Cape Lambert Port B Development ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING DOCUMENT 26 June 2008 Cape Lambert Port B Development ENVIRONMENTAL SCOPING DOCUMENT 26 June 2008 Sinclair Knight Merz 7th Floor, Durack Centre 263 Adelaide Terrace PO Box H615 Perth WA 6001 Australia Tel: +61 8 9268 4400 Fax: +61 8 9268 4488 Web: www.skmconsulting.com LIMITATION: This report has been prepared on behalf of and for the exclusive use of Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Ltd’s Client, and is subject to and issued in connection with the provisions of the agreement between Sinclair Knight Merz and its Client. Sinclair Knight Merz accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for or in respect of any use of or reliance upon this report by any third party. The SKM logo is a trade mark of Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Ltd. © Sinclair Knight Merz Pty Ltd, 2006 Cape Lambert Port B Development Environmental Scoping Document Contents 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Purpose of Environmental Scoping Document 1 1.3 Identification of Proponent 2 1.4 Existing Facilities 3 1.5 Project Justification and local context 3 1.6 Early Works 4 2. Summary of Proposal 5 2.1 Proposal Outline 5 2.2 Approvals Strategy 5 2.3 Key Project Characteristics 5 2.4 Stockyard Management 6 2.5 Ore Delivery Systems 6 2.6 Wharf Works 6 2.7 Dredging Program 7 2.8 Services and Utilities 7 2.8.1 Support and Infrastructure Facilities 7 2.8.2 Water Supply 7 2.9 Alternatives Considered 8 3. Applicable Legislation 9 3.1 Western Australian Legislation 9 3.2 Commonwealth Legislation 9 4. Regional Setting 10 4.1 Climate 10 4.2 Geology and Soil 10 4.3 Physiographic Context 10 4.3.1 Landforms 10 4.3.2 Land systems 11 4.4 Marine Environment 11 4.5 Hydrology 13 4.6 Hydrogeology 13 4.7 Biological Context 13 4.7.1 Flora and Vegetation 13 4.7.2 Fauna 15 4.8 Land Tenure 17 4.9 Surrounding Land Uses 17 4.10 Heritage 18 4.10.1 Aboriginal Heritage 18 4.10.2 European Heritage 18 SINCLAIR KNIGHT MERZ PAGE i Cape Lambert Port B Development Environmental Scoping Document 5. Environmental Issues and Management 19 5.1 Principles of Environmental Protection 19 5.2 Environmental Management 20 6. Scope of Work for Public Environmental Review 25 6.1 Air Quality (Dust) 25 6.1.1 Purpose 25 6.1.2 Scope 25 6.2 Noise 25 6.2.1 Purpose 25 6.2.2 Scope 26 6.3 Light Spill 26 6.3.1 Purpose 26 6.3.2 Scope 26 6.4 Climate Change 27 6.4.1 Purpose 27 6.5 Vegetation and Flora 27 6.5.1 Purpose 27 6.5.2 Scope 27 6.6 Fauna 28 6.6.1 Sea Turtles 28 6.6.2 Terrestrial 29 6.7 Dredging and Spoil Disposal Studies 30 6.7.1 Purpose 30 6.7.2 Scope 30 6.8 Marine Water Quality 35 6.8.1 Purpose 35 6.8.2 Scope 35 6.9 Stormwater Management 35 6.9.1 Purpose 35 6.9.2 Scope 36 6.10 Water Resources 36 6.10.1 Purpose 36 6.10.2 Scope 36 6.11 Aboriginal Heritage 36 6.11.1 Purpose 36 6.11.2 Scope 36 6.12 Visual Amenity/Landscape 37 6.12.1 Purpose 37 6.12.2 Scope 37 6.13 Soils and Landforms 38 6.13.1 Purpose 38 6.13.2 Scope 38 6.14 Traffic 38 6.14.1 Purpose 38 SINCLAIR KNIGHT MERZ PAGEii Cape Lambert Port B Development Environmental Scoping Document 6.14.2 Scope 38 6.15 Minor Environmental Factors 39 6.16 Preparation of the PER 39 6.17 Environmental Offsets 39 7. Stakeholder Consultation 40 7.1 Consultation to Date 40 7.2 Ongoing Consultation 41 8. Project and Assessment Schedule 43 9. Study Team and Peer Review 44 9.1 Study Team 44 9.2 Peer Review 44 References 45 Figures 49 Appendix A Review of Data Requirements and Availability for Dredge Modelling 58 SINCLAIR KNIGHT MERZ PAGE iii Cape Lambert Port B Development Environmental Scoping Document List of Tables Table 1 Preliminary Key Project Characteristics 6 Table 2 Threatened and Priority Fauna Occurring within 50 km of Cape Lambert 16 Table 3 Marine Turtles in the Cape Lambert Region 17 Table 4 Principles of Environmental Protection 19 Table 5 Key Environmental Factors and Principles for Assessment 23 Table 6 Framework Environmental Management Plan Format 25 Table 7 Key Issues Raised by Stakeholders to Date 40 Table 8 Indicative Project and Assessment Schedule 43 Table 9 Key Study Personnel 44 List of Figures Figure 1 Location of Cape Lambert Facilities 51 Figure 2 Preliminary Cape Lambert Port B Development Layout Arrangement 53 Figure 3 Marine Environment in the Cape Lambert Study Area 55 Figure 4 Known Turtle Nesting Beaches in the Study Area 57 SINCLAIR KNIGHT MERZ PAGEiv Cape Lambert Port B Development Environmental Scoping Document 1. Introduction 1.1 Background Pilbara Iron operates the port operations at Cape Lambert, on behalf of Robe River Iron Associates (Robe River). The Cape Lambert port operations are located north-west of Point Samson (Figure 1). The Cape Lambert port facility was constructed in 1972 and currently has a capacity of around 60 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa). The operation has undergone various upgrades to meet increasing customer demand, with the current approved throughput capacity at 85 Mtpa 1. The operations consist of an iron ore handling, processing and ship loading facility. With the rise for global demand in iron ore predicted to continue, Pilbara Iron is proposing to construct a second ore handling, processing and ship loading facility at Cape Lambert. The proposed capacity of this development is approximately 100 Mtpa (but may be up to 130 Mtpa). The exact capacity of the development will be determined during the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS). The Cape Lambert Port B development (referred to hereafter as the Port B development) is currently in the PFS stage, which will extend until Quarter 4 2008. Depending on the findings of the PFS and Rio Tinto commitment to progress into a more detailed study, a Feasibility Study (FS) will continue through to mid 2009. The increase in throughput capacity will be achieved through development of the new terminal at Cape Lambert and will involve both nearshore and onshore works, as shown in Figure 2. The Port B development is effectively a brown-field extension to the existing Cape Lambert operation. Nearshore works include dredging, construction of an approach jetty and a wharf with berthing pockets to accommodate up to four vessels at a time. Onshore works will include construction of new car dumping, stacking, stockpiling, reclaiming, screening, sampling and ship loading facilities. Other new facilities will include railway modifications to service the stockyard, possibly some workshop/s, warehouse and offices, some new road construction and road re-alignments and associated necessary port infrastructure facilities. The Port B development workforce construction workforce is expected to peak at approximately 1850 personnel. 1.2 Purpose of Environmental Scoping Document The Port B development was referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) under Section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) on 8 November 2007. The EPA proposed a Public Environmental Review (PER) with an eight week review period level of assessment. This decision was subject to a two week appeals period, during which time no appeals were received. 1 It should be noted that the actual Cape Lambert capacity following the current upgrade will be 80Mtpa, whereas the approved throughput capacity is 85Mtpa. This allows for possible future operational efficiencies to be achieved whilst remaining within the approved capacity. SINCLAIR KNIGHT MERZ PAGE 1 Cape Lambert Port B Development Environmental Scoping Document Assessment at the level of PER requires the proponent to prepare an Environmental Scoping Document. The purpose of this document is to provide a basis of understanding with the EPA regarding the scope of the assessment of the Port B development as well as providing an indicative timeline for the assessment. This document provides a summary of the potential environmental impacts, their significance and potential management responses, proposed scope of studies which will underpin the assessment of the environmental acceptability of the proposal, key legislation, stakeholder consultation programme, project and assessment schedule, study team and peer review mechanisms. This document has been prepared in accordance with the EPA’s Guide for proponents preparing Environmental Scoping Documents (EPA 2007a). The Port B development was also referred to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) on 12 February 2008. The development was determined to be a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwth) (EPBC Act). This Environmental Scoping Document and the PER will be prepared to meet the requirements of the EPBC Act, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (Cwth) (EPBC Regulations) and the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 (Cwth). The controlling provisions, that is those matters deemed significant for this proposal, for the action under the EPBC Act include: Listed threatened species and communities (sections 18 & 18A) Listed migratory species (sections 20 & 20A) Commonwealth marine areas (section 23 & 24A) The proposed action was deemed likely to have a significant impact for the following reasons: Several species of turtles, dolphins, dugong and whales have been identified as likely to occur in the waters around Cape Lambert. Uncertainty around the proposed location of the new spoil ground and specific details relating to dredging and spoil disposal.