be presented in the Annual Environmental Report.
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Figure 4-4: Indicative location of the proposed fuel storage and refuelling facilities at the Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mine
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Figure 4-5: Indicative design of the proposed fuel storage and refuelling facilities at the Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mine
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Figure 4-6: Indicative plan of the proposed fuel storage and refuelling facilities at the Western Turner Syncline Iron Ore Mine
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4.4 Category 54: Sewage treatment facilities
4.4.1 Facility Overview
The Tom Price mine has four existing waste water treatment facilities on site. The existing mine site facilities each have a maximum design capacity of 36 m³/day. The existing mine camp facilities have a combined maximum design capacity of 248 m³/day (and are not subject to change via this works approval).
The existing waste water treatment facilities at the Tom Price mine were installed to service the minesite more than 30 years ago. Two new sewage treatment facilities are proposed to replace old and failing existing facilities at the mine site. The replacement systems will be BioMAX C40K Waste Water Treatment Plants, each with design capacity of up to 40 m³/day, designed to treat sewage to achieve treated effluent, suitable for discharge to the environment, in six (6) 5.2 m diameter x 2.5 m high concrete tank modules. The system includes the following: Anaerobic chamber; Aerobic chamber; Clarification chamber; Disinfection chamber; and Pump-out chamber.
4.4.2 Detailed Design
The process flow of the system is summarised below (from BioMAX Model C40K Waste Water Treatment System Technical and Maintenance Manual, 2017). The indicative location and typical process flow diagram of the proposed waste water treatment facilities are also included as Figure 4-7 and Figure 4-8 respectively.
Anaerobic chamber Raw sewage is initially received into the anaerobic chamber. Approximately 30-50% of the suspended solids settle out in this chamber where microorganisms remove suspended organic matter, specifically nitrogen, and reduce biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in wastewater via anaerobic digestion.
The biological reduction of nitrate to nitrogen by specific facultative anaerobic microorganisms in anaerobic (or anoxic) conditions is a process called de-nitrification. These microorganisms use nitrate as the primary source of oxygen when oxygen levels are depleted. When microorganisms break apart nitrate (NO3) to gain the oxygen (O2), the nitrate is reduced to nitrogen (N2). Since nitrogen has low water solubility, it escapes into the air. Free nitrogen is the major component of air (78%), thus its release does not cause any environmental concern. The de-nitrification process also requires carbon; that is, the presence of sufficient organic matter (in the form of wastewater or supplemental carbon) to drive the de-nitrification reaction.
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The anaerobic chamber also receives settled sludge and skimmed material returned from the clarification chamber.
The plant is sized to enable microorganisms to maintain a sufficient population naturally without the need for the addition of proprietary biological products.
Aerobic Chamber The partially treated wastewater, still containing the colloidal and suspended solids, flows from the anaerobic chamber to the aerobic chamber where it is aerated (by means of a side channel air blower and diffusers) maintaining aerobic conditions. The oxygen enriched effluent flows about packs of submerged media having a large surface area on which bacteria and other microorganisms thrive, forming a biological film.
These bacteria and other microorganisms remove suspended organic matter (specifically nitrogen) in wastewater via aerobic digestion. The biological conversion of ammonium to nitrate by facultative aerobic bacteria in aerobic conditions is a process called nitrification. The bacteria and microorganisms consume colloidal organic matter, converting ammonia
(NH4) to nitrite (NO2) and nitrite to nitrate (NO3) to obtain energy for growth and maintenance, creating carbon dioxide and flocculated particles.
The process differs from ordinary suspended growth systems in that it is more stable and also allows the growth of sub-surface anaerobic microorganisms beneath the surface film of aerobic microorganisms. This allows anaerobic bacterial action to check the media growth, reducing the biological sludge accumulation.
Clarification Chamber Following aeration, effluent flows into a circular, hopper bottomed clarification chamber, where the biological floc (or sludge) settles to the bottom of the tank, producing a clarified effluent that is relatively free from suspended organic material. The clarified effluent is drawn off below surface level and flows through the chlorinator to the disinfection chamber.
Settled sludge from the bottom of the chamber and floating material are returned to the anaerobic chamber. The continuous return of sludge to the anaerobic chamber ensures continuous fluid movement in the plant even with no inflow and keeps the system “live” during periods of extended vacancy.
Disinfection Chamber The clarified effluent from the clarification chamber passes through an automatic gravity chlorinator. The chlorination system introduces chlorine for the disinfection of microbial pathogens before discharging treated effluent to receiving environments.
The disinfection chamber is designed to provide a minimum of 30 minutes contact time between the clarified effluent and chlorine to ensure effective disinfection.
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Pump-out Chamber After disinfection, the treated effluent enters the pump-out chamber. A submersible pump in this chamber is automatically controlled by a level switch to operate and shut down as the level of the effluent rises and falls.
Controls The plant has an inbuilt emergency storage of approximately two days at normal flow to ensure that any problem can be rectified before overflow occurs.
Treated effluent distribution Treated effluent will be discharged to the environment via existing licensed drainage lines, which due to the topography and geology of the area is the only option for disposal. There are no sensitive receptors within the discharge footprint and this is further discussed in the risk assessment section (Section 6) below.
4.4.3 Proposed Construction, Commissioning and Operation
Construction Construction of the proposed WWTPs is expected to commence in April 2020. The proposed BioMAX C40K waste water treatment systems will be constructed with a design capacity to treat up to 40 m³/day of influent to achieve the following effluent standards under standard operating conditions:
Table 4-1 Manufacturers specifications: expected waste water (effluent) quality
Parameter Frequency
Biochemical Oxygen Demand < 20 mg/L
Total Suspended Solids < 30 mg/L pH 6.5 – 8.5
Total Nitrogen < 10 mg/L
Total Phosphorus < 2 mg/L
Faecal coliforms (E.coli) < 10 cfu/100mL
When the construction of the proposed WWTPs is completed, a compliance document will be submitted to the Department.
Commissioning Following the submission of the compliance report, commissioning is expected to commence in April 2020. The Licensee seeks to undertake commissioning under the Works Approval.
Commissioning will be undertaken over a four month period to identify and resolve any design and construction issues, ensure that the WWTPs are operating to specification and evaluate performance of the waste water treatment process. The biomass of the bacteria and other microorganisms which are responsible for removing organic matter and reducing biochemical oxygen demand in waste water will develop naturally during commissioning.
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As such, water quality during commissioning is expected to be highly variable, and is expected to trend towards stabilisation but may occasionally exceed specified criteria.
Monthly monitoring of the quality of the effluent will be undertaken during commissioning to ensure that the water quality is trending towards stabilisation. A four month commissioning period is requested to allow enough time for sufficient monitoring data to be obtained to ensure treated waste water quality consistently meets specified water quality criteria.
Conditions are proposed to be included in the Works Approval to regulate the commissioning of the proposed WWTPs, including: The Licensee shall commission the WWTPs for a period not exceeding four months. The Licensee shall undertake monitoring during the commissioning to the requirements specified below.
Table 4-2 Monitoring during commissioning
Sampling location Parameter Frequency
Final treated effluent outlet Volume (kL/day) Continuous prior to discharge Biochemical Oxygen Demand (mg/L) Monthly
Total Suspended Solids (mg/L)
pH (pH units)
Total Nitrogen (mg/L)
Total Phosphorus (mg/L)
E.coli (cfu/100mL)
The Licensee shall provide a commissioning report, 30 days prior to the completion of commissioning of the WWTPs that includes the effluent water quality results during commissioning with a comparison against the expected effluent standards. Subject to treated effluent meeting expected effluent standards during commissioning, the Licensee is authorised to operate the WWTPs in accordance with the Conditions of this Works Approval.
Once commissioning is completed, quarterly monitoring of the water quality of the effluent will be undertaken as per the requirements of Licence L4762/1972.
Operation Operation is proposed to commence immediately upon the completion of commissioning (estimated August 2020). It is requested that time limited operation be undertaken under the Works Approval, to enable determination of a Licence Amendment application (Stage 1).
The construction, commissioning and operation schedule is provided in Section 5.
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4.4.4 Compliance and Reporting
Subject to approval, operation of the proposed WWTPs are expected to commence in August 2020, subject to the existing requirements of Licence L4762/1972, including existing Conditions requiring:
The Licensee shall, for each of the WWTPs, record the monthly cumulative volume of all effluent discharges. The data shall be reported in the Annual Environmental Report.
The Licensee shall, for each of the WWTPs, collect and have analysed representative effluent discharge samples at the locations listed in column1 for the parameters listed in column 2 at the frequency stated in column 3 and present the information in the Annual Environmental Report, including an assessment and comparison against the National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS), Australian Guidelines for Sewerage Systems – Effluent Management (1997) and all recorded monitoring data.
Table 4-3 Monitoring during operation
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
Sampling location Parameter Frequency
MOC WWTP Biochemical Oxygen Demand (mg/L) Quarterly
Plant WWTP Total Suspended Solids (mg/L)
Mine Camp WWTP1 pH (pH units)
Mine Camp WWTP2 Total Nitrogen (mg/L)
Total Phosphorus (mg/L)
E.coli (cfu/100mL)
Compliance with the conditions of the Licence will be presented in the Annual Environmental Report.
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Figure 4-7: Indicative location of the proposed sewage treatment facilities at the Tom Price Iron Ore Mine
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Figure 4-8: Typical process flow diagram of proposed waste water treatment facilities at the Tom Price Iron Ore Mine
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5 Construction, Commissioning and Operation Schedule
A detailed description of proposed construction, commissioning and operation for each of the activities that are the subject of this Works Approval application is provided in Section 4.
A proposed schedule for construction, commissioning and operation (including a time limited operational phase) is included as Table 5-1 to provide further context for the proposed sequencing of the activities that are the subject of this Works Approval application and resulting licensing processes.
Staged Licence Amendment applications are proposed to be submitted following the construction and commissioning of the facilities that are the subject of this Works Approval application to streamline the amendment process:
The Stage 1 Licence Amendment application is proposed to be submitted in August 2020 following construction and commissioning of the ‘Stage 1’ facilities. Operation of the Stage 1 facilities under the Licence is expected to commence in November 2020.
The Stage 2 Licence Amendment application is proposed to be submitted in June 2021 following construction and commissioning of the ‘Stage 2’ facilities. Operation of the Stage 2 facilities under the Licence is expected to commence in October 2021.
During the intervening time between commissioning and operation under the Licence, it is requested that time limited operation be undertaken under the Works Approval. Conditions are proposed to be included in the Works Approval to regulate proposed activities during the time limited operational phase. Transition to operations under Licence conditions will commence once Licence Amendments are approved.
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Table 5-1 Indicative schedule of construction, commissioning and operation Time limited Proposed duration Licence Operation under Proposed Compliance Commissioning operation of time limited Activity Amendment Licence, as Construction Documentation Timeframe commences under operation under Application amended Works Approval Works Approval
Stage 1
Submitted following Sewage treatment construction of 4 months (April 2020 facilities March 2020 August 2020 90 calendar days WWTP facilities – – August 2020) (Category 54) March 2020
Mobile crushing and Stage 1 application 1 month (April 2020 submitted August November 2020 screening plant/s March 2020* May 2020 180 calendar days – May 2020) 2020 (Category 12)
Fuel storage facilities May 2020 – (Category 73 – under August 2020 threshold) Stage 2
Stages 1 – 3** 3 months (March Submitted following 2021 – June 2021) to construction and commence under Processing facilities March 2020 – commissioning Works Approval (Category 5) March 2021 Stage 1-3 of Stages 4 – 6 processing facilities Stage 2 application 12 Months (June June 2021 180 calendar days October 2021 – March 2021 submitted June 2021 2021 – June 2022) to occur under Operational Licence
Submitted following Conveyor March 2020 – construction – March Not required (Category 5) March 2021 2021
Note – Indicative timeframes only. * Mobile crushing and screening plant/s will arrive onsite ready for commissioning. ** Construction and commissioning Stages 1-3 of processing facilities will occur concurrently (construction verification and pre-commissioning is undertaken following construction of each part of the facilities).
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6 Risk Identification and Assessment
A risk assessment has been prepared to identify the potential emissions from the proposed activities and the potential sources, pathways and receptors of those emissions, and proposed controls to manage potential emissions to determine a risk rating. The risk assessment has been based on the DWER Guidance Statement: Risk Assessments (released by the then named Department of Environmental Regulation in 2017) and the Rio Tinto risk assessment process, based on the following risk rating matrix (Table 6-1):
Table 6-1: Risk Rating Matrix
Consequence
Likelihood Slight Minor Moderate Major Severe
Almost Certain Medium High High Extreme Extreme
Likely Medium Medium High High Extreme
Possible Low Medium Medium High Extreme
Unlikely Low Medium Medium Medium High
Rare Low Low Medium Medium High
Risk = consequence x likelihood The following criteria (DWER 2017) are used to determine the consequence and likelihood of a risk event occurring (Table 6-2 and Table 6-3).
Table 6-2: Consequence Matrix
Consequence Consequence description
Environment Health
On-site impacts: catastrophic Off-site impacts (local scale): high level Loss of life Adverse health effects: high level or ongoing Severe Off-site impacts (wider scale): mid level medical treatment Mid to long term or permanent impact to an area of high conservation value or special Local scale impacts: permanent loss of amenity significance
On-site impacts: high level Adverse health effects: mid level or frequent Off-site impacts (local scale): mid level medical treatment Major Off-site impacts (wider scale): low level Local scale impacts: high level impact to Short term impact to an area of high amenity conservation value or special significance
On-site impacts: mid level Adverse health effects: low level or occasional Moderate Off-site impacts local scale: low level medical treatment Off-site impacts wider scale: minimal Local scale impacts: mid level impact to amenity
On-site impacts: low level Minor Off-site impacts (local scale): minimal Local scale impacts: low level impact to amenity Off-site impacts (wider scale): not detectable
Slight On-site impacts: minimal Local scale impacts: minimal impacts to amenity
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Table 6-3: Likelihood Matrix
Likelihood Likelihood description
Almost certain The risk event is expected to occur in most circumstances.
Likely The risk event will probably occur in most circumstances.
Possible The risk event could occur at some time.
Unlikely The risk event will probably not occur in most circumstances.
Rare The risk event may only occur in exceptional circumstances.
The potential emissions, sources, pathways and receptors that have been identified for the construction, commissioning and operation of the proposed facilities are outlined in Table 6-4. This table also identifies the potential impacts, proposed controls and associated risk ratings. A detailed risk assessment will be undertaken for any activity which has been identified as having a ‘Medium’ risk rating or higher (Section 7). Detailed risk assessment includes:
A description of the potential emissions, sources, pathways and receptors.
Any controls that have been identified for the risk event.
An assessment of the consequence and likelihood.
Risk rating.
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Table 6-4: Risk Assessment
Potential Detailed Assessment Source Pathway Potential Receptors Potential Impacts Proposed Controls Consequence Likelihood Risk Rating Emissions Required?
Construction Construction of Dust Air: windborne particulate Residential: Health and amenity: Dust will be managed via the requirements of the Moderate Unlikely Medium Detailed assessment provided in all facilities (dust) emissions generated None, the nearest receptors Given the distance to the Ministerial Statement and Environmental Section 7.1d during construction activities are the residents of the nearest receptors, dust is not Management Plan, the Works Approval, Part V including clearing, wind- township of Tom Price, expected to affect public Licence L4762/1972 and standard operating blown dust from cleared Jundamunah Village, the health or amenity. procedures, including: areas and vehicle Brockman 4, Nammuldi and - clearing will be managed to ensure that areas are movements. West Pilbara Villages. only cleared as required;
Terrestrial ecosystems: Declining health of vegetation - rehabilitation of cleared areas will be implemented as construction is completed; and Vegetation, including including reduced ability for vegetation communities of photosynthesis due to dust - dust suppression will be implemented (including elevated conservation deposition / smothering. use of water trucks, control of vehicle movements significance within and Given that native vegetation / restricted speeds) during construction. adjacent to the Premises. is expected to be reasonably Standard management procedures are expected to tolerant to dust deposition, effectively mitigate the risk of dust emissions during dust is expected to have a construction. negligible impact on vegetation health.
Terrestrial ecosystems: Dust may impact habitats Native fauna which represent shelter, foraging and dispersal habitats for native fauna: Given the distance from potential dust sources, dust is expected to have a negligible impact on native fauna.
Noise Air: windborne noise Residential: Health and amenity: Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 Minor Rare Low Risk pathway is low, detailed emissions generated during None, the nearest receptors Given the distance to the and standard operating procedures are expected to assessment is not required. construction activities are the residents of the nearest receptor, impacts to effectively mitigate the risk of noise during However, further detail on township of Tom Price, public health or amenity from construction. Specific controls are not proposed. controls provided in Section 7.2 Jundamunah Village, the noise are expected to be Brockman 4, Nammuldi and limited. West Pilbara Villages.
Terrestrial ecosystems: Noise may disrupt nocturnal Nocturnal native fauna. foraging behaviour: Noise is expected to be limited at night when nocturnal native fauna are foraging and as such, is expected to have a negligible impact on native fauna.
Light Air: light spill generated Residential: Health and amenity: Light spill will be managed via standard operating Minor Rare Low Risk pathway is low, detailed during construction activities None, the nearest receptors Given the distance to the procedures, including: assessment is not required. are the residents of the nearest receptor, impacts to - Lighting design in areas that require night lighting However, further detail on township of Tom Price, public health or amenity from will ensure light is directed to work areas and controls provided in Section 7.3 Jundamunah Village, the light spill are expected to be minimal light spill occurs (including use of Brockman 4, Nammuldi and limited. directional lighting and covered lenses). West Pilbara Villages. Standard management procedures are expected to Terrestrial ecosystems: Light spill may disrupt effectively mitigate the risk of light spill during construction. Nocturnal native fauna. nocturnal foraging behaviour: Light spill is expected to be limited at night when nocturnal native fauna are foraging and as such, is expected to have a negligible impact on native fauna.
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Potential Detailed Assessment Source Pathway Potential Receptors Potential Impacts Proposed Controls Consequence Likelihood Risk Rating Emissions Required?
Construction Construction of Hydrocarbons Hydrocarbon spill causing Land Soil contamination Hydrocarbons used during construction will be Minor Rare Low Risk pathway is low, detailed all facilities from fuel soil contamination managed via relevant legislation (including assessment is not required. storage and Australian Standard AS 1940-2004: Storage and However, further detail on refuelling Seepage of hydrocarbon spill Groundwater of beneficial Groundwater contamination handling of flammable and combustible liquids), the controls provided in Section 7.6 during to groundwater causing use (livestock watering): with potential impacts to requirements of the Works Approval, Licence construction contamination None, the vertical distance to beneficial use of the L4762/1972 and standard operating procedures, - under local groundwater is more groundwater (and declining including: health of any vegetation requirement for than 35 m. - Vehicle refuelling will occur over concrete dependent on groundwater): licensing hardstand or compacted, lined earthen pad (with Terrestrial ecosystems Given the vertical distance to the exception of field based refuelling where a drip (vegetation communities the groundwater, any tray will be used); dependant on groundwater): hydrocarbon spills from fuel - Fuel storage tanks will be designed and None, groundwater storage and refuelling are not constructed to AS 1940-2004: The storage and dependent vegetation is not expected to seep to handling of flammable and combustible liquids; represented. The nearest groundwater (or affect any receptors are riparian associated terrestrial - Fuel storage tanks will be above ground; communities along tributaries ecosystems). - Fuel storage tanks will be self-bunded; of Bellary Creek, Hardey - Concrete hardstand or compacted, lined earthen River and Beasley River, pad will be installed under fuel storage and characterised by Eucalyptus refuelling facilities where there is potential for victrix (communities hydrocarbon spills; EvExAcTHtCEc and - Management structures (bunding / secondary EvAciTeCEc) or Eucalyptus containment) will be installed at all fuel storage camaldulensis and facilities to ensure any spills are contained; and Eucalyptus victrix (community EcEvAci), recognised as - Spill response will be provided. being of elevated local Standard hydrocarbon management procedures are conservation significance. expected to effectively mitigate the risk of hydrocarbon spills during construction. Migration of hydrocarbon spill Surface Water: Surface water contamination to surface water causing None, the nearest receptors (and declining health of any contamination are Bellary Creek, the Hardey riparian vegetation): River and Beasley River. Given the distance to the nearest receptors, any Terrestrial ecosystems hydrocarbon spills from fuel (riparian vegetation): storage and refuelling are not None, ‘riparian Eucalypts expected to migrate to along major creeks’ are not surface waters (or affect any represented however, associated terrestrial riparian communities along ecosystems). tributaries of Bellary Creek, the Hardey River and Beasley River, characterised by Eucalyptus victrix (communities EvExAcTHtCEc and EvAciTeCEc) or Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus victrix (community EcEvAci), recognised as being of elevated local conservation significance.
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Potential Detailed Assessment Source Pathway Potential Receptors Potential Impacts Proposed Controls Consequence Likelihood Risk Rating Emissions Required?
Construction Construction of Solid / Liquid Increased wind-blown litter as Residential: None, the Health and amenity: General wastes will be managed via the Minor Rare Low Risk pathway is low, detailed all facilities Waste a result of management of nearest receptors are the Given the distance to the requirements of the Works Approval, Part V Licence assessment is not required. general waste residents of the township of L4762/1972 and standard operating procedures However, further detail on nearest receptor, general Tom Price, Jundamunah wastes are not expected to including: controls provided in Section 7.7 Village, the Brockman 4, affect public health or - Sufficient recycling and general waste collection Nammuldi and West Pilbara amenity. areas will be established and labelled with the Villages. relevant waste type to facilitate the management of waste; - Recyclable materials will be separated from other waste and recycled wherever possible; and - Non-recyclable materials will be disposed of at an approved landfill facility. Standard waste management procedures are expected to effectively mitigate the risk of general wastes during construction.
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Potential Detailed Assessment Source Pathway Potential Receptors Potential Impacts Proposed Controls Consequence Likelihood Risk Rating Emissions Required?
Category 5: Operation of Dust Air: windborne particulate Residential: Health and amenity: Dust emissions will be managed via the Moderate Unlikely Medium Detailed assessment provided in Processing of processing (dust) emissions generated None, the nearest receptors Given the distance to the requirements of the Works Approval, Part V Licence Section 7.1d Ore facilities during operation of are the residents of the nearest receptors, dust is not L4762/1972 and standard operating procedures, processing facilities, transport including: Brockman 4, Nammuldi and expected to affect public of ore product, stockpiling of West Pilbara Villages, health or amenity. - A dust extraction system will be installed at the ore product located more than 20.5 km crusher with dust extraction points located at the from the processing facilities. ROM bin apron feeder, the vibrating grizzly apron feeder and the primary crusher discharge chute; Terrestrial ecosystems: Declining health of vegetation - Dust suppression sprays will be installed at the Vegetation, including including reduced ability for primary crusher discharge chute; vegetation communities of photosynthesis due to dust deposition / smothering: - Load points of each conveyor include skirts or elevated conservation covers and dust suppression sprays; significance located within Given that native vegetation and adjacent to the is expected to be reasonably - The OLC includes a permanent cover; Premises. tolerant to dust deposition, - Transfer points are enclosed to reduce dust dust is expected to have a emissions; and negligible impact on - Regular inspection and maintenance will be vegetation health. undertaken at processing facilities to collect and remove material that may present a potential dust Terrestrial ecosystems: Dust may affect the quality of risk. Native fauna. foraging habitat and disrupt nocturnal foraging behaviour Monitoring of in-situ water content in the ore product will be undertaken to inform the application of water Dust will affect only a small for dust suppression. proportion of the foraging habitat and as such, is Monitoring of dust levels will also be undertaken to expected to have a negligible guide the management of dust levels. impact on native fauna. Appropriate design, management, monitoring, inspection and maintenance of processing facilities is expected to mitigate the risk of dust during operations.
Noise Air: windborne noise Residential: Health and amenity: Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 Minor Rare Low Risk pathway is low, detailed emissions generated during None, the nearest receptors Given the distance to the and standard operating procedures are expected to assessment is not required. operation of processing are the residents of the nearest receptor, noise is not effectively mitigate the risk of noise during However, further detail on facilities Brockman 4, Nammuldi and expected to affect public operations. Specific controls are not proposed. controls provided in Section 7.2 West Pilbara Villages, health or amenity. located more than 20.5 km from the processing facilities.
Terrestrial ecosystems: Noise may disrupt nocturnal Native fauna. foraging behaviour: Noise is expected to be limited at night and as such, is expected to have a negligible impact on native fauna.
Light Air: light spill generated Residential: Health and amenity: Light spill will be managed via standard operating Minor Rare Low Risk pathway is low, detailed during operation of None, the nearest receptors Given the distance to the procedures, including: assessment is not required. processing facilities are the residents of the nearest receptor, light spill is - Lighting design in areas that require permanent However, further detail on Brockman 4, Nammuldi and not expected to affect public night lighting will ensure light is directed to work controls provided in Section 7.3 West Pilbara Villages, health or amenity. areas and minimal light spill occurs (including use located more than 20.5 km of directional lighting and covered lenses). from the processing facilities. Appropriate design, management, inspection and Terrestrial ecosystems: Light spill may disrupt maintenance of lighting at processing facilities is expected to mitigate the risk of light spill during Nocturnal native fauna. nocturnal foraging behaviour: operations. Light spill is expected to be limited at night when nocturnal native fauna are foraging and will affect only a small proportion of foraging habitat and as such, is expected to have a negligible impact on native fauna.
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Potential Detailed Assessment Source Pathway Potential Receptors Potential Impacts Proposed Controls Consequence Likelihood Risk Rating Emissions Required?
Category 5: Operation of Discharge to Release of sediment laden Surface Water: Deterioration of surface water Sediment laden surface water run-off will be Minor Rare Low Risk pathway is low, detailed Processing of processing environment surface water run-off to the None, the distance to the quality as a result of managed via the requirements of the Works assessment is not required. Ore facilities environment, migration to nearest receptor (Hardey sedimentation (and declining Approval, Licence L4762/1972 and standard However, further detail on surface water causing River) is more than 5.8 km. health of any riparian operating procedures, including: controls provided in Section 7.5 sedimentation vegetation): - Surface water management structures (such as Given the distance to the drains) will be installed to direct surface water nearest receptor, any flows around the facilities; Terrestrial ecosystems unplanned release of (riparian vegetation): - Concrete hardstand will be installed under the sediment laden surface water None, ‘riparian Eucalypts proposed processing facilities; run-off to the environment is along major creeks’ are not - Potentially sediment laden surface water will be not expected to migrate to represented however, retained on site (directed to sedimentation ponds) surface water (or affect any riparian communities along to allow for sedimentation. associated terrestrial tributaries of the Hardey ecosystems). Appropriate design, management, inspection and River and Beasley River, maintenance of processing facilities is expected to characterised by Eucalyptus mitigate the risk of release of sediment laden surface victrix (community water run-off to the environment during operations. EvAciTeCEc) or Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus victrix (community EcEvAci) are recognised as being of elevated local conservation significance. The nearest riparian community (EvAciTeCEc) is located more than 3.9 km from processing facilities.
Release of contaminated Groundwater of beneficial Deterioration of groundwater Contaminated surface water run-off will be managed Minor Rare Low Risk pathway is low, detailed surface water run-off to the use: quality with potential impacts via the requirements of the Works Approval, Licence assessment is not required. environment, seepage to None, the vertical distance to to beneficial use of the L4762/1972 and standard operating procedures, However, further detail on groundwater causing local groundwater is more groundwater (and declining including: controls provided in Section 7.5 contamination than 50 m. health of any vegetation - Surface water management structures (such as dependent on groundwater): drains) will be installed to direct surface water Terrestrial ecosystems Given the distance to the flows around the facilities; (vegetation communities groundwater, any unplanned dependant on groundwater): - Concrete hardstand will be installed under the release of contaminated processing facilities; and None, groundwater surface water run-off to the - Potentially contaminated surface water will be dependent vegetation is not environment is not expected retained on site (directed to the oily water represented however, to seep to groundwater (or collection and treatment system) and treated to riparian communities along affect any associated remove hydrocarbons. tributaries of the Hardey terrestrial ecosystems). River and Beasley River, Appropriate design, management, inspection and characterised by Eucalyptus maintenance of processing facilities is expected to victrix (community mitigate the risk of release of contaminated surface EvAciTeCEc) or Eucalyptus water run-off to the environment during operations. camaldulensis and Eucalyptus victrix (community EcEvAci) are recognised as being of elevated local conservation significance. The nearest riparian community (EvAciTeCEc) is located more than 3.9 km from processing facilities.
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Potential Detailed Assessment Source Pathway Potential Receptors Potential Impacts Proposed Controls Consequence Likelihood Risk Rating Emissions Required?
Category 5: Operation of Discharge to Migration of contaminated Surface Water: Deterioration of surface water Processing of processing environment surface water run-off to None, the distance to the quality as a result of Ore facilities surface water causing nearest receptor (Hardey contamination (and declining contamination. River) is more than 5.8 km. health of any riparian vegetation): Terrestrial ecosystems Given the distance to the (riparian vegetation): nearest receptor, any release None, the nearest riparian of contaminated surface community (EvAciTeCEc) is water run-off is not expected located more than 3.9 km to migrate to surface water from processing facilities. (or affect any associated terrestrial ecosystems).
Hydrocarbon spill causing Land Soil contamination Hydrocarbons will be managed via the requirements Minor Rare Low Risk pathway is low, detailed soil contamination of the Works Approval, Licence L4762/1972 and assessment is not required. standard operating procedures, including: However, further detail on Seepage of hydrocarbon spill Groundwater of beneficial Groundwater contamination controls provided in Section 7.5 to groundwater causing use: with potential impacts to - Concrete hardstand will be installed under the processing facilities; contamination None, the vertical distance to beneficial use of the local groundwater is more groundwater (and declining - Potentially contaminated surface water will be than 50 m. health of any vegetation retained on site (directed to the oily water dependent on groundwater): collection and treatment system) and treated to Terrestrial ecosystems Given the vertical distance to remove hydrocarbons; (vegetation communities the groundwater, any - Provision of management structures (bunding / dependant on groundwater): hydrocarbon spills are not secondary containment) at all hydrocarbon None, the nearest riparian expected to seep to storage facilities to ensure any spills are community (EvAciTeCEc) is groundwater (or affect any contained; and located more than 3.9 km associated terrestrial - Provision of spill response. from processing facilities. ecosystems). Appropriate design, management, inspection and maintenance of fuel storage and use at the processing facilities is expected to mitigate the risk of a hydrocarbon spill during operations.
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Potential Detailed Assessment Source Pathway Potential Receptors Potential Impacts Proposed Controls Consequence Likelihood Risk Rating Emissions Required?
Category 73: Operation of Fuel storage Hydrocarbon spill causing Land Soil contamination Hydrocarbons will be managed via relevant Minor Unlikely Medium Detailed assessment provided in Fuel storage fuel storage soil contamination legislation (including Australian Standard AS 1940- Section 7.6 facilities 2004: Storage and handling of flammable and Seepage of hydrocarbon spill Groundwater of beneficial Groundwater contamination combustible liquids), the requirements of the Works to groundwater causing use: with potential impacts to Approval, Part V Licence L4762/1972 and standard contamination beneficial use of the None, the vertical distance to operating procedures including: local groundwater is more groundwater (and declining - The proposed HVRF will be located where the than 50 m. health of any vegetation dependent on groundwater): vertical distance between the facility and the Terrestrial ecosystems groundwater level is more than 50 m; Given the vertical distance to (vegetation communities the groundwater, any - The proposed HVRF will be located more than 5 dependant on groundwater): hydrocarbons spills at fuel km from the nearest surface water; None, the nearest riparian storage and refuelling - Fuel storage tanks will be designed and community (EvAciTeCEc) is facilities are not expected to constructed to AS 1940-2004: The storage and located more than 4.1 km seep to groundwater (or handling of flammable and combustible liquids; from fuel storage facilities. affect any associated - Fuel storage tanks will be above ground; terrestrial ecosystems). - Fuel storage tanks will be self-bunded; Migration of hydrocarbon spill Surface Water: Surface water contamination - Concrete hardstand will be installed under fuel to surface water causing None, the distance to the (and declining health of any storage and refuelling facilities where there is contamination nearest receptor (Hardey riparian vegetation): potential for hydrocarbon spills; River) is more than 5.5 km. Given the distance to the - Potentially contaminated surface water will be nearest receptors, any collected in sumps and directed to the oily water Terrestrial ecosystems hydrocarbon spills at fuel (riparian vegetation): collection and treatment system; storage and refuelling - Management structures (bunding / secondary None, ‘riparian Eucalypts facilities are not expected to containment) will be installed at all fuel storage along major creeks’ are not migrate to surface waters (or facilities to ensure any spills are contained; and represented however, affect any associated riparian communities along terrestrial ecosystems). - Spill response will be provided. tributaries of the Hardey Appropriate design, management, inspection and River and Beasley River, maintenance of fuel storage facilities at the HVRF is characterised by Eucalyptus expected to mitigate the risk of hydrocarbon victrix (community contamination during operations. EvAciTeCEc) or Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus victrix (community EcEvAci) are recognised as being of elevated local conservation significance. The nearest riparian community (EvAciTeCEc) is located more than 4.1 km from fuel storage facilities
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Potential Detailed Assessment Source Pathway Potential Receptors Potential Impacts Proposed Controls Consequence Likelihood Risk Rating Emissions Required?
Category 73: Operation of Refueling Hydrocarbon spill causing Land Soil contamination. Hydrocarbons will be managed via relevant Minor Unlikely Medium Detailed assessment provided in Fuel storage fuel storage soil contamination legislation (including Australian Standard AS 1940- Section 7.6 facilities 2004: Storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids), the requirements of the Works Approval, Part V Licence L4762/1972 and standard operating procedures including: - Vehicle refuelling will occur over concrete hardstand; - Concrete collection slabs will be installed under all areas at the refuelling facilities where there is the potential for hydrocarbons to be spilled; - Potentially contaminated surface water will be collected in sumps and directed to the oily water collection and treatment system; and - Spill response will be provided. Appropriate design, management, inspection and maintenance of refuelling facilities at the HVRF is expected to mitigate the risk of hydrocarbon contamination during operations.
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Potential Detailed Assessment Source Pathway Potential Receptors Potential Impacts Proposed Controls Consequence Likelihood Risk Rating Emissions Required?
Category 54: Operation of Odour Air: windborne odour Residential: Health and amenity: None, Sewage treatment facilities will be managed via the Minor Rare Low Risk pathway is low, detailed Sewage sewage emissions generated during given the distance to the assessment is not required. None, the nearest receptors requirements of the Works Approval, Part V Licence Facility treatment operation of the WWTP nearest receptor, noise However, further detail on are the residents of L4762/1972 and standard operating procedures facilities emissions are not expected controls provided in Section 6.3 Jundamunah Village located including: to affect health or amenity. more than 1.7 km from - Sewage treatment facilities will have a design sewage treatment facilities. capacity of 40 m³/day; - Cumulative volume of all effluent discharges will be recorded monthly; - Representative effluent discharge samples will be collected and analysed quarterly, - Samples will be assessed and compared against the National Water Quality Management Strategy (NWQMS), Australian Guidelines for Sewerage Systems – Effluent Management (1997) and all recorded monitoring data; and - Inspection and maintenance will be undertaken. Odour emissions should be negligible for a properly functioning sewage treatment plant. Appropriate design, management, inspection and maintenance of sewage treatment facilities is expected to mitigate the risk of odour emissions during operations.
Raw sewage Sewage spill causing soil Land Elevated nutrient levels in soil Sewage treatment facilities will be managed via the Minor Unlikely Medium Detailed assessment provided in contamination (and declining health of any requirements of the Works Approval, Part V Licence Section 6.4 Terrestrial ecosystems native vegetation) L4762/1972 and standard operating procedures including: Seepage of sewage spill to Groundwater of beneficial Groundwater contamination - Sewage treatment facilities will have a design groundwater use: with potential impacts to capacity of 40 m³/day; beneficial use of the None, the vertical distance to - Cumulative volume of all effluent discharges will groundwater (and declining local groundwater is more be recorded monthly; than 35 m. health of any vegetation dependent on groundwater): - Representative effluent discharge samples will be Terrestrial ecosystems collected and analysed quarterly; (vegetation communities Given the vertical distance to the groundwater, any sewage - Samples will be assessed and compared against dependant on groundwater): spills are not expected to the National Water Quality Management Strategy None, groundwater seep to groundwater (or (NWQMS), Australian Guidelines for Sewerage dependent vegetation is not affect any associated Systems – Effluent Management (1997) and all represented however, terrestrial ecosystems). recorded monitoring data; and riparian communities along - Inspection and maintenance will be undertaken. tributaries of Bellary Creek, characterised by Eucalyptus Appropriate design, management, inspection and maintenance of sewage treatment facilities is victrix (community expected to mitigate the risk of sewage spills during EvExAcTHtCEc) are operations. recognised as being of elevated local conservation significance. The nearest riparian community (EvExAcTHtCEc) is located more than 3.5 km from sewage treatment facilities.
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Potential Detailed Assessment Source Pathway Potential Receptors Potential Impacts Proposed Controls Consequence Likelihood Risk Rating Emissions Required?
Category 54: Operation of Raw sewage Migration of sewage spill to Surface Water: Elevated nutrient levels Sewage sewage surface water causing None, the distance to the (eutrophication) in surface Facility treatment eutrophication nearest receptor (Hardey water (and declining health of facilities River) is more than 6.2 km. any riparian vegetation / ingress or spread of weeds): Terrestrial ecosystems Given the distance to the (riparian vegetation): nearest receptors, any None, ‘riparian Eucalypts sewage spills are not along major creeks’ are not expected to migrate to represented however, surface waters (or affect any riparian communities along associated terrestrial tributaries of Bellary Creek, ecosystems). characterised by Eucalyptus victrix (community EvExAcTHtCEc) are recognised as being of elevated local conservation significance. The nearest riparian community (EvExAcTHtCEc) is located more than 3.5 km from sewage treatment facilities.
Migration of sewage spill to The Paraburdoo Water Drinking water supply None None None No risk pathway, detailed Public Drinking Water Source Reserve PDWSA intersects contamination: assessment is not required. Area (PDWSA) the Premise, however, the Given the distance to the PDWSA is located more than nearest receptor, sewage 950 m from sewage treatment facilities represent treatment facilities. no risk to the Paraburdoo Water Reserve PDWSA.
Treated Release of inadequately Land Elevated nutrient levels in soil Sewage treatment facilities will be managed via the Minor Unlikely Medium Detailed assessment provided in effluent treated effluent to the (and declining health of any requirements of the Works Approval, Part V Licence Section 6.4 environment causing soil Terrestrial ecosystems native vegetation) L4762/1972 and standard operating procedures contamination including: Seepage to groundwater Groundwater of beneficial Groundwater contamination - Sewage treatment facilities will have a design use: with potential impacts to capacity of 40 m³/day; None, the vertical distance to beneficial use of the - Cumulative volume of all effluent discharges will local groundwater is more groundwater (and declining be recorded monthly; than 35 m. health of any vegetation - Representative effluent discharge samples will be dependent on groundwater): Terrestrial ecosystems collected and analysed quarterly, Given the vertical distance to (vegetation communities - Samples will be assessed and compared against the groundwater, any dependant on groundwater): discharges are not expected the National Water Quality Management Strategy None, the nearest riparian to seep to groundwater (or (NWQMS), Australian Guidelines for Sewerage community (EvExAcTHtCEc) affect any associated Systems – Effluent Management (1997) and all is located more than 3.5 km terrestrial ecosystems). recorded monitoring data; and from sewage treatment - Inspection and maintenance will be undertaken. facilities. Appropriate design, management, monitoring, Migration of inadequately Surface Water: Elevated nutrient levels inspection and maintenance of sewage treatment treated effluent to surface None, the distance to the (eutrophication) in surface facilities is expected to mitigate the risk of discharge water causing eutrophication nearest receptor (Hardey water (and declining health of of inadequately treated effluent to the environment River) is more than 6.2 km. any riparian vegetation / during operations. ingress or spread of weeds): Terrestrial ecosystems Given the distance to the (riparian vegetation): nearest receptors, any None, the nearest riparian discharges are not expected community (EvExAcTHtCEc) to migrate to surface waters is located more than 3.5 km (or affect any associated from sewage treatment terrestrial ecosystems). facilities.
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7 Emissions, Management and Controls
The Licensee operates under an integrated Health, Safety, Environment and Communities and social (HSEC) Management System which includes processes, procedures and plans that ensure environmental controls are developed for key environmental risks, legal compliance is maintained and continuous improvement is achieved through a formal review process.
Subject to approval, the construction, commissioning and operation of the proposed facilities will be in accordance with the requirements of the HSEC Management System, the Ministerial Statement and the conditions of proposed Works Approval and subsequent Licence L4762/1972 (as amended).
7.1 Dust Emissions
7.1.1 Description of Risk Event
Construction
An increase in local dust emissions is expected during construction of the proposed facilities. Particulate dust emissions from construction activities (including clearing, wind-blown dust from cleared areas and vehicle movements on unsealed roads). However, dust from construction activities is expected to be localised and is also expected to be limited to the duration of the construction activities.
Operation
Potential dust emissions from the operations include:
wind-blown dust from cleared areas may occur in windy conditions; and
vehicle movements on unsealed roads.
No dust is expected from the operation of the proposed WWTP or fuel storage facilities. Dust generated during operation of the proposed processing facilities is expected to be limited.
Processing facilities Sources of dust include:
Ore processing at new processing facilities;
Transport of ore product within new processing facilities;
Transfer points of ore product between new processing facilities; and
Stockpiling of ore product (dust lift off from stockpile surfaces may occur in windy conditions).
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An increase in local dust emissions has the potential to adversely affect public health and amenity at dust sensitive receptors. However, the proposed facilities are remote from communities and other dust sensitive receptors. Jundamunah Village (the Tom Price mine camp) is the nearest premises located within the Prescribed Premises, but more than 1.7 km north of the proposed sewage treatment facilities. The residents of the township of Tom Price are located 700 m north of the Prescribed Premises but more than 6.0 km north of the proposed sewage treatment facilities and more than 31.0 km east of the proposed processing and fuel storage facilities. The Brockman 4, Nammuldi and West Pilbara Villages are located more than 16.8 km north of the Prescribed Premises, and more than 20.5 km north west of the proposed processing and fuel storage facilities. As such, nuisance dust is expected to have limited impact on residents. The risk to public health and amenity is considered low
Dust also has the potential to result in declining health of vegetation including reduced ability for photosynthesis due to dust deposition / smothering. However native vegetation in semi- arid environments is expected to be reasonably tolerant to dust deposition. As such, dust is expected to have a negligible impact on vegetation health in the Pilbara.
Native fauna are also potentially sensitive receptors to dust however, dust is not expected to impact habitats which represent shelter, foraging or dispersal habitat for Threatened and Priority species, given the relative distance from potential dust sources. As such, dust is expected to have a negligible impact on native fauna.
7.1.2 Proposed Environmental Controls
Rio Tinto has well established strategies for the management of dust at its Pilbara operations. Dust emissions will be managed via the requirements of the Ministerial Statement and Environmental Management Plan, the Works Approval, Licence L4762/1972 and standard operating procedures, including:
Construction
Clearing will be managed to ensure that areas are only cleared as required and rehabilitation of cleared areas is implemented as construction is completed.
Dust suppression will be implemented (including the use of water trucks, control of vehicle movements / restricted speeds) during construction.
Operation
Dust suppression will be implemented (including the use of water trucks, control of vehicle movements / restricted speeds) during operations.
Weather forecasts will be monitored, activities that have the potential to generate high dust levels may be restricted if there is a risk of windy conditions.
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Processing facilities Existing processing facilities include dust suppression and dust extraction to minimise and manage dust during processing. The following design, management, inspection and maintenance activities are proposed to be undertaken to manage potential dust emissions from the proposed processing facilities:
A dust extraction system will be installed at the crusher with dust extraction points located at the ROM bin apron feeder, the vibrating grizzly apron feeder and the primary crusher discharge chute;
Dust suppression sprays will be installed at the primary crusher discharge chute;
Load points of each conveyor include skirts or covers and dust suppression sprays;
The OLC includes a permanent cover;
Transfer points are enclosed to reduce dust emissions; and
Regular inspection and maintenance will be undertaken at processing facilities to collect and remove material that may present a potential dust risk.
Monitoring of in-situ water content in the ore product will be undertaken to inform the application of water for dust suppression in processing.
Monitoring of dust levels will also be undertaken to guide the management of dust levels to further mitigate the risk to the health and amenity of employees and residents from dust.
Appropriate design, management, monitoring, inspection and maintenance of proposed facilities is expected to mitigate the risk of dust emissions.
7.1.3 Residual Risk to the Environment
The Licensee considers that the risk to the environment from potential dust emissions from the proposed facilities is ‘low’ given the distance from dust emitting sources to potentially sensitive receptors and the proposed environmental controls to be implemented.
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7.2 Noise Emissions
7.2.1 Description of Risk Event
Construction
An increase in local noise emissions is expected during construction of the proposed facilities. However, noise from construction activities is expected to be localised, limited in comparison to noise from existing operations and is also expected to be limited to the duration of the construction activities.
Operation
No noise emissions are expected from the operation of the proposed WWTP or fuel storage facilities. However, noise will be generated during operation of the proposed processing facilities.
Processing facilities Processing facilities will operate on a continuous 24 hour basis. Sources of noise include:
Operation of new primary crushers, vibrating screens, stackers, reclaimers and train load out.
Operation of new surge bins and screens.
Operation of existing and new conveyors.
Warning alarms (irregular).
An increase in local noise emissions has the potential to affect public health and amenity at noise sensitive receptors. However, the proposed facilities are remote from communities and other noise sensitive receptors. Jundamunah Village (the Tom Price mine camp) is the nearest premises located within the Prescribed Premises, but more than 1.7 km north of the proposed sewage treatment facilities. The residents of the township of Tom Price are located 700 m north of the Prescribed Premises but more than 6.0 km north of the proposed sewage treatment facilities and more than 31.0 km east of the proposed processing and fuel storage facilities. The Brockman 4, Nammuldi and West Pilbara Villages are located more than 16.8 km north of the Prescribed Premises, and more than 20.5 km north west of the proposed processing and fuel storage facilities. These villages are Rio Tinto owned premises, located within Prescribed Premises and therefore, not required to comply with the ‘assigned levels’ for occupied premises under the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997. However, Rio Tinto has well established strategies for the management of noise at its Pilbara operations to ensure noise levels are within acceptable criteria to protect the health and amenity of the village residents. As such, noise is expected to have limited impact on residents. The risk to public health and amenity is considered low.
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Native fauna are also potentially sensitive receptors to noise, given that species forage at night, noise from the proposed facilities may disturb nocturnal foraging behaviour. However, the increase in local noise is expected to be limited at night when nocturnal native fauna are expected to be foraging, in comparison to noise during the day (such as blasting). It is also known that nocturnal native fauna forage in close proximity to mining operations elsewhere in the Pilbara. As such, noise is expected to have a negligible impact on nocturnal foraging behaviour. The risk to native fauna is considered low.
7.2.2 Proposed Environmental Controls
Rio Tinto has well established strategies for the management of noise at its Pilbara operations. Noise emissions will continue to be managed via relevant legislation (including Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997) and standard operating procedures. Specific controls are not proposed.
7.2.3 Residual Risk to the Environment
The Licensee considers that the risk to the environment from potential noise emissions from the proposed facilities is ‘low’ given the distance from noise emitting sources to potentially sensitive receptors and the proposed environmental controls to be implemented.
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7.3 Light emissions
7.3.1 Description of Risk Event
Construction
Construction activities for the proposed sewage treatment facilities are expected to be restricted to daylight hours. Construction of the proposed processing and fuel storage facilities may be undertaken at night however, light spill is expected to be localised, limited at night (when nocturnal native fauna are expected to be foraging) and are also expected to be limited to the duration of the construction activities.
Operation
Night lighting will be required for the safe operation of the proposed facilities. Light emissions generated during operation of the proposed facilities expected to result in limited spill.
Processing facilities Processing facilities will operate on a continuous 24 hour basis. Permanent night lighting will be required at the proposed processing facilities for safe work. However, light emissions from operation of the proposed processing facilities is expected to result in limited spill.
Light spill from operation of the proposed processing facilities has the potential to affect public health and amenity however, the facilities are remote from communities and other sensitive receptors. The Brockman 4, Nammuldi and West Pilbara Villages are the nearest premises, located more than 16.8 km north of the Prescribed Premises, and more than 20.5 km north west of the proposed processing and fuel storage facilities.The residents of the township of Tom Price are located 700 m north of the Prescribed Premises but more than 31.0 km east of the proposed processing and fuel storage facilities. As such, potential impacts from light spill are expected to be limited. The risk to health and amenity is considered low.
Nocturnal native fauna are also potentially sensitive receptors to light, light spill from the proposed facilities may disturb nocturnal foraging behaviour, attracting invertebrates which are a food source for many species. However, light spill is expected to be limited at night when nocturnal native fauna are expected to be foraging and will affect only a small proportion of the foraging habitat. As such, light is expected to have a negligible impact on native fauna
7.3.2 Proposed Environmental Controls
Rio Tinto has well established strategies for the management of night lighting at its Pilbara operations to ensure light levels are within acceptable criteria to protect the health and amenity of residents. Light spill will continue to be managed via standard operating procedures including:
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Lighting design in areas that require permanent night lighting will ensure light is directed to work areas and minimal light spill occurs (including use of directional lighting and covered lenses).
Appropriate design, management, inspection and maintenance of lighting at proposed processing facilities is expected to mitigate the risk of light spill during operations.
7.3.3 Residual Risk to the Environment
The Licensee considers that the residual risk to the environment from potential light emissions from the proposed facilities is ‘low’ given the distance from light emitting sources to potentially sensitive receptors and the proposed environmental controls to be implemented.
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7.4 Odour Emissions
7.4.1 Description of Risk Event
Construction
No odour emissions are expected from the construction of the proposed processing, fuel storage or sewage treatment facilities.
Operation
No odour emissions are expected from the operation of the proposed processing or fuel storage facilities. Odour emissions during operations should be negligible for a properly functioning sewage treatment plant.
Sewage treatment facilities Any odour emissions from the proposed WWTPs have the potential to affect public health and amenity, however, the facilities are remote from communities and other odour sensitive receptors. Jundamunah Village (the Tom Price mine camp) is the nearest premises located within the Prescribed Premises, but more than 1.7 km north of the proposed sewage treatment facilities. The residents of the township of Tom Price are located 700 m north of the Prescribed Premises but more than 6.0 km north of the proposed sewage treatment facilities. As such, odour is expected to have limited impact on residents. The risk to public health and amenity is considered low.
7.4.2 Proposed Environmental Controls
Odour emissions should be negligible for properly functioning sewage treatment facilities. The following design, management, monitoring, inspection and maintenance activities are proposed to be undertaken to manage potential odour emissions from the proposed sewage treatment facilities:
Sewage treatment facilities will have a design capacity of 40 m³/day;
The cumulative volume of all effluent discharges will be recorded monthly;
Representative effluent discharge samples will be collected and analysed quarterly;
Samples will be assessed and compared against the NWQMS Australian Guidelines for Sewerage Systems – Effluent Management (1997) and all recorded monitoring data;
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NWQMS Guidelines
Parameter Frequency
Biochemical Oxygen Demand < 30 mg/L
Total Suspended Solids < 40 mg/L
pH 6.5 - 8.5
Total Nitrogen < 50 mg/L
Total Phosphorus < 12 mg/L
Faecal coliforms (E.coli) 10 cfu/100mL
Inspection and preventative maintenance will be undertaken.
Appropriate design, management, monitoring, inspection and maintenance of the facility will mitigate the risk of odour emissions.
7.4.3 Residual Risk to the Environment
The Licensee considers that the risk to the environment from potential odour emissions from the proposed facilities is ‘low’ given the distance from odour emitting sources to potentially sensitive receptors and the proposed environmental controls to be implemented.
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7.5 Discharges to the Environment
7.5.1 Description of Risk Event
Construction
No contaminated discharges to the environment are expected during construction of the proposed processing, fuel storage or sewage treatment facilities. However, hydrocarbon spills from fuel storage or refuelling during construction could cause contamination of soil, seepage to groundwater, migration to surface waters and declining health of any dependant vegetation. Any hydrocarbon spills are expected to be limited owing to the small volumes and limited duration of hydrocarbons stored and used during construction. The risk to soil and groundwater is therefore considered low.
Operation
No contaminated discharges to the environment are expected during operations, however, unplanned releases or spills from the proposed processing, fuel storage or sewage treatment facilities could cause contamination of soil, seepage to groundwater, migration to surface waters and declining health of any dependant vegetation.
Processing facilities Operation of the proposed processing facilities could potentially result in sediment laden or hydrocarbon contaminated surface water run-off to the environment. Sediment laden surface water run-off could migrate to surface waters, causing deterioration of surface water quality as a result of sedimentation and declining health of any riparian vegetation. Hydrocarbon contaminated surface water run-off could cause contamination of soil, seep to groundwater or migrate to surface waters.
However, the proposed processing facilities will be located where the vertical distance to groundwater is more than 50 m and where the distance to the nearest surface water, the Hardey River, is more than 5.8 km. ‘Riparian Eucalypts along major creeks’ are not represented however, riparian communities along tributaries of the Hardey River and Beasley River, characterised by Eucalyptus victrix (community EvAciTeCEc) or Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus victrix (community EcEvAci) are recognised as being of elevated local conservation significance. The nearest riparian community (EvAciTeCEc) is located more than 3.9 km from processing facilities.
Given the distance to the nearest receptors (depth to groundwater, distance to the nearest surface water, the absence of permanent or semi-permanent pools, distance to riparian communities), unplanned releases of sediment laden or hydrocarbon contaminated surface water run-off are not expected to seep to groundwater, migrate to surface water or affect any associated riparian communities. The risk to groundwater quality, surface water quality and any associated terrestrial ecosystems is therefore considered low.
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Fuel storage facilities Fuel storage and refuelling during operation of the proposed HVRF could potentially result in a hydrocarbon spill. A hydrocarbon spill could cause contamination of soil, seep to groundwater or migrate to surface waters.
However, the proposed fuel storage and refuelling facilities will be located where the vertical distance to groundwater is more than 50 m below ground level and where the distance to the nearest surface water, the Hardey River, is more than 5.5 km. ‘Riparian Eucalypts along major creeks’ are not represented however, riparian communities along tributaries of the Hardey River and Beasley River, characterised by Eucalyptus victrix (community EvAciTeCEc) or Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus victrix (community EcEvAci) are recognised as being of elevated local conservation significance. The nearest riparian community (EvAciTeCEc) is located more than 4.1 km from fuel storage facilities.
Given the distance to the nearest receptors (depth to groundwater, distance to the nearest surface water, the absence of permanent or semi-permanent pools, distance to riparian communities), hydrocarbon spills are not expected to seep to groundwater, migrate to surface water or affect any associated riparian communities. The risk to groundwater quality, surface water quality and any associated terrestrial ecosystems is therefore considered medium.
Sewage treatment facilities Operation of the proposed sewage treatment facilities could potentially result in a spill of untreated sewage or discharge of inadequately treated effluent. A spill or discharge of inadequately treated effluent could result in contamination or elevated nutrient levels in soil with potential seepage to groundwater. Migration of a sewage spill could also result in contamination or elevated nutrient levels (eutrophication) in surface water. Elevated nutrient levels in surface water could impact vegetation / result in the ingress or spread of weeds.
However, the proposed sewage treatment facilities will be located where the vertical distance to local groundwater is more than 35 m and where the distance to the nearest (ephemeral) surface water, the Hardey River, is more than 6.2 km. ‘Riparian Eucalypts along major creeks’ are not represented however, riparian communities along tributaries of Bellary Creek, characterised by Eucalyptus victrix (community EvExAcTHtCEc) are recognised as being of elevated local conservation significance. The nearest riparian community (EvExAcTHtCEc) is located more than 3.5 km from sewage treatment facilities.
Given the distance to the nearest receptors (depth to groundwater, distance to the nearest surface water, the absence of permanent or semi-permanent pools, distance to riparian communities), sewage spills are not expected to seep to groundwater, migrate to surface water or affect any associated riparian communities. The risk to groundwater quality, surface water quality and any associated terrestrial ecosystems is therefore considered medium.
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7.5.2 Proposed Environmental Controls
Rio Tinto has well established strategies for the management of contaminated discharges at its Pilbara operations. Potential discharges will be managed via the requirements of the Ministerial Statement and Environmental Management Plan, the Works Approval, Licence L4762/1972 and standard operating procedures, including:
Construction
Diversion of surface water around work areas.
Potentially contaminated surface water will be retained on site.
Provision of bunding / secondary containment at all fuel storage facilities to ensure any spills are contained.
Provision of spill response.
Operation
Surface water management structures (such as diversion bunds and drains) will be installed to direct surface water around the proposed facilities.
Potentially sediment laden surface water will be retained on site to allow for sedimentation before being discharged.
Potentially contaminated surface water will be retained on site and treated to remove hydrocarbons.
Provision of management structures (bunding / secondary containment) at all fuel storage and refuelling facilities across the operations to ensure any spills are contained.
Provision of spill response.
Processing facilities The following design, management, inspection and maintenance activities are proposed to be undertaken to manage potentially contaminated discharges from the proposed processing facilities: Concrete hardstand (with associated sumps and oily water collection and treatment system) will be installed under the proposed processing facilities where there is potential for sediment or hydrocarbon contaminated surface water. Potentially sediment laden surface water will be directed to sedimentation ponds. Potentially contaminated surface water will be directed to the oily water collection and treatment system.
Appropriate design, management, inspection and maintenance at proposed processing facilities is expected to mitigate the risk of contaminated discharges during operations.
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Fuel storage facilities The following design, management, inspection and maintenance activities are proposed to be undertaken to manage potentially contaminated discharges from the proposed HVRF:
Location:
The proposed HVRF will be located where the vertical distance between the facility and the groundwater level is more than 50 m;
The proposed HVRF will be located more than 5 km from the nearest surface water;
Hydrocarbon management:
Fuel storage tanks will be above ground;
Fuel storage tanks will be self-bunded;
Concrete hardstand (with associated sumps and oily water collection and treatment system) will be installed under the proposed fuel storage and refuelling facilities where there is potential for hydrocarbon spills;
Potentially contaminated surface water will be directed to the oily water collection and treatment system; and
The oily water treatment system will be designed to achieve a TRH concentration below 15 mg/L in treated water.
Appropriate design, management (including provision of management structures to ensure any spills are contained and provision of spill response), inspection and maintenance are expected to effectively mitigate the risk of hydrocarbon spills during operation of the fuel storage and refuelling facilities.
Sewage treatment facilities The following design, management, monitoring, inspection and maintenance activities are proposed to be undertaken to manage potentially contaminated discharges from the proposed sewage treatment facilities:
Sewage treatment facilities will have a design capacity of 40 m³/day;
The cumulative volume of all effluent discharges will be recorded monthly;
Representative effluent discharge samples will be collected and analysed quarterly;
Samples will be assessed and compared against the NWQMS Australian Guidelines for Sewerage Systems – Effluent Management (1997) and all recorded monitoring data.
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NWQMS Guidelines
Parameter Frequency
Biochemical Oxygen Demand < 30 mg/L
Total Suspended Solids < 40 mg/L
pH 6.5 - 8.5
Total Nitrogen < 50 mg/L
Total Phosphorus < 12 mg/L
Faecal coliforms (E.coli) 10 cfu/100mL
Inspection and preventative maintenance will be undertaken.
Appropriate design, management, monitoring, inspection and maintenance activities are expected to effectively mitigate the risk of sewage spills or discharge of treated effluent resulting in elevated nutrient levels in soil or groundwater, migration to surface water or impact to vegetation / ingress or spread of weeds of during operation of the proposed sewage treatment facilities.
7.5.3 Residual Risk to the Environment
The Licensee considers that the residual risk to the environment from potentially contaminated discharges (soil contamination, seepage to groundwater or migration to surface waters) from the proposed facilities is ‘low’ given the distance from sources to potentially sensitive receptors and the proposed environmental controls to be implemented.
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7.6 Hydrocarbons
7.6.1 Description of Risk Event
Construction
In addition to permanent diesel storage, there will be two temporary 52 kL fuel storage tanks on site for construction activities. Hydrocarbons used during construction will be stored in the contractor laydown work areas, secondarily contained in bunded storage areas. Hydrocarbon spills from fuel storage and refuelling during construction of the proposed facilities have the potential to cause soil contamination and seepage to groundwater however, spills are expected to be limited owing to the small volumes and limited duration of hydrocarbons stored and used during construction. The risk to soil and groundwater is therefore considered low.
Operation
No hydrocarbon emissions are expected from the operation of the proposed processing, fuel storage or sewage treatment facilities.
There will be three permanent 200 kL fuel storage tanks located within the HVRF to support the mining fleet during operations. Fuel storage and refuelling during operation of the proposed HVRF could potentially result in a hydrocarbon spill. A hydrocarbon spill could cause soil contamination, seepage to groundwater or migration to surface waters. However, spills are expected to be limited owing to the management of fuel storage facilities.
The proposed HVRF will be located where the vertical distance to groundwater is more than 50 m below ground level and where the distance to the nearest (ephemeral) surface water, the Hardey River, is more than 5.5 km. ‘Riparian Eucalypts along major creeks’ are not represented however, riparian communities along tributaries of the Hardey River and Beasley River, characterised by Eucalyptus victrix (community EvAciTeCEc) or Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus victrix (community EcEvAci) are recognised as being of elevated local conservation significance. The nearest riparian community (EvAciTeCEc) is located more than 4.1 km from fuel storage facilities.
Given the distance to the nearest receptors (depth to groundwater, distance to the nearest surface water, the absence of permanent or semi-permanent pools, distance to riparian communities), hydrocarbon spills are not expected to seep to groundwater, migrate to surface water or affect any associated riparian communities. The risk to groundwater quality, surface water quality and any associated terrestrial ecosystems is therefore considered low.
7.6.2 Proposed Environmental Controls
Rio Tinto has well established strategies for the management of hydrocarbons at its Pilbara operations. Existing hydrocarbon management within the Prescribed Premises is not expected to change as a result of the construction or operation of the proposed facilities.
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Any hydrocarbons used during construction and operation will be managed via other relevant legislation (including AS 1940-2004: Storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids), the requirements of the Works Approval, Licence L4762/1972 and standard operating procedures, including:
Vehicle refuelling will occur over a concrete hardstand or compacted, lined earthen pad (with the exception of field based refuelling where a drip tray will be used);
Fuel storage tanks will be designed and constructed to AS 1940-2004: The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids;
Concrete hardstand or compacted, lined earthen pads will be installed under all fuel storage and refuelling facilities where there is potential for hydrocarbon spills;
Management structures (bunding / secondary containment) will be installed at all fuel storage and refuelling facilities to ensure any spills are contained; and
Spill response will be provided.
Fuel storage facilities Specific controls for managing fuel storage and refuelling in the proposed HVRF will include:
Location:
The proposed HVRF will be located where the vertical distance between the facility and the groundwater level is more than 50 m;
The proposed HVRF will be located more than 5 km from the nearest surface water;
Hydrocarbon management:
Fuel storage tanks will be above ground;
Fuel storage tanks will be self-bunded;
Concrete hardstand (with associated sumps and oily water collection and treatment system) will be installed under the proposed fuel storage and refuelling facilities where there is potential for hydrocarbon spills;
Potentially contaminated surface water will be directed to the oily water collection and treatment system; and
The oily water treatment system will be designed to achieve a TRH concentration below 15 mg/L in treated water.
Appropriate design, management, inspection and maintenance of fuel storage and refuelling at the proposed HVRF is expected to mitigate the risk of hydrocarbon contamination.
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7.6.3 Residual Risk to the Environment
The Licensee considers that the residual risk to the environment from potential hydrocarbon spills is ‘low’ given the distance from fuel storage and refuelling sources to potentially sensitive receptors and the proposed environmental controls to be implemented.
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7.7 Solid / Liquid Wastes
7.7.1 Description of Risk Event
Construction
General wastes generated from the construction of the proposed facilities are expected to be limited. Any construction wastes will be disposed of to existing, approved landfill facilities.
Operation
General wastes generated from the operation of the proposed facilities are also expected to be limited. General wastes, if inappropriately managed, have the potential increase windblown litter which has the potential to affect public health and amenity however, the facilities are remote from communities and other sensitive receptors. Jundamunah Village (the Tom Price mine camp) is the nearest premises located within the Prescribed Premises, but more than 1.7 km north of the proposed sewage treatment facilities. The residents of the township of Tom Price are located 700 m north of the Prescribed Premises but more than 6.0 km north of the proposed sewage treatment facilities and more than 31.0 km east of the proposed processing and fuel storage facilities. The Brockman 4, Nammuldi and West Pilbara Villages are located more than 16.8 km north of the Prescribed Premises, and more than 20.5 km north west of the proposed processing and fuel storage facilities. As such, any wastes generated during operation on residents are expected to be limited.
Operation of the proposed sewage treatment facilities could potentially result in a spill of untreated sewage or discharge of inadequately treated effluent. A spill or discharge of inadequately treated effluent could result in contamination or elevated nutrient levels in soil with potential seepage to groundwater. Migration of a sewage spill could also result in contamination or elevated nutrient levels (eutrophication) in surface water. Elevated nutrient levels in surface water could impact vegetation / result in the ingress or spread of weeds (which can result in replacement of native species and simplification of natural ecosystems).
However, the proposed sewage treatment facilities will be located where the vertical distance to local groundwater is more than 35 m and where the distance to the nearest (ephemeral) surface water, the Hardey River, is more than 6.2 km. ‘Riparian Eucalypts along major creeks’ are not represented however, riparian communities along tributaries of Bellary Creek, characterised by Eucalyptus victrix (community EvExAcTHtCEc) are recognised as being of elevated local conservation significance. The nearest riparian community (EvExAcTHtCEc) is located more than 3.5 km from sewage treatment facilities.
Given the distance to the nearest receptors (depth to groundwater, distance to the nearest surface water, the absence of permanent or semi-permanent pools, distance to riparian communities), sewage spills are not expected to seep to groundwater, migrate to surface water or affect any associated riparian communities. The risk to groundwater quality, surface water quality and any associated terrestrial ecosystems is therefore considered low.
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7.7.2 Proposed Environmental Controls
Rio Tinto has well established strategies for the management of general wastes at its Pilbara operations. Any general wastes generated during the construction, commissioning or operation of the proposed facilities will be managed via standard operating procedures including:
Sufficient recycling and general waste collection areas will be established and labelled with the relevant waste type to facilitate the management of waste.
Recyclable materials will be separated from other waste and recycled wherever possible.
Non-recyclable materials will be disposed of at a licenced landfill facility.
Appropriate design, management, inspection and maintenance of the proposed facilities is expected to mitigate the risk of wastes during operations.
Sewage treatment facilities The following monitoring, inspection and maintenance activities are proposed to be undertaken to ensure that the proposed treatment of sewage and discharge of treated effluent does not result in elevated nutrient levels in soil or groundwater, migration to surface water or impact to vegetation / ingress or spread of weeds:
Sewage treatment facilities will have a design capacity of 40 m³/day;
The cumulative volume of all effluent discharges will be recorded monthly;
Representative effluent discharge samples will be collected and analysed quarterly;
Samples will be assessed and compared against the NWQMS Australian Guidelines for Sewerage Systems – Effluent Management (1997) and all recorded monitoring data.
NWQMS Guidelines
Parameter Frequency
Biochemical Oxygen Demand < 30 mg/L
Total Suspended Solids < 40 mg/L
pH 6.5 - 8.5
Total Nitrogen < 50 mg/L
Total Phosphorus < 12 mg/L
Faecal coliforms (E.coli) 10 cfu/100mL
Inspection and preventative maintenance will be undertaken.
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Appropriate design, management, monitoring, inspection and maintenance activities are expected to effectively mitigate the risk of sewage spills or discharge of treated effluent resulting in elevated nutrient levels in soil or groundwater, migration to surface water or impact to vegetation / ingress or spread of weeds of during operation of the proposed sewage treatment facilities.
7.7.3 Residual Risk to the Environment
The Licensee considers that the residual risk to the environment from potential wastes is ‘low’ given the distance to potentially sensitive receptors and the proposed environmental controls to be implemented.
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7.8 Flora and Fauna
The prescribed activities will be located within pre-disturbed areas wherever possible, however new clearing may be required for the construction of some of the proposed facilities.
The clearing of up to 4,350 ha has been assessed via Part IV of the EP Act, with clearing for the proposed processing and fuel storage facilities that are the subject of this Works Approval application being covered by the existing Ministerial Statement for Western Turner Syncline.
The clearing of up to 824 ha has been assessed via Part V of the EP Act, with clearing for the proposed sewage treatment facilities that are the subject of this Works Approval application being covered by the existing Clearing Permit for Tom Price.
Vegetation, Flora and Fauna surveys have been undertaken across the Greater Tom Price region since 1990. The combined coverage of these surveys has enabled a detailed understanding of the environment and a considerable reference for the distribution of species in the area. The surveys have identified:
‘Riparian Eucalypts along major creeks’ are not represented however, riparian communities along tributaries of Bellary Creek, the Hardey River and Beasley River, characterised by Eucalyptus victrix (communities EvExAcTHtCEc and EvAciTeCEc) or Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus victrix (community EcEvAci) are recognised as being of elevated local conservation significance;
three P1 species (Goodenia pedicellata, Eucalyptus lucens and Hibiscus sp. Mt Brockman), one P2 species (Indigofera ixocarpa), fourteen P3 species (Amaranthus centralis, Cyanthillium gracile, Dampiera anonyma, Eremophila magnifica subsp. velutina, Geijera salicifolia, Goodenia sp. East Pilbara, Grevillea saxicola, Indigofera sp. Bungaroo Creek, Lepidium catapycnon, Olearia mucronata, Ptilotus subspinescens, Rostellularia adscendens var. latifolia, Sida sp. Barlee Range and Sida sp. Hamersley Range) and three P4 species (Acacia bromilowiana, Eremophila magnifica subsp. Magnifica and Goodenia nuda);
Habitats considered to be of high local conservation significance; ‘gorges, breakaways and gullies’ and ‘creeks’;
Threatened fauna including the Pilbara Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus barroni), Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia) and Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas); and
Other species of conservation significance including the Lined Soil-crevice Skink (Notoscincus butleri) and the Western Pebble-mound Mouse (Pseudomys chapmani).
None of the vegetation communities considered to be of elevated local conservation significance, Priority flora, fauna habitats considered to be of high local conservation significance or Threatened fauna have been recorded or are expected to occur within or near the proposed locations of any of the prescribed activities.
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8 Rehabilitation and Closure
Closure plans document the most up to date closure knowledge base for the operation, outline the objectives that need to be met upon closure, set out the strategies to achieve the closure objectives and the criteria that will be used to assess the success of closure.
The existing Tom Price and Western Turner Syncline Closure Plans follow the format and content requirements for mine closure plans as recommended in the DMIRS (formerly the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP)) / EPA Guidelines for preparing mine closure plans (2015).
Closure of the proposed facilities that are the subject of this Works Approval application, consistent with the requirements of the existing Closure Plans, will ensure that on completion of the required operations, the following closure objectives are met:
Final landforms are stable and consider ecological and hydrological issues;
Public safety hazards have been appropriately managed; and
Contamination risks have been appropriately managed.
The Closure Plans will continue to be refined as the site approaches closure to ensure that the objectives to which it is working towards remain relevant and aligned to stakeholder expectations, and to revise its strategies and plans where appropriate to achieve improved closure outcomes.
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9 Project Costs
Estimated project costs for the proposed facilities that are the subject of this this Works Approval application are detailed in Table 9-1.
Table 9-1: Estimated Project Costs
Description Cost
Processing facilities $ 212 million
Fuel storage and refuelling facilities $ 13.6 million
Sewage treatment facilities $ 140,000
Total Cost (excl. GST) $ 225.74 million
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10 Summary of Controls
Key Emissions Potential impacts Proposed Controls Section
Dust An increase in local dust emissions is expected from Clearing will be managed to ensure that areas are only cleared as required and rehabilitation of cleared areas 7.1 construction (including clearing and wind-blown dust is implemented as construction is completed. from cleared areas) and operation (including Dust suppression will be implemented (including the use of water trucks, control of vehicle movements / processing, transport and stockpiling of ore). restricted speeds). Dust has the potential to adversely affect public health Weather forecasts will be monitored, activities that have the potential to generate high dust levels may be and amenity at dust sensitive receptors. restricted if there is a risk of windy conditions. Specific controls for managing dust generated from processing facilities include: Dust has the potential to result in declining health of A dust extraction system will be installed at the crusher with dust extraction points located at the ROM bin vegetation including reduced ability for photosynthesis apron feeder, the vibrating grizzly apron feeder and the primary crusher discharge chute. due to dust deposition / smothering. Dust suppression sprays will be installed at the primary crusher discharge chute. Dust has the potential to impact habitats which Load points of each conveyor include skirts or covers and dust suppression sprays. represent shelter, foraging and dispersal habitats for native fauna. The OLC includes a permanent cover. Transfer points are enclosed to reduce dust emissions. Regular inspection and maintenance will be undertaken at processing facilities to collect and remove material that may present a potential dust risk. Monitoring of in-situ water content in the ore product will be undertaken to inform the application of water for dust suppression in processing. Monitoring of dust levels will also be undertaken to guide the management of dust levels to further mitigate the risk to the health and amenity of employees from dust.
Noise An increase in local noise emissions is expected from Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 and standard operating procedures are expected to 7.2 construction and operation (including processing and effectively mitigate the risk of noise during construction. Specific controls are not proposed. transport of ore and warning alarms). Noise has the potential to affect public health and amenity at noise sensitive receptors.
Noise may also disturb nocturnal foraging behaviour of native fauna.
Light Light spill from night lighting required during Lighting design in areas that require permanent night lighting will ensure light is directed to work areas and 7.3 construction and operation has the potential to affect minimal light spill occurs (including use of directional lighting and covered lenses). public health and amenity.
Light spill may also disturb nocturnal foraging behaviour of native fauna.
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Key Emissions Potential impacts Proposed Controls Section
Odour Odour generated during operation of sewage Specific controls for managing odour generated from sewage treatment facilities include: 7.4 treatment facilities has the potential to affect public Sewage treatment facilities will have a design capacity of 40 m³/day. health and amenity. The cumulative volume of all effluent discharges will be recorded monthly. Representative effluent discharge samples will be collected and analysed quarterly. Samples will be assessed and compared against the NWQMS Australian Guidelines for Sewerage Systems – Effluent Management (1997) and all recorded monitoring data. Inspection and preventative maintenance will be undertaken.
Discharges to the Unplanned releases or spills from processing, fuel Surface water management structures (such as diversion bunds and drains) will be installed to direct surface 7.5 environment storage or sewage treatment facilities during water around the proposed facilities. construction or operation could cause contamination Potentially sediment laden surface water will be retained on site to allow for sedimentation. of soil, seepage to groundwater, migration to surface waters and declining health of any dependant Potentially contaminated surface water will be retained on site and treated to remove hydrocarbons. vegetation. Provision of management structures (bunding / secondary containment) at all fuel storage and refuelling facilities to ensure any spills are contained. Provision of spill response.
Operation of processing facilities could potentially Specific controls for managing contaminated discharges from processing facilities include: result in sediment laden or hydrocarbon contaminated Concrete hardstand (with associated sumps and oily water collection and treatment system) will be surface water run-off to the environment. installed under the proposed processing facilities where there is potential for sediment or hydrocarbon contaminated surface water. Potentially sediment laden surface water will be directed to sedimentation ponds. Potentially contaminated surface water will be directed to the oily water collection and treatment system.
Hydrocarbon spills from fuel storage or refuelling Specific controls for managing contaminated discharges from fuel storage facilities include: during operation of fuel storage facilities could cause Fuel storage tanks will be above ground. contamination of soil, seepage to groundwater, migration to surface waters and declining health of Fuel storage tanks will be self-bunded. any dependant vegetation. Concrete hardstand (with associated sumps and oily water collection and treatment system) will be installed under the proposed fuel storage and refuelling facilities where there is potential for hydrocarbon spills. Potentially contaminated surface water will be directed to the oily water collection and treatment system. The oily water treatment system will be designed to achieve a TRH concentration below 15 mg/L in treated water.
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Key Emissions Potential impacts Proposed Controls Section
Discharges to the Operation of sewage treatment facilities could Specific controls for managing contaminated discharges from sewage treatment facilities include: 7.5 environment potentially result in a spill of untreated sewage or Sewage treatment facilities will have a design capacity of 40 m³/day. discharge of inadequately treated effluent. Which could result in contamination or elevated nutrient The cumulative volume of all effluent discharges will be recorded monthly. levels in soil and seepage to groundwater. Migration Representative effluent discharge samples will be collected and analysed quarterly. of a sewage spill could also result in contamination or Samples will be assessed and compared against the NWQMS Australian Guidelines for Sewerage elevated nutrient levels (eutrophication) in surface Systems – Effluent Management (1997) and all recorded monitoring data. water and could impact vegetation / result in the ingress or spread of weeds Inspection and preventative maintenance will be undertaken.
Hydrocarbons Hydrocarbon spills from fuel storage or refuelling Vehicle refuelling will occur over a concrete hardstand or compacted, lined earthen pad (with the exception of 7.6 during construction or operation of fuel storage field based refuelling where a drip tray will be used). facilities could cause contamination of soil, seepage to Fuel storage tanks will be designed and constructed to AS 1940-2004: The storage and handling of groundwater, migration to surface waters and flammable and combustible liquids. declining health of any dependant vegetation Fuel storage tanks will be above ground. Fuel storage tanks will be self-bunded. Concrete hardstand (with associated sumps and oily water collection and treatment system) will be installed under the proposed fuel storage and refuelling facilities where there is potential for hydrocarbon spills. Management structures (bunding / secondary containment) will be installed at all fuel storage and refuelling facilities to ensure any spills are contained. Potentially contaminated surface water will be directed to the oily water collection and treatment system. The oily water treatment system will be designed to achieve a TRH concentration below 15 mg/L in treated water Spill response will be provided.
Wastes General wastes, if inappropriately managed, have the Sufficient recycling and general waste collection areas will be established and labelled with the relevant waste 7.7 potential increase windblown litter which has the type to facilitate the management of waste. potential to affect public health and amenity Recyclable materials will be separated from other waste and recycled wherever possible. Non-recyclable materials will be disposed of at a licenced landfill facility
Operation of sewage treatment facilities could Specific controls for managing wastes generated from sewage treatment facilities include: potentially result in a spill of untreated sewage or Sewage treatment facilities will have a design capacity of 40 m³/day. discharge of inadequately treated effluent which could result in contamination or elevated nutrient levels in The cumulative volume of all effluent discharges will be recorded monthly. soil with potential seepage to groundwater. Migration Representative effluent discharge samples will be collected and analysed quarterly. of a sewage spill could also result in contamination or Samples will be assessed and compared against the NWQMS Australian Guidelines for Sewerage elevated nutrient levels (eutrophication) in surface Systems – Effluent Management (1997) and all recorded monitoring data. water and could impact vegetation / result in the ingress or spread of weeds. Inspection and preventative maintenance will be undertaken.
87 Appendix A - Indicative Jaw Crusher and Screening Plant TRANSPORT & WORKING 15.7M (51’ 6”)
15.5M (50’ 10”)
2.6M (8’ 6”) 4.6M (15’ 1”) J-1160J-1170 3.4M (11’ 2”) 3.4M (11’ 3.9M (12’ 9”) 3.9M (12’ The Terex Finlay J-1160 is a compact and aggressive KEY FEATURES tracked mobile primary jaw crusher. Incorporating the The robust high performance hydrostatic driven single WEIGHT Terex Jaques JW40 jaw crusher a heavy duty VGF feeder toggle jaw chamber provides high capacity with large 35,350KG (77,930LBS) and an integrated prescreen system the Terex Finlay reduction ratio’s. (WITH TWIN POLE MAGNET, DIRT CONVEYOR AND HOPPER EXTENSIONS) J-1160 gives optimum production in quarrying, mining, demolition and recycling applications. Automatic variable speed VGF ensures continuous choke feeding of the crushing chamber for optimal Its compact size, quick set up times, ease of transport productivity. and user friendly operational features make the Finlay High powered hydrostatic drive ensures precise J-1160 ideal for all sized operators. chamber controls and reverse functionality for clearing blockages and assisting in demolition and recycling applications.
Fully hydraulic adjustable closed side setting minimises downtime and offers quick adjustment. TEREX Jaw Crusher Components TRANSPORT & WORKING
14.8M (48’ 8”) 3M (9’ 10”) 3.4M (11’ 2”) 3.4M (11’
14.8M (48’ 8”) 4M (13’ 1”) 4M (13’
12.6M (41’ 4”) 883+
*SHOWING TELESCOPIC SIDE CONVEYOR OPTION The high performance Terex Finlay 883+ is designed to KEY FEATURES work after a primary crusher or on it’s own as a frontline tracked mobile screening machine. Applications include Aggressive screen box can accept bofor bars, speed- WEIGHT harps woven mesh, punch plate, tines and cascade 31,000KG (68,340LBS) quarrying, mining construction and demolition debris, fingers. (STANDARD MACHINE CONFIGURATION) topsoil, recycling, sand, gravel, coal and aggregates. The plant has the capacity to process at a rate of up to 500 Modular configuration screen box with 4.8m x 1.5m tonnes per hour and can be fed either by a tracked mobile (16’ x 5’) top deck and bottom deck screen. crusher or an excavator. Screen box angle can be hydraulically adjusted to an angle between 13º to 19º. Now available with dual power technology option. On- board electrical motors allow flexibility to run from an Screen box discharge end can be hydraulically raised 500mm to facilitate efficient and easy media access outside power supply or standard on-board engine. and changing.
All stockpiling conveyors are hydraulic angle adjust- able.