DECEMBER 2008 PORT HEDLAND OUTER HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT Environmental Scoping Document PORT HEDLAND OUTER HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT Table of Contents 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................1 2 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................3 2.1 BACKGROUND..........................................................................................................3 2.2 PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT .............................................................................6 2.3 THE PROPONENT.....................................................................................................6 2.4 PROJECT JUSTIFICATION.......................................................................................7 2.5 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED................................................................................7 2.6 PORT HEDLAND DEVELOPMENTS.......................................................................10 3 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS ...............................11 3.1 OVERVIEW ..............................................................................................................11 3.2 PROJECT AND ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE ..........................................................12 3.3 APPLICABLE LEGISLATION AND STANDARDS ...................................................13 3.3.1 State ...........................................................................................................13 3.3.2 Commonwealth...........................................................................................13 3.3.3 Guidelines and Standards ..........................................................................13 4 PROJECT DESCRIPTION.......................................................................................14 4.1 THE PROJECT.........................................................................................................14 4.1.1 Rail Spur - Existing BHPBIO Mainline to Boodarie.....................................15 4.1.2 Rail Loops at Boodarie ...............................................................................15 4.1.3 Stockyards at Boodarie ..............................................................................15 4.1.4 Infrastructure Corridor from the Stockyards to the Jetty.............................17 4.1.5 New Dredged Channel, Wharf and Jetty ....................................................17 4.1.6 Dredging and Spoil Disposal Program .......................................................18 4.1.7 Supporting Infrastructure............................................................................18 4.1.8 Scope Exclusions .......................................................................................19 4.2 WORKFORCE..........................................................................................................20 5 REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING..............................................................20 5.1 KEY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ........................................................................20 5.1.1 Air Quality...................................................................................................20 5.1.2 Noise ..........................................................................................................20 5.1.3 Water Use...................................................................................................20 5.2 PORT HEDLAND DEVELOPMENT .........................................................................20 5.2.1 BHPBIO – PACE, RGP2, 3 and 4 ..............................................................20 5.2.2 Port Hedland Port Authority........................................................................20 5.2.3 Fortescue Metals Group.............................................................................20 5.3 PORT HEDLAND PROPOSALS ..............................................................................20 5.3.1 BHPBIO – RGP5 and 6 ..............................................................................20 5.3.2 Port Hedland Port Authority........................................................................20 5.3.3 Fortescue Metals Group.............................................................................20 5.3.4 Port Hedland Port Authority Ultimate Development Plan ...........................20 DECEMBER 2008 Page i PORT HEDLAND OUTER HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT 6 COMMUNITY AND OTHER CONSULTATION........................................................20 6.1 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM .............................................................20 6.2 SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ............................................................................20 6.3 CONSULTATION .....................................................................................................20 7 PRELIMINARY IMPACT ASSESSMENT ................................................................20 7.1 SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACTS .................................................................................20 7.2 PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION..............................................20 8 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT INVESTIGATIONS AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES...........................................................................................................20 8.1 RELEVANT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS ..................20 8.2 SCOPE OF WORKS ................................................................................................20 8.3 DEFINING STUDY AREA ........................................................................................20 8.4 TERRESTRIAL.........................................................................................................20 8.4.1 Terrestrial Flora and Vegetation.................................................................20 8.4.2 Terrestrial Fauna ........................................................................................20 8.4.3 Terrestrial Noise and Vibration...................................................................20 8.4.4 Dust Assessment........................................................................................20 8.5 MARINE STUDIES...................................................................................................20 8.5.1 Sediment Plume Dispersion and Resuspension Modelling ........................20 8.5.2 Water Quality and Coral Health Monitoring ................................................20 8.5.3 Characterisation of Marine Sediments .......................................................20 8.5.4 Marine Fauna .............................................................................................20 8.5.5 Marine Noise and Vibration ........................................................................20 8.6 LIGHT EMISSIONS..................................................................................................20 8.7 ABORIGINAL HERITAGE ........................................................................................20 8.8 SOCIAL IMPACTS ...................................................................................................20 9 PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK.........................20 9.1 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ........................................................20 9.1.1 Corporate Sustainability Framework ..........................................................20 9.1.2 Environmental Policy and Standards..........................................................20 9.2 POTENTIAL MANAGEMENT PLANS AND PROCEDURES ...................................20 10 PEER REVIEW.........................................................................................................20 11 REFERENCES.........................................................................................................20 12 GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................20 DECEMBER 2008 Page ii PORT HEDLAND OUTER HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT Tables Table ES-1 Indicative Key Characteristics Table .....................................................................1 Table ES-2 Environmental Factors ..........................................................................................2 Table 3-1 Project Milestones..................................................................................................12 Table 4-1 Outer Harbour Development Staging - Modules ....................................................14 Table 4-2 Indicative Water Supply Demand for Port Hedland Operations .............................19 Table 4-3 Indicative Power Supply - BHPBIO’s Port Hedland Operations.............................20 Table 5-1 Section 46 Dust Performance Targets ...................................................................20 Table 5-2 Indicative Water Supply Options ............................................................................20 Table 6-1 Overview of Proposed Consultation Plan...............................................................20 Table 7-1 Core Environmental Principles...............................................................................20 Table 7-2 Environmental Factors, Potential Impacts & Scope of Investigations for the Proposed Outer Harbour Development ...............................................................20 Table 8-1 Project Schedule for Key Environmental Studies...................................................20