NATIONAL POLLUTANT INVENTORY KALGOORLIE NPI TRIAL WESTERN AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION October 1999 Foreword The Kalgoorlie NPI Trial to test the parameters of the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) in a regional mining environment has been a successful partnership between Environment Australia, WMC Resources Limited and the Western Australian Department of Environmental Protection. The trial results provide a comprehensive picture of the emissions of NPI substances within the Kalgoorlie region. These emissions were estimated from major industrial sources, as well as minor sources, including motor vehicles, aircraft, locomotives, commercial premises and households. Members of the community in Kalgoorlie now have access to information that not only gives them a greater understanding of sources of pollution in their local environment, but also enables them to see how they contribute to those emissions. The challenges faced and overcome by the trial participants in complying with the NPI reporting process have helped pave the way for a smooth introduction of the NPI in other parts of Australia. The trial tested methodologies and emission factors presented in a range of Emission Estimation Technique Manuals during their development phase. It provided a realistic appraisal of these manuals from a user perspective. In many of the facilities, results obtained using emission factors were compared with direct monitoring data, highlighting areas where further work on emission factors is required. Results from the trial also gave an indication of emission sources that were found to be very significant and those which had a much lesser impact. The transfer of wastes within the region were investigated and emissions were estimated against the full reporting list of 90 substances, providing a useful source of information for a future review of the NPI National Environment Protection Measure. On behalf of the Department of Environmental Protection I would particularly like to thank the industries of Kalgoorlie for volunteering to participate in the trial and for their generous help and co-operation. The Department is also grateful for the contribution from other government departments, schools and non-government organisations. Dr Bryan Jenkins CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION October 1999 I N PI Triiall Kallgoorlliie C onttentts Contents Foreword ................................................................................................ I List of Appendices .............................................................................. VII List of Figures..................................................................................... VII List of Tables .....................................................................................VIII Executive Summary ..............................................................................X Acknowledgements.......................................................................... XVII Abbreviations.................................................................................XVIII Definitions........................................................................................... XX 1 Introduction............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background to the National Pollutant Inventory.................................................. 1 1.2 Trial Purpose ....................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Study Area........................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Project Structure .................................................................................................. 5 1.5 Project Scope....................................................................................................... 7 1.5.1 Point Source Emissions ............................................................................... 7 1.5.2 Aggregated Emissions................................................................................. 7 1.5.3 Emissions and Transfers Data...................................................................... 7 1.5.4 Timing......................................................................................................... 8 1.5.5 Cost ............................................................................................................. 8 1.6 Project Objectives................................................................................................ 8 1.7 Deliverables......................................................................................................... 9 2 Project Methodology............................................................................................. 10 2.1 Identification of Reporting Facilities.................................................................. 10 2.1.1 Successful Methodologies ......................................................................... 12 2.1.2 Unsuccessful Methodologies..................................................................... 16 2.1.3 Reporting Facilities.................................................................................... 17 2.2 Aggregated Emissions....................................................................................... 18 2.3 Data Base Development.................................................................................... 19 2.4 Community and Industry Consultation.............................................................. 21 2.4.1 Background............................................................................................... 21 2.4.2 Local Industry............................................................................................ 21 2.4.3 Industry Associations................................................................................. 22 2.4.4 Schools...................................................................................................... 23 2.4.5 General Public........................................................................................... 24 2.4.6 Press Releases............................................................................................ 24 2.5 Handbook Development.................................................................................... 25 3 Kalgoorlie Reporting Facilities............................................................................. 27 4 WMC Resources................................................................................................... 29 II N PI Triiall Kallgoorlliie C onttentts 4.1 Background....................................................................................................... 29 4.2 Methodology and Trigger Determination .......................................................... 29 4.3 Results............................................................................................................... 30 4.4 Data Accuracy................................................................................................... 32 4.5 Transfers............................................................................................................ 32 4.6 Manuals............................................................................................................. 32 4.7 Costs.................................................................................................................. 33 4.8 Industry Comments............................................................................................ 34 4.9 Conclusions....................................................................................................... 35 4.10 Recommendations ............................................................................................. 35 5 Kanowna Belle Gold Mines.................................................................................. 37 5.1 Background....................................................................................................... 37 5.2 Methodology and Trigger Determination .......................................................... 37 5.3 Results............................................................................................................... 39 5.4 Data Accuracy................................................................................................... 39 5.5 Transfers............................................................................................................ 40 5.6 Manuals............................................................................................................. 41 5.7 Costs.................................................................................................................. 41 5.8 Industry Comments............................................................................................ 42 5.9 Conclusions....................................................................................................... 43 5.10 Recommendations ............................................................................................. 44 6 Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines................................................................... 45 6.1 Background....................................................................................................... 45 6.2 Methodology and Trigger Determination .......................................................... 45 6.3 Results..............................................................................................................