OLYMPIC DAM Environmental Management and Monitoring Report 1 July 2010 – 30 June 2011 Report No. ODENV 050 1 JULY 2010 - 30 JUNE 2011 BHP BILLITON OLYMPIC DAM ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING REPORT OLYMPIC DAM ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING REPORT 1 JULY 2010 - 30 JUNE 2011 The Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP Minister for Mineral Resources Development PO Box 2832 ADELAIDE SA 5001 DISTRIBUTION Department of Primary Industries Chief Inspector of Mines 1 CD copy and Resources South Australia (PIRSA) Department of Environment and CE Dept of Environment and Natural 1 CD copy Natural Resources (SA) Resources Senior Scientific Officer – Pastoral Land 1 CD copy Management – Land and Biodiversity Services Principal Scientific Officer – Pastoral 1 CD copy Program Environment Protection CE Environment Protection Authority 1 CD copy Authority (SA) EPA Licence Coordinator 1 CD copy Manager Mining and Environment 1 CD copy Group Radiation Protection Branch Department For Water (SA) CE Dept For Water 1 CD copy Senior Hydrogeologist 1 CD copy Great Artesian Basin The Chair 1 CD copy Coordinating Committee South Australian Arid Lands The Chair 1 CD copy Natural Resources Management Board EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Page i BHP BILLITON OLYMPIC DAM 1 JULY 2009 – 30 JUNE 2010 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING REPORT INTERNAL DISTRIBUTION BHP Billiton Adelaide President Uranium 1 CD copy Vice President External Affairs 1 CD copy Corporate Lawyer 1 CD copy Vice President HSEC (Health, Safety, 1 CD copy Environment and Community) Manager Sustainability 1 CD copy Manager Radiation Services 1 CD copy BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Asset President 1 CD copy Head of Production 1 CD copy General Manager Mine 1 CD copy General Manager Surface 1 CD copy General Manager Services 1 CD copy Head of HSEC Manager Environment and Radiation 1 CD copy Superintendent Environment 1 CD copy Superintendent Radiation & Occupational 1 CD copy Hygiene Environment Section Library 2 hard copies 2 CD copies Records Centre 2 hard copies 1 CD copy Page ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 JULY 2010 - 30 JUNE 2011 BHP BILLITON OLYMPIC DAM ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING REPORT Table of Contents 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................... 2 1.1 Overview.............................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Major Achievements ............................................................................................ 2 1.3 Monitoring Summary ........................................................................................... 2 1.4 Future Challenges ............................................................................................... 4 2 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (EMP) IMPLEMENTATION ................................................................................. 5 2.1 ID 01 Use of Resources – Water ....................................................................... 10 2.2 ID 01 Use of Resources - Land ......................................................................... 11 2.3 ID 02 Operation of Industrial Systems – Airborne Emissions ............................ 18 2.4 ID 02 Operation of Industrial Systems – Hazardous Materials Spillage ............ 22 2.5 ID 03 Generation of Wastes – Tailings Storage System (TRS) ......................... 25 2.6 ID 03 Generation of Wastes – General and Industrial Waste ............................ 26 2.7 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 28 3 GROUNDWATER MONITORING PROGRAM ....................................... 31 3.1 Groundwater Abstraction and Mine Water Balance .......................................... 31 3.2 Groundwater Levels .......................................................................................... 37 3.3 Groundwater Quality.......................................................................................... 44 3.4 Use of Mine Water for Dust Suppression .......................................................... 46 3.5 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 48 4 GREAT ARTESIAN BASIN (GAB) WATER MONITORING PROGRAM ............................................................................................. 49 5 FAUNA MONITORING PROGRAM ....................................................... 50 5.1 Avifauna............................................................................................................. 50 5.2 Small Mammals and Reptiles ............................................................................ 52 5.3 Amphibians ........................................................................................................ 53 5.4 Feral and Abundant Species ............................................................................. 54 5.5 At-risk Species – Category 1a ........................................................................... 58 5.6 At-risk Species – Category 1b and 2 ................................................................. 60 5.7 Fauna Losses .................................................................................................... 62 5.8 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 66 6 FLORA MONITORING PROGRAM ....................................................... 68 6.1 Emission Impacts to Vegetation ........................................................................ 68 6.2 Long Term Changes to Perennial Vegetation ................................................... 71 6.3 Land Disturbance .............................................................................................. 74 6.4 Pest Plants ........................................................................................................ 77 6.5 GAB Spring Vegetated Wetland Area ............................................................... 87 6.6 At-risk Species – Category 1 ............................................................................. 88 6.7 At-risk Species – Categories 1b and 2 .............................................................. 91 6.8 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 92 7 AIRBORNE EMISSIONS MONITORING PROGRAM ............................ 93 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Page iii BHP BILLITON OLYMPIC DAM 1 JULY 2009 – 30 JUNE 2010 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING REPORT 7.1 Smelter 2 Emissions .......................................................................................... 93 7.2 Calciner Emissions ............................................................................................ 95 7.3 Slimes Treatment Plant Emissions .................................................................... 96 7.4 Ambient Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) ......................................................................... 97 7.5 Fugitive Particulate .......................................................................................... 101 7.6 Results/Discussion .......................................................................................... 102 7.7 Raise Bore Ventilation Shaft Emissions .......................................................... 108 7.8 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 110 8 ENERGY USE AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ..................... 111 8.1 Energy Use ...................................................................................................... 111 8.2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ............................................................................ 112 8.3 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 113 9 RADIATION DOSE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MONITORING PROGRAM .................................................................. 114 9.1 Dose to Members of the Public ........................................................................ 114 9.2 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 122 10 WASTE MONITORING PROGRAM .................................................... 123 10.1 Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) ........................................................................ 123 10.2 Evaporation Ponds (EPs) ................................................................................ 136 10.3 Mine Water Disposal Pond (MWDP) ............................................................... 141 10.4 Site and Olympic Village Sewage Ponds ......................................................... 142 10.5 Waste Management Centre ............................................................................. 143 10.6 Miscellaneous Hazardous Wastes ................................................................... 144 10.7 Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 145 11 REFERENCES .................................................................................... 146 12 GLOSSARY OF TERMS ..................................................................... 149 13 APPENDIX 1: SUMMARY OF EXTERNALLY REPORTABLE SPILLS ................................................................................................ 152 14 APPENDIX 2: METEOROLOGICAL DATA ......................................