IR-T04 Decision Report Template · 2019. 11. 7. · IR-T04 Decision Report Template v2.0 (July...

Works Approval: W6232/2019/1

IR-T04 Decision Report Template v2.0 (July 2017) i

Application for Works Approval Division 3, Part V Environmental Protection Act 1986

Works Approval Number W6232/2019/1

Applicant

Robe River Mining Co. Pty Ltd

ACN 008 694 246

File Number DER2019/000176

Premises West Angelas Iron Ore Mine - Deposits C, D and G

Part of LAA lease G47/1236 and AML 70/248

NEWMAN WA 6753

As defined by the coordinates in Schedule 1 of the Works Approval

Date of Report 06 November 2019

Decision Report

1 Works Approval: W6232/2019/1

IR-T04 Decision Report Template v2.0 (July 2017)

Table of Contents 1. Definitions of terms and acronyms ................................................................... 3

2. Purpose and scope of assessment ................................................................... 5

2.1 Application details .................................................................................................. 5

2.2 Premises boundary ................................................................................................ 6

2.3 Application documents ........................................................................................... 6

3. Overview of Premises......................................................................................... 6

3.1 Category 5 – processing of ore ............................................................................... 6

Primary Crushing Facility at Deposits C and D ................................................ 6

Hub A - processing plant upgrade ................................................................... 7

3.2 Category 6 - Deposit C and D dewatering discharge point. .................................... 8

3.3 Category 6 - Relocation of Turee Creek dewatering discharge point ...................... 8

3.4 Category 12 - mobile crushing and screening plant ................................................ 9

3.5 Category 64 - landfill .............................................................................................. 9

3.6 Bulk Fuel and Heavy Vehicle Fuel Facility .............................................................. 9

4. Infrastructure .................................................................................................... 10

4.1 Prescribed premises ............................................................................................. 10

4.2 Exclusions to the Premises .................................................................................. 14

5. Legislative context – other approvals ............................................................. 14

5.1 Part IV of the EP Act ............................................................................................ 14

Background ................................................................................................... 14

Ministerial Statement 1113 ............................................................................ 14

5.2 Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 ................................................................ 16

5.3 State Agreement and Mining Act 1978 ................................................................. 16

5.4 Federal Legislation ............................................................................................... 16

5.5 Part V of the EP Act ............................................................................................. 16

5.6 Clearing ................................................................................................................ 17

6. Consultation ...................................................................................................... 18

7. Siting .................................................................................................................. 18

7.1 Siting context ........................................................................................................ 18

7.2 Residential and sensitive Premises ...................................................................... 18

7.3 Specified ecosystems ........................................................................................... 19

7.4 Groundwater and surface water ........................................................................... 20

7.5 Topography .......................................................................................................... 21

7.6 Meteorology ......................................................................................................... 22

8. Risk assessment ............................................................................................... 23



8.1 Determination of emission, pathway and receptor, risk and regulatory control ...... 23

8.2 Consequence and likelihood of risk events ........................................................... 29

8.3 Acceptability and treatment of Risk Event ............................................................. 30

9. Applicant’s comments ...................................................................................... 31

10. Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 31

Appendix 1: Key documents .................................................................................... 32

Appendix 2: Summary of applicant’s comments on risk assessment and draft conditions .................................................................................................................. 33

Attachment 1: Issued Works Approval W6232/2019/1 ........................................... 35

Table 1: Definitions .................................................................................................................. 3

Table 2: Prescribed Premises Categories applied for ............................................................... 5

Table 3: West Angelas Iron Ore Mine - Deposits C, D and G infrastructure ........................... 10

Table 4: Licence L7774/2000/6 amendments ......................................................................... 17

Table 5: Sensitive land uses and distance from activity .......................................................... 19

Table 6: Specified ecosystems and values ............................................................................. 19

Table 7: Groundwater and surface water ............................................................................... 21

Table 8. Identification of emissions, pathway and receptors during construction .................... 23

Table 9: Identification of emissions, pathway and receptors during operation ........................ 24

Table 10: Risk criteria table .................................................................................................... 29

Table 11: Risk rating matrix.................................................................................................... 29

Table 12: Risk treatment table ............................................................................................... 30



1. Definitions of terms and acronyms In this Decision Report, the terms in Table 1 have the meanings defined. Table 1: Definitions

Term Definition

ACN Australian Company Number

Applicant Robe River Mining Co. Pty Ltd (Robe River)

Category/ Categories/ Cat.

Categories of Prescribed Premises as set out in Schedule 1 of the EP Regulations

Decision Report refers to this document.

Delegated Officer an officer under section 20 of the EP Act.

Department means the department established under section 35 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 and designated as responsible for the administration of Part V, Division 3 of the EP Act.

DMIRS Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety

DWER Department of Water and Environmental Regulation As of 1 July 2017, the Department of Environment Regulation (DER), the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA) and the Department of Water (DoW) amalgamated to form the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER). DWER was established under section 35 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 and is responsible for the administration of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 along with other legislation.

CEMP Construction Environmental Management Plan

EMP Environmental Management Plan

EPA Environmental Protection Authority

EP Act Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA)

EP Regulations Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 (WA)

EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)

EMP Environmental Management Plan

GL Gigalitre

HVRF Heavy Vehicle Refueling Facility

KNP Karajini National Park



kL kilolitre

km kilometre

L litre

L/sec litres per second

mbgl metres below ground level

Minister the Minister responsible for the EP Act and associated regulations

MS Ministerial Statement

Mtpa million tonnes per annum

Noise Regulations Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 (WA)

Occupier has the same meaning given to that term under the EP Act.

OWS Oily Water Separator

PEC Priority Ecological Community

Prescribed Premises

has the same meaning given to that term under the EP Act.

Premises refers to the premises to which this Decision Report applies, as specified at the front of this Decision Report

Primary Activities as defined in Schedule 2 of the Revised Licence

RIWI Act Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914

Risk Event As described in Guidance Statement: Risk Assessment

Robe River Robe River Mining Co. Pty Ltd (Applicant)

ROM pad Run of Mine pad

TDS Total Dissolved Solids

tph tonnes per hour

UDR Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharges) Regulations 2004 (WA)



2. Purpose and scope of assessment The Applicant (Robe River Mining Co. Pty Ltd) (Robe River) operates the West Angelas Iron Ore Mine under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) Part V Licence L7774/2000/6 for Categories 5, 6, 12, 52, 54, 64, and 73. Mining operations currently occur in four deposits (Deposits A, B, E and F). From 2019, development of additional ore sources is required to sustain iron ore production from West Angelas. As a result, Robe River proposes to develop additional deposits C, D and G, and construct new processing and supporting infrastructure. Mine dewatering will be required to accommodate mining below the water table.

2.1 Application details Robe River submitted an application for a works approval on 5 March 2019 for construction of the new infrastructure. The proposed works include a new primary crusher at Deposits C and D with a 10.2 km conveyor to the existing Hub A processing area, upgrade of Hub A processing plant, two mobile crushing and screening plants, installation of a new dewater discharge outlet, relocation of the existing Turee Creek Dewatering Discharge Point, and a landfill. The infrastructure will be constructed under the Works Approval with a Time Limited Operations Phase, followed by an amendment to the existing licence L7774/2000/6 for on –going operation. The amendment will not change the Licence’s overall annual Category 5 processing capacity of 35 million tonnes per annum. The new infrastructure is expected to be operational for approximately 30 years. Table 2 lists the prescribed premises categories and production capacities that have been applied for. Table 2: Prescribed Premises Categories applied for

Classification of Premises

Description Proposed new infrastructure - production or design capacity

Category 5 Processing or beneficiation of metallic or non-metallic ore

New primary crushing plant at Deposits C and D - 25,000,000 tonnes per year

Upgrades to the Hub A processing plant – 35,000,000 tonnes per year as per existing Licence L7774/2000/6

Category 6 Mine dewatering Deposit C and D Dewater Discharge Point - 6,000,000 tonnes per year.

Relocation of the existing Turee Creek Dewatering Discharge Point.

Category 12 Screening etc. of material Two mobile crusher and screeners – combined production of 10,000,000 tonnes per year

Category 64 Class II putrescible landfill site

New landfill - 8,500 tonnes per year



2.2 Premises boundary The works approval premises boundary intersects with the boundary of the existing licence, as shown below in Figure 1. Figure 1: W6232/2019/1 premises boundary.

2.3 Application documents The documents and information submitted during the assessment process are listed in Appendix 1. Unless otherwise referenced, the information for this Decision report is sourced from the application documents and information submitted.

3. Overview of Premises 3.1 Category 5 – processing of ore

Primary Crushing Facility at Deposits C and D A primary crushing facility with a processing capacity of 25 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) will be constructed at Deposits C and D. The five key elements in being able to achieve the capabilities are:

• ROM Pad and single tip point suitable for haul trucks with a maximum payload of 315 tonnes;

• ROM bin with static grizzly;

• apron feeder;



• vibrating grizzly feeder; and

• jaw crusher; to produce primary crushed ore with a 300mm top size particle. An overland conveyor will transport the crushed ore 10.2 km to the existing processing plant, located to the north of Deposit A and known as Hub A. Construction of the West Angelas C & D mine primary processing plant will include five stages of commissioning:

• Stage 1: Construction Verification – verify construction completion to design intent.

• Stage 2: Pre-commissioning – functional testing of energised 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. During this phase the plant will be running under operational conditions and hence the risk of emissions and means of mitigation are almost identical.

• Stage 5: Performance Verification – ramp up production rate and confirm achievement of designed through-put.

Construction to end of Stage 3 (up to load commissioning when the facility will be running with feedstock) is expected to take approximately 20 to 24 months. Construction compliance documentation will be submitted following completion of Stage 3.

Hub A - processing plant upgrade The Hub A secondary crushing facility will have its two existing crushers replaced with larger capacity crushers to allow a permanent processing plant to process the site’s entire throughput. At present, approximately one third of the annual throughput is primary and secondary crushed via contracted, relocatable crushing / screening systems. As these systems are being removed, the crushing activities which they currently perform will then be undertaken in the permanent plant. The secondary crushing facility will retain its existing dust control measures, including dry baghouse dust collector. The Hub A processing facility upgrade will include:

• modification to existing plant conveyors, and

• modification to the secondary crusher facility, including replacement of the vibrating feeders, and replacement of the two secondary crushers with larger secondary crushers.

A new surge bin facility will be constructed at the existing processing plant at Deposit A. The facility will have a common bin, with two outlets which will provide two independent ore streams to allow ore to be transferred in variable amounts to two existing conveyors. Each ore stream will have a dedicated isolation gate. Shuttling apron feeders are provided which will allow each apron feeder to move when required. Dust control for the surge bin facility is provided via insertable dust collectors mounted on the bin roof. The base level is designed with a concrete slab under the entire footprint of the facility, to capture spillage and facilitate washdown. The slab is graded to drain to a concrete sump. The sump has a ramp to allow for clean out of settled solids, via front end loader. Water will be discharged from the sump into the existing surface water drainage system at Hub A. The Hub A plant will also process ore from the Deposit G which is located 7 km north-north-west Hub A.



3.2 Category 6 - Deposit C and D dewatering discharge point. Under licence L7774/2006/1, surplus dewater exceeding the operational water demand is currently discharged via the Turee Creek Dewatering Discharge Point and Deposit B Dewatering Discharge Point to the Turee Creek East tributary. L7774/2006/1 authorises discharge of up to 6 gigalitre/year (GL/year). Dewatering at Deposits C and D will be required. A new dewater discharge pipeline and outlet is proposed and will be named ‘Deposit C and D Dewatering Discharge Point’. The Application is for a dewater discharge amount of 6 GL/year at this discharge point. Deposit C and D Dewatering Discharge Point will receive surplus dewatering water from a turkeys nest located at the deposit C and D production hub via a pipeline route adjacent to the overland conveyor as shown in Figure 2 below. Figure 2: Pipeline route to Deposit C and D Dewatering Discharge Point

A flow meter will be installed at the outlet of the turkeys nest to record monthly discharge volumes and a water quality sampling site will be established at the discharge point. Water from the turkey’s nest will be firstly used for dust suppression and process plant purposes. A manual control valve will be installed to maintain water levels in the turkey’s nest, and reduce the volume of surplus water discharged to the diversion channel and ultimately the downstream creek system. All surplus water will be delivered at a maximum rate of discharge is 300 L/sec. To manage erosion and scour the discharge point includes a concrete stilling well and weir system leading to a rip rap lined ramp to the rip rap lined creek bed. Based on discharge of dewater of 12 GL/year, the maximum surface discharge extent was modelled to extend no more than 2 km from Karajini National Park under natural no-flow conditions.

3.3 Category 6 - Relocation of Turee Creek dewatering discharge point

The existing Turee Creek Dewatering Discharge Point clashes with a new haul road adjacent to the new Deposit C and D overland conveyor and will need to be relocated. The relocated outlet will essentially be the same as the original infrastructure but moved 300 m downstream. The relocated discharge outlet will make use of existing infrastructure in the area including an existing pipeline and cleared alignment. Dewatering water will be pumped via the existing pipeline alignment, which will be situated at the bed level of the diversion channel. A flow meter will be installed near the outlet to record monthly discharge volumes and a water quality sampling site will be established at the discharge point.



Water from the turkey’s nest is currently used for dust suppression, a manual control valve will be installed to maintain water levels in the turkey’s nest, and reduce the volume of water discharged to the diversion channel and ultimately the downstream creek system. To manage erosion and scour the discharge point includes a concrete stilling well and weir system leading to a rip rap lined ramp to the rip rap lined creek bed.

3.4 Category 12 - mobile crushing and screening plant For construction of the new infrastructure, suitable material is required to be sourced from adjacent borrow pits. A portion of this material will be processed through two Terex Finlay J-1480 mobile crushing and screening plants. As borrow material is exhausted, the mobile plant will be transported to the next cleared borrow pit area. Product material will be stockpiled for transport to the relevant construction site. The mobile crushing and screening plants will initially be on site to support project construction activities, then may also be required for other purposes following the construction phase. Mobile plants will be located in areas previously cleared for the sourcing of borrow material, so no additional clearing will be required.

3.5 Category 64 - landfill A new inert waste dump landfill will be required for burial of up to 8,500 tonnes of waste per year at Deposit C and D. The landfill will accept:

• Clean Fill;

• Inert Type 1 Waste (including redundant pipeline, conveyor belts, screen mats, concrete rubble and steel products);

• Inert Type 2 wastes (tyres and plastics); and

• Putrescible Wastes (wooden packaging and broken pallets only). The landfill will be located within either General Purpose Lease G47/01236 or AML70/248. An indicative location, depicted in Figure 3 Site plan below, is approximately 2 km from the closest ephemeral drainage line (Turee Creek East tributary) and greater than 40 m to groundwater. The final site will be located more than 100 m from a watercourse and no less than 3 m from the highest seasonal and expected-post-mining groundwater, and will be recorded on GIS mapping. Earthen bunds will be installed to divert stormwater away and a sump or bunding maintained within the landfill to collect any surface water that has come into contact with waste.

3.6 Bulk Fuel and Heavy Vehicle Fuel Facility A Heavy Vehicle Refueling Facility (HVRF) will be located to the north of the Deposit C and D primary crushing facility to support the mining and processing operations. Concrete collection slabs will be installed under all areas at the HVRF where there is the potential for hydrocarbons to be spilled. The slabs will drain into oily water collection sumps before being treated at an Oily Water Separator (OWS). Diesel fuel will be stored in 2 x 200 kL horizontal bulk fuel storage tanks at the HVRF. After the existing licence is amended to extend the premises boundary, the fuel tanks will contribute to the total Category 73 quantity of diesel stored on the licensed premises.



4. Infrastructure 4.1 Prescribed premises The infrastructure for the West Angelas Iron Ore Mine - Deposits C, D and G as it relates to prescribed activities, is detailed in Table 3 and with reference to the locations of infrastructure Figure 3 and the dewatering discharge outlet points in Figure 4 below. Table 3: West Angelas Iron Ore Mine - Deposits C, D and G infrastructure

Infrastructure Location reference

Prescribed Activity Category 5

Primary crushing facility at Deposits C and D – designed to achieve capacity of 25 Mtpa

1 Run of Mine (ROM) pad located centrally to Deposits C and D

Figure 3

2 Fixed Primary Crusher including:

• ROM bin;

• static grizzly;

• apron feeder;

• vibrating grizzly feeder; and

• jaw crusher.

3 Overland conveyor to Hub A processing plant Figure 3

Modification to the existing facilities at Hub A processing plant

1 New surge bin facility with two outlets to provide independent ore streams for transfer of ore in variable amounts, to two existing conveyors.

Figure 3

2 Two existing secondary crushers replaced with two permanent plant crushers each with name plate capacity of 3,200 tonnes per hour (tph) and including the existing dry baghouse collector.

3 Removal of existing relocatable crushing/screening systems.

4 Modifications to existing plant conveyors.


Discharge of surplus dewater sourced from Deposits C and D

1 Flow metre -

2 Water conveyance pipeline -

3 Deposits C and D dewatering discharge point Figure 4

Relocation of existing ‘Turee Creek Dewatering Discharge Point’



Infrastructure Location reference

1 Flow metre N/A

2 Water conveyance pipeline N/A

3 Turee Creek Dewatering Discharge Point - relocated 300 m downstream

Figure 4


Crushing and screening of material extracted from the ground for construction of works

1 2 x Terex Finlay J-1480 (or similar) mobile crushing and screening plants

N/A


Landfilling of waste

1 Category 64 landfill Figure 3 - indicative location only

Prescribed Activity Category 73 after amendment of L7774/2000/6

Fuel Hub

1 Heavy Vehicle Refuelling Facility Figure 3

2 Oily Water collection and separator



Figure 3: Site Plan



Figure 4: Dewatering discharge Outlet locations



4.2 Exclusions to the Premises Operations and activities which are not regulated by DWER and hence are not within the scope of this assessment include:

• mining of ore:

• Waste Rock Dumps;

• explosives magazine compound;

• plant workshop and mining contractors’ workshop; and

• accommodation village. Two 110 kL temporary diesel tanks will be located at the Deposit C and/or Deposit D park-up areas. The Applicant is referred to the requirements under the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 and associated regulations which are administered by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, along with the Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharges) Regulations 2004, which will be applicable.

5. Legislative context – other approvals 5.1 Part IV of the EP Act

Background The development of the West Angelas Iron Ore Project was authorised by the Minister for Environment (Minister) under Part IV of the EP Act upon issue of Ministerial Statement (MS) 514 on 28 June 1999. A subsequent proposal to include the development of Deposit E and contemporise conditions of MS 514 under section 45 of the EP Act, developed the Report and Recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Report 1508. MS 970 for the development of iron ore mines at Deposit ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘E’, waste dumps, ore processing operation and associated infrastructure was signed by the Minister on 11 June 2014 and replaced and superseded all previous conditions of MS 514. A revised proposal for the development of Deposits A west and F and additional infrastructure such as waste rock dumps, access roads, accommodation and other supporting infrastructure was submitted as an Assessment on Proponent Information (API) to the EPA. EPA Report 1551 was released to the Minister on 17 June 2015, and MS 1015 for the revised proposal to be implemented was signed by the Minister on 21 August 2015. On 20 July 2017, a proposal was referred to the EPA to include Deposits C, D and G. The proposal included the development and operation of additional open pit iron ore mining areas and associated infrastructure including Deposit C and D infrastructure, and dewatering. The Proponent requested a new Ministerial Statement be issued that will supersede the existing MS 970 and MS 1015. The EPA Report 1636 was recommended to the Minister, and MS 1113 was signed on 2 September 2019.

Ministerial Statement 1113 MS 1113 includes conditions relevant to this works approval and subsequent amendment of L7774/2000/6: Condition 5-1 requires the proponent implement the proposal to meet the following objectives:



(1) The proponent shall ensure there is no irreversible impact, as a result of the discharge of surplus water from the proposal, to the health of riparian vegetation of Turee Creek East (Figure 3 in Schedule 1).

(2) The proponent shall ensure that there is no direct or indirect disturbance to the West Angelas Cracking Clay Priority Ecological Community (PEC-2015-5, Figure 3 in Schedule 1), due to the proposal that results in an irreversible impact.

(3) The proponent shall ensure no more than 20 ha of direct or indirect disturbance due to the proposal to other representations of the West Angelas Cracking Clay Priority Ecological Community (Figure 3 in Schedule 1).

(4) The proponent shall ensure that there is no disturbance due to the proposal to the potential maternity Ghost Bat roosts (Caves AA1, WA13, WA-21 and WA-23) (Figure 4 in Schedule 1).

(5) The proponent shall minimise disturbance due to the proposal to other Ghost Bat roosts (Caves A1, A2, L2, L3, WA-9, WA-10, WA-11, WA-12, WA-17, WA-20 and WA-22) (Figure 4 in Schedule 1).

(6) The proponent shall avoid where possible, or otherwise minimise the introduction to and spread of weeds due to the proposal within the West Angelas rail corridor (Figure 5 in Schedule 1).

Condition 5-2 requires that in order to meet the objectives of condition 5-1, the proponent shall prepare and submit an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) within three months. Condition 6-1 requires that prior to dewatering of Deposit C or D, the proponent shall prepare and submit a Condition Environmental Management Plan to ensure that there is no drawdown of groundwater associated with the proposal at the boundary of, or within, Karijini National Park.

Schedule 1 Table 1 of MS 1113 is a summary of the approved Proposal and is reproduced below.

Proposal title West Angelas Iron Ore Project – Revised Proposal

Short description This proposal is a revision of the existing West Angelas Iron Ore Project and includes the above and below water table, open-cut iron ore mining from additional deposits and the construction and operation of associated infrastructure including but not limited to the following: dewatering and surplus water management infrastructure, Managed Aquifer Recharge scheme, surface water management infrastructure, linear infrastructure, processing and support facilities. Mine dewatering, which dewaters the ore bodies to allow below water table mining, supplies water for local operational purposes. Surplus dewatering water, exceeding the local operational water requirement, is transferred to the existing operations to supply operational water demand, the Managed Aquifer Recharge Scheme and / or discharged to the Turee Creek East tributary. This proposal will be contained within the revised West Angelas Mine Development Envelope.

Schedule 1 Table 2 authorises the extent of clearing. Schedule 1 Table 2 authorises the physical and operation elements of the West Angelas Iron Ore Project, and requires, for surplus water management, that “dewatering water will be used on-site in the first instance to supply water for operational purposes. Surplus dewatering water exceeding the operational requirement is discharged to a local ephemeral tributary of Turee Creek East. The surface discharge extent will not extend within 2 km of the boundary of Karajini National Park under natural no-flow conditions”.



5.2 Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 The following Licences to Take Groundwater have been issued under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 (RIWI Act):

• Groundwater Licence GWL98740 for abstraction of 5,380,000 kL from the mine for dewatering and water supply purposes; and

• Groundwater Licence GWL103136 for abstraction of 3,102,500 kL from the Turee B Borefield for water supply purposes.

GWL98740 will be assessed by DWER-Water for an increase to the abstraction from 5,380,000 kL to 14,000,000 kL as part of the C, D and G Proposal. Groundwater abstraction and quality will continue to be managed in accordance with the existing RIWI Act groundwater licences and associated Groundwater Operating Strategy, and any amendments as required.

5.3 State Agreement and Mining Act 1978 The West Angelas Project is located on Mineral Lease 248SA (ML248SA) which was granted in 1976 under the Iron Ore (Robe River) Agreement Act 1964 (WA) (Robe River State Agreement). An additional State Agreement approval was obtained 29th November 2018 for the Stage 1 works occurring at West Angelas, including the infrastructure applied for via Licence Amendment to L7774/2000/6, amended on 3 May 2019. A new State Agreement approval is required for the construction of infrastructure included within this application and which forms part of the C, D and G Part IV Proposal (Stage 2 works). This is being progressed via the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. General Purpose Lease G47/1236 has been granted under the Mining Act 1978 (WA) (Mining Act) in accordance with the Robe River State Agreement.

5.4 Federal Legislation The proposal was determined to be a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act) on 3 December 2018. The controlling provision is ‘Listed threatened species and communities’ with the following Threatened species requiring consideration:

• Macroderma gigas (Ghost Bat) • Rhinonicteris aurantia (Pilbara Leaf-nosed Bat) • Dasyurus hallucatus (Northern Quoll) • Liasis olivaceus barroni (Pilbara Olive Python).

The proposal was not assessed via the accredited assessment approach due to the advanced stage of the State assessment process, and the proposal is being assessed by a separate process under the EPBC Act.

5.5 Part V of the EP Act The overarching legislative framework of this assessment is the EP Act and EP Regulations. The guidance statements which inform this assessment are:

• Guidance Statement: Decision Making (June 2019)

• Guidance Statement: Risk Assessments (February 2017)



• Guidance Statement: Environmental Siting (November 2016)

• Guidance Statement: Setting Conditions (October 2015)

• Guideline: Industry Regulation Guide to Licensing (June 2019)

Table 4 summarises the history of amendments for the existing L7774/2000/6. The Licence will be further amended to include operation of the works following construction compliance. Table 4: Licence L7774/2000/6 amendments

Date of Amendment

Amendment Details

15/8/2014 Inclusion of Category 70 WWTP and nutrient loading rates

4/12/2014

Revocation of Licence L7624/2000/7 and incorporation of the WWTP from L7624/2002/7 into Licence L7774/2000/6.

31/3/2016 Inclusion into L7774/2000/6 of a landfill constructed under Works Approval W5721/2014/1.

31/10/2017 Increase in design capacity for Category 6 from 6GL/year to 11.84GL/year to allow for a dewatering discharge outlet at deposit B, which will discharge at 5.84GL/year. Approval for a waste dump landfill at deposit B to replace existing landfills that are nearing capacity. The design capacity for Category 64 has not changed. Removal of previous condition 1 (requiring operating the mobile crushing and screening plant in accordance with a specific management plan. Removal of previous condition 3 (requiring discharge of effluent only to approved irrigation areas). Removal of previous condition 12 (referring to hydrocarbon management). Removal of previous condition 22 for tyre storage and disposal. Removal of previous condition 25 relating to the monitoring of the extent of surface water discharge and replacement with new condition 24. Removal of conditions 26 - 30 (Relating to construction of the West Angelas Power Station). Updated definitions. Inclusion of new conditions 19 to 21 for the construction and operation of the deposit B dewatering discharge point. Administrative change to the reference of the element Boron. Inclusion of new condition 30 for the submission of a compliance document following construction of the deposit b dewatering discharge point. Update to condition 32 for the Annual Audit Compliance Report. Update of Attachments 4 (map of premises landfills). Removal of Attachment 7 (form for submission of Annual Audit Compliance Reports).

20/11/2018 Approved total annual dewater discharge reduced to 6GL/year.

5.6 Clearing The extent of clearing is defined and approved by MS 1113.



6. Consultation The works approval application was advertised on the Department’s website and in the West Australian newspaper on 6 May 2019. No submissions were received. The Application was referred to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety on 3 May 2019. No comments were received.

7. Siting 7.1 Siting context The Premises is located approximately 120 kilometres (km) north-west of Newman. The regional location of the premises is shown in Figure 5 below. Pastoral activities in the region have historically been limited to grazing of cattle on Juna Downs Station, which is located approximately 20 km to the north of the Premises. The nearest operating mines are Mining Area C (operated by BHP Billiton Iron Ore Pty Ltd) 35 km to the north-east, Hope Downs 1 and Yandicoogina (both operated by Rio Tinto Iron Ore) 45 km and 65 km to the north-east respectively. The premises boundary lies approximately 2 km to the east of Karajini National Park (KNP). However the location of the proposed primary crusher is 8 km from KNP. The mobile crushing and screening plants will have different locations within the premises boundary as required for operational purposes. Figure 5: Regional location of West Angelas

7.2 Residential and sensitive Premises The accommodation village which houses the workforce for the Premises is operated by Robe



River, and is therefore not considered by DWER to be a sensitive land use or receptor for the purposes of assessing the risks of emissions and discharges associated with the operation of the prescribed activities (Guidance Statement: Risk Assessments). The distances to closest sensitive land users are detailed in Table 5. Table 5: Sensitive land uses and distance from activity

Sensitive Land Uses Distance from Prescribed Activity

BHP Jocelyn Exploration Camp Approximately 28 km north of the premises boundary

Juna Downs Pastoral Homestead Approximately 30 km north west of the premises boundary.

Karajini National Park – Circular Pools and Falls camping area

Approximately 70 km from the premises boundary and 77 km from the primary crusher.

Closest residential zoned premises: Newman Approximately 130km to the south-east of the application boundary

7.3 Specified ecosystems The Guidance Statement: Environmental Siting lists specified ecosystems and components of high conservation value and special significance that may be impacted as a result of activities or emissions and discharges from the prescribed premises. The specified ecosystems and environmental values relevant to the Premises are identified below. Table 6: Specified ecosystems and values

Specified ecosystems

Distance from the Premises

Karajini National Park (KNP)

The boundary of Karajini National Park is located approximately 2 km from the premises boundary, and 8 km from the proposed processing plant. The mobile crushing and screening plant will have different locations within premises boundary as required.

See Figure 6 below for location of Karajini National Park

West Angelas Cracking-Clays - Priority 1 Priority Ecological Community (PEC) -

Approximately 200 m east of the Deposit C and D Primary Crusher Facility. See Figure 6 below for location of the PEC.

Biological component

Distance from the Premises

Threatened/Priority Flora

No flora listed under the under the EPBC Act, or gazetted as Threatened (formerly Declared Rare Flora (DRF)) under the Western Australian Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WC Act) were recorded.

Two Priority 2 (P2) flora species and seven Priority 3 (P3) flora species and one Priority 4 (P4) flora species located within the premises.

Threatened/Priority Fauna

Recent biological surveys have recorded evidence of several Threatened fauna species listed under the EPBC Act, including the following:



• Pilbara Leaf‐nosed Bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia) – EPBC Vulnerable; • Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas); and • Fork‐tailed Swift (Apus pacificus).

In addition, the following two threatened species have been assessed as having a moderate to high likelihood of occurrence in the region:

• Northern Quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) – EPBC Endangered, and;

• Pilbara Olive Python (Liasis olivaceus barroni).

Native vegetation within the proposal area has been assessed as “Good to Excellent condition”

Distances to other specified ecosystems or areas

There are no Public Drinking Water Source Areas within 30 km of the premises.

There are no RAMSAR wetlands within 30 km of the premises.

There are no geomorphic wetlands within 30 km of the process plant.

Figure 6: Location of the premises and Karajini National Park

7.4 Groundwater and surface water The Premises exists within the Proclaimed Pilbara Groundwater and Pilbara Surface Water Areas under the RIWI Act. The distances to groundwater and surface water are shown in the Table below.



Table 7: Groundwater and surface water

Groundwater and water sources

Distance from Premises Environmental value

Pilbara Groundwater and Pilbara Surface Water Areas

Premises is located within the Proclaimed areas.

Proclaimed under the RIWI Act.

Turee Creek East Approximately 1.7 km north of the proposed primary processing plant.

The east branch of Turee Creek (Turee Creek East) flows generally westward across the West Angelas operation, continuing west south-westerly through the Karajini National Park, before merging with Turee Creek.

Turee Creek East is an ephemeral watercourse which flows depending on the occurrence of high intensity rainfall events, typical of Pilbara watercourses.

Groundwater The infrastructure is located in an area where depth to groundwater is greater than 40 m.

The regional water table is relatively complex.

Groundwater flow in the West Angelas area is characterised by steep hydraulic gradients across the Jeerinah Formation, representative of relatively low permeability on a regional scale and flat hydraulic gradients across the Mount Newman Member of the Marra Mamba Iron Formation and the overlying West Angelas Member of the Wittenoom Formation, with steep hydraulic gradients between deposits and within some deposits due to the presence of intrusive formations such as dykes and features such as folding and faulting.

No major regional aquifer has been encountered to date.

Groundwater salinity (total dissolved solids (TDS)) is 500 – 1,000 mg/L, which is considered marginal (Salinity status classification).

There are no Public Drinking Water Source Areas within 30 km of the premises.

There are no RAMSAR wetlands within 30 km of the premises.

There are no geomorphic wetlands within 30 km of the process plant.

7.5 Topography Local topography is described as mainly low to moderate relief hills, ridges and scree slopes separated by Quaternary alluvial sheet-wash plains.



7.6 Meteorology The region experiences an arid climate, consisting of hot summers and mild winters. Rainfall in the region is infrequent and generally results from scattered thunderstorms and tropical cloud bands which produce heavy localised falls over short periods of time. The evaporation rate in the region greatly exceeds the average annual rainfall, which contributes to the arid environment in the area.



8. Risk assessment 8.1 Determination of emission, pathway and receptor, risk and regulatory control The identification of the sources, pathways and receptors to determine Risk Events are set out in Tables 8and 9 below. The mitigation measures / controls proposed by the Applicant have been considered in determining the risk rating. Consequence ratings, likelihood ratings and risk descriptions, and acceptability and treatment of the risk event, are detailed in the Department’s Guidance Statement: Risk Assessments and as Tabled in Sections 8.2 and 8.3 below. The works approval that accompanies this Report authorises construction and a Time Limited Operational Phase only. A licence is required for operations beyond the Time Limited Operational Phase. Table 8. Identification of emissions, pathway and receptors during construction

Source/Activity Potential emissions

Potential receptors Potential pathway

Potential impacts

Consequence Likelihood Risk Reasoning Regulatory controls (Refer to conditions of the granted Works Approval)

Category 5: Construction of a primary crushing facility; ROM ore load out; overland conveyor; Heavy Vehicle Refuelling Centre; and modification to existing Hub A plant.

Category 12: Installation of two mobile crusher and screener plants.

Category 6: Construction of dewater pipelines and two dewater discharge outlets.

Category 64: Construction of a Landfill.

Dust

No residences or other sensitive land uses within 25 km

Air / wind dispersion

Health and amenity

N/A N/A N/A Distance to closest sensitive land use is sufficient to inform the risk of dust emissions as not foreseeable.

None specified in the works approval.

The general provisions of the EP Act with respect to the causing of pollution and environmental harm apply.

West Angelas Cracking-Clays (Priority 1 PEC) - 200 m east of the Deposit C and D Primary Crusher Facility and adjacent to the overland conveyor.

Two P2 flora species and seven P3 flora species and one P4 flora species within the proposal area.

Native vegetation within the proposal area assessed as Good to Excellent” condition”

Reduced health and viability of a PEC, Priority flora species and vegetation of good condition

Slight Unlikely Low Duration of construction is relatively short-term (12 – 18 months).

Construction will be managed under a Construction Environmental Management Plan including dust suppression by water sprays, water trucks, and control of vehicle movements / restricted speeds. Site clearing and rehabilitation will be managed to ensure that areas are only cleared as required.

MS 1113 requires no direct or indirect disturbance to the West Angelas Cracking-Clays and implementation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which proposes annual assessment of the PEC’s vegetation condition.

Risk event is considered Low and will not be subject to works approval controls for construction activities. Construction will be managed by Robe River under the CEMP.

MS 1113 is applicable.


Noise No residences or other sensitive land uses within 25 km.

Air (wind borne)

Amenity

N/A N/A N/A Distance to closest sensitive land use is sufficient to inform the risk of noise as not foreseeable.


The Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 are applicable.

Nocturnal native fauna, including the Ghost Bat

Noise and vibration impacts on fauna habitat including Ghost Bat

N/A N/A N/A Managed under Part IV of the EP Act by MS 1113 to ensure no disturbance to the potential maternity and other Ghost Bat roosts

A Blast Management Plan for all blasting activities is to include an assessment of proximity to sensitive receptors, including heritage rock shelters and bat cave locations



Stormwater containing hydrocarbons by spills and leaks, and sediment from earth moving activities.

Soils and vegetation at site of spill and along flow path of contaminated stormwater.

West Angelas Cracking-Clays (Priority 1 PEC).

Direct discharge and path of flow

Contamination of soils with hydrocarbons.

Increased sediment loads impacting health and viability of terrestrial and

Moderate

Unlikely Medium Risk is considered Medium because:

• the duration of construction activities is relatively short term (12 – 18 months);

• 1.7 km separation distance to the ephemeral Turee Creek East to the processing plant works; and

• construction will be managed under the CEMP which

The works approval will require diversion of clean surface water around work areas, and potentially contaminated waters to be retained onsite via bunds or surface diversions.

The Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharges) Regulations 2004 will apply.

MS 1113 will apply to the West Angelas Cracking-



Source/Activity Potential emissions

Potential receptors Potential pathway

Potential impacts

Consequence Likelihood Risk Reasoning Regulatory controls (Refer to conditions of the granted Works Approval)

Two P2 flora species and seven P3 flora species and one P4 flora species are within the project area.

Native vegetation within the proposal area assessed as Good to Excellent” condition”

Ephemeral Turee Creek East ~ 1.7km km from main infrastructure being constructed

riparian vegetation includes:

o Diversion of clean surface water around work areas.

o Potentially contaminated waters retained onsite via bunds or surface diversions.

o Potentially polluting substances, including hydrocarbons and other chemicals, will be stored in secondarily contained bunds/areas to prevent unintentional discharge to the environment.

o Equipment servicing will take place in designated workshop areas.

o No release of any potentially contaminated site water that has not been tested for hydrocarbon contaminants.

MS 1113 requires no direct or indirect disturbance to the West Angelas Cracking-Clays) and implementation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which proposes annual assessment of the PEC’s vegetation condition.

Clays.

The general provisions of the EP Act with respect to the causing of pollution and environmental harm will apply.

Table 9: Identification of emissions, pathway and receptors during operation

Source Activity Potential emissions

Potential receptors

Potential pathway

Potential impacts

Consequence Likelihood Risk Reasoning Regulatory control

Category 5: Processing of ore

Category 12: Screening of Material

Category 64: Landfill

Operation of primary crushing facility and overland conveyor

Operation of new ROM ore load out

Operation of modified A Hub plant

Operation of mobile crushing and screening plant

Landfilling

Dust No residences or other sensitive land uses within 25 km

Air (windborne) Health and amenity

N/A N/A N/A Distance to closest sensitive land use is sufficient to inform the risk of dust emissions as not foreseeable.



West Angelas Cracking-Clays (Priority 1 PEC) - 200 m east of the Deposit C and D Primary Crusher Facility Two P2 flora species and seven P3 flora species and one P4 flora species are found in the Project Area.

Native vegetation within the proposal area assessed as Good to Excellent” condition

Smothering of vegetation causing reduced health and viability, including a PEC

Moderate

Unlikely

. Medium The scale of operations is relatively large with duration up to

30 years.

The Applicant’s infrastructure controls as listed below have reduced the likelihood of a dust risk event. Furthermore MS 1113 requires no direct or indirect disturbance to the West Angelas Cracking-Clays and implementation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which proposes annual assessment of the vegetation condition of the PEC.

The landfill is considered to be a relatively low source of dust.

Primary crushing facility - infrastructure controls

• The primary crushing facility includes a dry baghouse dust extraction system which will extract dust from the following dust generating sources:

o Apron feeder head End/ROM bin;

o Vibrating grizzly feed chute;

o Vibrating grizzly feeder discharge chute;

o Apron feeder dribble chute; and

o Discharge conveyor skirts exit.

• ROM dump hopper dust suppression through high pressure water fogging combined with a water spray curtain system at the ROM feed hopper and coarse ore stockpile.

• Two pulse spray arrangements in the apron feeder dribble chute.

The Applicant’s infrastructure controls have lowered the risk of dust for operations and will be conditioned as infrastructure construction requirements on the works approval.

Upgrades to Hub A will operate under the existing licence, following submission of construction compliance documents.

The works approval will include a Time Limited Operations Phase to allow other new infrastructure to be operated for a time, following submission of construction compliance documents. Given the Applicant’s infrastructure controls, time limited operations will not be subject to specified conditions for dust emissions.

MS 1113 is applicable to the West Angelas Cracking-Clays.

The general provisions of the EP Act with respect to the causing of pollution and environmental harm apply,




Potential receptors

Potential pathway

Potential impacts


• Dual tier dust suppression sprays above the static grizzly.

• Two water cannons located at the top of the ROM bin to assist in the washdown of the ROM bin.

• One conveyor spray bar arrangement immediately downstream of the primary crusher discharge chute.

• Two conveyor dust suppression sprays for the discharge chutes from the vibrating grizzly and baghouse.

• Transfer chute at the inline transfer station fitted with pulse spray and misting spray within the chute.

• The discharge conveyor fitted with primary and secondary belt scrapers at the head end to minimise carry back as a dust source.

Overland conveyor – infrastructure controls

• Fitted with a cover 97% of the length.

• Fitted with primary and secondary belt scrapers at the head end to minimise carry back as a dust source.

• Fitted with sprays on conveyor transfer points.

Modified A Hub Processing Plant – infrastructure controls

• Hub A surge bin will be equipped with two insertable dust collectors.

• Apron Feeders which control the discharge from the surge bin include dribble conveyors to capture carry back.

• Discharge points from surge bin onto Conveyors C001 and C007 will each have dust suppression sprays.

• The base level of the surge bin facility constructed with a concrete slab under the entire footprint to capture spillage and washdown, and draining to a concrete sump.

Mobile crusher and screener plants – infrastructure controls

• 2 x Terex Finlay J-1480 mobile crushing and screening plants.

• Located within existing cleared borrow pit areas.

• Sprinkler system installed.

Dust suppression – general fugitive dust

Overall site dust management by water sprays, water trucks, and control of vehicle movements / restricted speeds.

Operation of Primary crushing facility and overland conveyor

Operation of new ROM ore load out

Operation of modified A Hub Plant

Operation of mobile crushing and screening plant

Landfilling

Noise No residences or other sensitive land uses within 25 km.

Air (windborne)

Amenity

N/A N/A N/A Distance to closest sensitive land use (25 km) is sufficient to inform the risk of noise as not foreseeable.


The Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 are applicable.

Nocturnal native fauna, including the Ghost Bat

Noise and vibration impacts on fauna habitat including Ghost Bat

N/A N/A N/A Managed under Part IV of the EP Act by MS 1113 to ensure no disturbance to the potential maternity and other Ghost Bat roosts.

The closest known Ghost Bat roosting cave is located approximately 2.4km from the primary crusher.






Potential receptors

Potential pathway

Potential impacts



Category 12: Screening of Material

Operation of Primary crushing facility and overland conveyor.

Operation of new ROM ore load out.

Operation of modified Hub A plant.

Operation of mobile crushing and screening plant.

Contaminated stormwater – hydrocarbons and sediment

Soils and vegetation at site of spill and along flow path of contaminated stormwater.

West Angelas Cracking-Clays (Priority 1 PEC) known to occur on habitats 200 m east of the Deposit C and D Primary Crusher Facility and adjacent to overland conveyor.

Two P2 flora species and seven P3 flora species and one P4 flora species are found in the Project Area.

Native vegetation within the proposal area assessed as Good to Excellent” condition.

Ephemeral Turee Creek East ~ 1.7km km from main infrastructure

No permanent water features on the premises.

Direct discharge and path of flow along drainage channels.

Contamination of soils due to presence of iron, hydrocarbons and chemicals in stormwater.

Increased sedimentation of drainage channels

Impact to health and viability of terrestrial and riparian ecosystems and flora by smothering with sediment

Moderate

Unlikely

Medium Scale of operations is relatively large and duration is 30 years, and is located close to the PEC. The consequence of the risk event is considered to be midlevel onsite.

Given the Applicant’s controls as listed below, the risk event will probably not occur.

Primary Crushing Processing area

Surface water/stormwater directed away from the process plant.

Processing Plant drainage will be collected in open drains with water directed to earthen sedimentation / silt pond/s designed to contain a peak 1:10 year rainfall event.

The areas under the primary crusher, conveyor transfer points and surge bin facility will be concrete slab, graded such that washdown water is collected in concrete drive in sediment/silt sumps. Sumps constructed for drive in to allow removal of sediment.

Mobile crushing and screening plants

Mobile crushing and screening plants will be located within existing cleared borrow pit areas so that any sediment laden water is retained within the confines of the borrow pit.

Site-wide

Secondary containment of all chemical and hydrocarbons storage.

MS 1113 requires no direct or indirect disturbance to the West Angelas Cracking-Clays and implementation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which proposes annual assessment of the vegetation condition of the PEC.

Applicant infrastructure controls have reduced the operating risk and will be included in the works approval as infrastructure construction requirements.

Upgrades to Hub A will operate under the existing licence, following submission of construction compliance documents.

The works approval will include a Time Limited Operations Phase to allow the other new infrastructure to operate for a time, following submission of construction compliance documents. Time limited conditions will require the Works Approval Holder to maintain mechanisms to ensure that stormwater from process plants; washdown bays; and refuelling areas is diverted to facilities for treatment and disposal or reuse, consistent with the existing Licence.

The Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharges) Regulations 2004 will also apply.



Heavy Vehicle Refuelling Facility (HVRF)

Hydrocarbon spill or discharge

Soils and vegetation at site of spill and along flow path of spill

West Angelas Cracking-Clays (Priority 1 PEC)

Ephemeral Turee Creek East ~ 1.7km km from the HVRF

No permanent water features on the premises.


Contamination of soils impacting health and viability of terrestrial and riparian ecosystems including the West Angelas Cracking-Clays PEC.

Moderate

Unlikely

Medium Given the distance to specified ecosystems, the consequence of a major diesel spill or accidental fuel release is rated as mid-level on site.

The risk event will probably not occur given the Applicant’s controls as listed below. Furthermore MS 1113 requires no direct or indirect disturbance to the West Angelas Cracking-Clays and implementation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which proposes annual assessment of the vegetation condition of the PEC.

• Diesel will be stored in above ground self bunded (double skinned) 2 x 200 kL horizontal bulk fuel storage tanks, fitted with overfill protection. Tanks designed and constructed and tested to Australian Standard AS1940 and AS 1692 requirements.

• Concrete collection slabs will be installed under all areas at the HVRF where there is the potential for hydrocarbons to be spilled so that spills are directed to oily water collection sumps before being treated by oily water separator (OWS).

• HVRF refuelling on bunded concrete hardstand area, and in accordance with AS 1940. All piping will be above ground where possible in the hardstand area.

• Water quality sampling site will be established at the discharge point of an oily water separator (centrifugal type)

The Applicant’s infrastructure controls have reduced the risk and will be included in the works approval as infrastructure construction requirements.

The works approval will include a Time Limited Operations Phase to allow the HVRF to be operated for a time, following submission of compliance documents. Time limited conditions will require the Works Approval Holder to ensure concentration of Total Recoverable Hydrocarbons in waters discharged from the premises to not exceed 15 mg/L (considered current best practise for new infrastructure), consistent with other recently issued EP Act Part V Licences.

Condition 8 of the existing licence requires concentration of Total Recoverable Hydrocarbons in waters discharged from the premises does not exceed 30 mg/L and may be amended to 15 mg/L consistent with other licences.

The Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 and associated Regulations will apply during all operations, and are administered by DMIRS.





Potential receptors

Potential pathway

Potential impacts


designed to separate out hydrocarbons from surface water.

• HVRF constructed so that larger spills cause the OWS to shut down, preventing it from operating outside acceptable parameters.

MS 1113 is applicable to the West Angelas Cracking-Clays.

Groundwater ~ 40 mbgl

Infiltration through ground

Contamination of groundwater.

Slight Rare Low Risk event is determined to be Low, with consideration to depth to groundwater and Applicants controls above.


Category 6: Dewatering to allow mining

Abstraction of up to 14 GL per year of groundwater water

Abstraction resulting in drawdown of groundwater levels

Groundwater dependent ecosystems

Karajini National Park

Abstraction drawdown

Decline of Riparian and terrestrial vegetation and of conservation significant areas with disruption of normal ecosystem function

N/A N/A N/A Not within the scope of Part V of the EP Act. None specified in the works approval.

Regulated under the RIWI Act, and Part IV of the EP Act by MS 1113

Discharge to an ephemeral tributary of Turee Creek East of additional 6 GL of dewater per year at Deposit C and D discharge point.

Relocation of Turee Creek Dewater Discharge Point 300 m.

Discharge of Mine pit dewater (delivered at up to 300 L/sec).

Turee Creek East

Karajini National Park

West Angelas Cracking-Clays (Priority 1 PEC) approximately 150 m from the bank of the Turee Creek East.


Changed hydrological regime of Turee Creek East from an ephemeral hydrologic regime to a perennial hydrologic regime.

Decline of Riparian vegetation and disruption of normal ecosystem function

Increase of weeds

N/A N/A N/A MS 1113 approves discharge of dewater at the West Angelas Mine site. MS 1113 conditions require:

• there is no irreversible impact as a result of the discharge of surplus water to the health of riparian vegetation of Turee Creek East. A required EMP will include monitoring, threshold criterial, trigger criteria and actions;

• no direct or indirect disturbance to the West Angelas Cracking-Clays and implementation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which proposes annual assessment of the PEC’s vegetation condition; and

• the surplus water surface discharge extent will not extend within 2 km of the boundary of Karijini National Park under natural no-flow conditions.


Managed under Part IV of the EP Act by MS 1113

Erosion of creek beds, with scouring, sedimentation, altered flow and decline and change of vegetation

Moderate Unlikely Medium MS 1113 approves discharge of dewater to the Turee Creek East tributary.

The drainage line at the site of discharge is ephemeral with no permanent or semi-permanent water.

The Applicant’s controls reduces the likelihood of erosion and impact to riparian vegetation. The following controls are applicable.

• Discharge outlets will be constructed to include a concrete stilling well and weir system leading to a rip rap lined ramp to a rip rap lined creek bed to reduce flow rate and scouring.

• Flow metres will be installed to record discharge volumes and water quality at the Deposit C and D and Turee Creek Dewater Discharge Point dewater discharge points to ensure compliance with approved discharge quantities.


The works approval will include a Time Limited Operations Phase to allow the Deposit C and D Dewater Discharge Point to operate for a time, following submission of construction compliance documents. Time limited conditions will include approval for discharge of 6 GL/year dewater at Deposit C and D Discharge Point (as per the Application) and monitoring the quantity and quality of the discharge.

MS1113 requires that the surplus water surface discharge extent will not extend within 2 km of the boundary of Karijini National Park under natural no-flow conditions with monitoring and trigger criteria (as outlined in Section 9: Applicant’s comments.

The relocated Turee Creek Dewater Discharge Point will operate under the conditions of the existing Licence (following submission of construction compliance documents). The discharge point has been moved 300 m but remains on and within the scale of the monitoring location map. Conditions of




Potential receptors

Potential pathway

Potential impacts


the existing licence will remain applicable.

Transportation of dewater by pipeline

Rupture or leaks of the pipeline – pipeline spill water of good quality (marginal salinity).

West Angelas Cracking-Clays (Priority 1 PEC)

Riparian and terrestrial vegetation in excellent to good condition in the spill path.


Reduced viability of vegetation by inundation

Minor Unlikely Medium MS 1113 requires no direct or indirect disturbance to the West Angelas Cracking-Clays.

Discharges will be delivered at up to 300 L/sec and pipelines will extend some distance. Pipeline rupture may cause inundation of vegetation with good quality water. Consequences of the event considered to be minor level on-site impacts, given the location of the pipelines near the pits, dewater water quality and climatic conditions experienced in the region of heavy localised rainfall events over short periods of time.

The Applicant proposes the following controls which have reduced the likelihood to “unlikely”:

• Bore dewatering header pipelines will have pressure relief valves fitted to them for over pressure protection in case bores are accidentally run when the header pipeline end isolation valves are closed.

• Leak detection will be managed via discharge flow meters connected to the site telemetry system including magnetic flow meters at the transfer pump station (1 for each pump and 1 on the header which receives the flow from each pump for cross checking) and another approximately 100-200m from the discharge outlets.

• Monthly inspection of the pipeline.

The risk event is considered Medium and will be subject to some regulatory controls.


The works approval will include a Time Limited Operations Phase to allow the Deposit C and D Dewater Discharge Point to operate for a time, following submission of construction compliance documents. Time limited conditions will include monthly visual inspection of the pipelines.

The Turee Creek Dewater pipeline infrastructure will operate under the existing Licence following submission of construction compliance documents.

Category 64: Landfill

Deposition and burial of waste

Odour No residences or other sensitive land uses within 25 km

Air Heath and amenity

N/A N/A N/A Distance to closest sensitive land use is sufficient to inform the risk of odour as not foreseeable.

None specified in the Works Approval.


Odour - windblown waste and waste attracting scavengers

Local species and ecosystems including EPBC Act fauna.

Air (windborne) Local species and ecosystems may be impacted by increase of scavenger species

Minor Rare Low Risk is considered Low - Medium, with consideration of the waste types to be buried, location requirements of landfilling and the management commitments as listed:

• Waste buried will be up to 8,500 tonnes per year of Clean Fill, Inert and Putrescible waste, with Putrescible waste consisting of wooden packaging and broken pallets only.

• A final site will be located at least 3 m above groundwater and 100 m from surface water features.

• Earthen bunding will be installed around the facility to divert stormwater away.

• A sump or bunding will be maintained within the landfill to collect any surface water that has come into contact with waste.

• Waste will be covered with inert and incombustible material on an ad hot basis and to at least 200 mm at final landform.

The Applicant’s combined infrastructure, location and management controls have lowered the risk and will be included in the works approval as infrastructure construction requirements.

The works approval will include a Time Limited Operations Phase to allow the landfill to operate for a time, following submission of construction compliance documents. Time limited conditions will be consistent with the landfill conditions of the existing licence.

Stormwater containing solid waste or waste leachate

Turee Creek East

Direct discharge along flow path

Contamination of surface water with solid wastes and leachate - with impacts to riparian vegetation and surface water flow.

Minor Unlikely Medium

Waste leachate Groundwater – 40mbgl at the indicative location.

Infiltration through ground

Contamination of groundwater

Minor Rare Low



8.2 Consequence and likelihood of risk events DWER will undertake an assessment of the consequence and likelihood of the Risk Event in accordance with Table 10 below, and a risk rating will be determined for risk events in accordance with the risk rating matrix set out in Table 11 below. Table 10: Risk criteria table

Likelihood Consequence

The following criteria has been used to determine the likelihood of the Risk Event occurring.

The following criteria has been used to determine the consequences of a Risk Event occurring:

Environment Public health* and amenity (such as air and water quality, noise, and odour)

Almost Certain

The risk event is expected to occur in most circumstances

Severe • onsite impacts: catastrophic • offsite impacts local scale: high level

or above • offsite impacts wider scale: mid-level

or above • Mid to long-term or permanent impact to

an area of high conservation value or special significance^

• Specific Consequence Criteria (for environment) are significantly exceeded

• Loss of life • Adverse health effects: high level or

ongoing medical treatment • Specific Consequence Criteria (for

public health) are significantly exceeded

• Local scale impacts: permanent loss of amenity

Likely The risk event will probably occur in most circumstances

Major • onsite impacts: high level • offsite impacts local scale: mid-level • offsite impacts wider scale: low level • Short-term impact to an area of high

conservation value or special significance^

• Specific Consequence Criteria (for environment) are exceeded

• Adverse health effects: mid-level or frequent medical treatment

• Specific Consequence Criteria (for public health) are exceeded

• Local scale impacts: high level impact to amenity

Possible The risk event could occur at some time

Moderate • onsite impacts: mid-level • offsite impacts local scale: low level • offsite impacts wider scale: minimal • Specific Consequence Criteria (for

environment) are at risk of not being met

• Adverse health effects: low level or occasional medical treatment

• Specific Consequence Criteria (for public health) are at risk of not being met

• Local scale impacts: mid-level impact to amenity

Unlikely The risk event will probably not occur in most circumstances

Minor • onsite impacts: low level • offsite impacts local scale: minimal • offsite impacts wider scale: not

detectable • Specific Consequence Criteria (for

environment) likely to be met

• Specific Consequence Criteria (for public health) are likely to be met

• Local scale impacts: low level impact to amenity

Rare The risk event may only occur in exceptional circumstances

Slight • onsite impact: minimal • Specific Consequence Criteria (for

environment) met

• Local scale: minimal to amenity • Specific Consequence Criteria (for

public health) met

^ Determination of areas of high conservation value or special significance should be informed by the Guidance Statement: Environmental Siting. * In applying public health criteria, DWER may have regard to the Department of Health’s Health Risk Assessment (Scoping) Guidelines. “onsite” means within the Prescribed Premises boundary. Table 11: Risk rating matrix

Likelihood Consequence

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



8.3 Acceptability and treatment of Risk Event DWER will determine the acceptability and treatment of Risk Events in accordance with the Risk treatment table below: Table 12: Risk treatment table

Rating of Risk Event

Acceptability Treatment

Extreme Unacceptable. Risk Event will not be tolerated. DWER may refuse application.

High May be acceptable.

Subject to multiple regulatory controls.

Risk Event may be tolerated and may be subject to multiple regulatory controls. This may include both outcome-based and management conditions.

Medium Acceptable, generally subject to regulatory controls.

Risk Event is tolerable and is likely to be subject to some regulatory controls. A preference for outcome-based conditions where practical and appropriate will be applied.

Low Acceptable, generally not controlled.

Risk Event is acceptable and will generally not be subject to regulatory controls.



9. Applicant’s comments The Applicant was provided with the draft Decision Report and draft Works Approval on 24 October 2019. The Applicant provided comments on 31 October 2019 which are summarised, along with DWER’s response, in Appendix 2.

10. Conclusion This assessment of the risks of activities on the Premises has been undertaken with due consideration of a number of factors, including the documents and policies specified in this Decision Report (summarised in Appendix 1). Based on this assessment, it has been determined that the Issued Works Approval will be granted subject to conditions commensurate with the determined regulatory controls and necessary for administration and reporting requirements. The works approval that accompanies this Decision Report authorises construction, and following submission of construction compliance documents, a Time Limited Operational Phase only. A licence is required for operations beyond the Time Limited Operational Phase. Conditions for the Licence will be finalised in separate assessments following submission of applications to amend the existing licence. It is expected that the mobile crushing and screening plant, the landfill will be included into the Licence by a first amendment, followed by a later amendment to include the new Category 5 processing plant and Deposit C and D dewatering discharge outlet. Alana Kidd Manager, Resource Industries Delegated Officer under section 20 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986



Appendix 1: Key documents Document title In text ref Availability

1. Works Approval Application Form and Supporting Documentation - West Angelas Iron Ore Project Deposit C, D and G Proposal, RTIO-HSE-033134. Rio Tinto, March 2019

Application

DWER records (DWERDT140004)

2. Email: Subject: RE: Works approval W6232/2019/1 for the West Angelas Deposit C, D and G – queries. From Rebecca Evans, Rio Tinto, 5/06/2019

DWER records (A1794985)

3. Email: Subject: HPE CM: RE: W6232 West Angelas C, D and G - construction timelines & dewater pipeline controls. From Rebecca Evans, Rio Tinto, 5 August 2019 and 23 August 2019.

DWER records (A1811910) and (A1817473)

4. Email: Subject: RE: W6232 West Angelas C, D and G - request for maps. From Rebecca Evans, Rio Tinto, 5/09/2019.

5. DER, October 2015. Guidance Statement: Setting conditions. Department of Environment Regulation, Perth.

-

accessed at www.dwer.wa.gov.au

6. DER, February 2017. Guidance Statement: Risk Assessments. Department of Environment Regulation, Perth.

7. DER, February 2017. Guidance Statement: Decision Making. Department of Environment Regulation, Perth.

8. DER, November 2016. Guidance Statement: Environmental Siting. Department of Environment Regulation, Perth.

9. DWER, June 2019. Guideline: Industry Regulation Guide to Licensing

10. EPA Report 1636, May 2019. West Angelas Iron Ore Project Deposits c, D and G – Revised Proposal

EPA Report 1636

accessed at www.epa.wa.gov.au/

11. Ministerial Statement 1113 MS 1113 accessed at www.epa.wa.gov.au/

http://www.dwer.wa.gov.au/



Appendix 2: Summary of applicant’s comments on risk assessment and draft conditions

Condition Summary of Applicant’s comment and rationale DWER response

Condition 22 -

The Works Approval Holder must monitor and record the extent of the dewater discharge water saturation zone quarterly (in metres).

The Applicant requests removal of Condition 22 from the Works Approval because Ministerial Statement 1113 adequately covers the monitoring and reporting of the dewatering discharge water saturation zone via the following mechanisms, and as such (to avoid unnecessary duplication) Condition 22 should not be captured within W6232/2019/1. • Condition 1-1 of MS 1113 states: “When implementing the

revised proposal, the proponent shall not exceed the authorised extent of the revised proposal as defined in Table 2 of Schedule 1, unless amendments to the revised proposal and the authorised extent of the revised proposal have been approved under the EP Act”

• Table 2 of Schedule 1 states: “Surplus dewatering water, exceeding the operational requirement is discharged to a local ephemeral tributary of Turee Creek East. The surface discharge extent will not extend within 2 km of the boundary of Kariiini National Park under natural no-flow conditions.”

• The EMP required by Condition 5-2 prescribes trigger and threshold criteria for demonstrating compliance with this requirement. The EMP requires monitoring to be undertaken to determine if the trigger and threshold criteria have been exceeded. The EMP also requires performance against the trigger and threshold criteria to be reported on in the Annual Compliance Assessment Report (required by Condition 3-6).

•

Agreed. This condition to be removed as requested.

Schedule 1: Map 2 The relocated bore currently labelled “Dewatering discharge location (Deposit A re-location)” should be updated to “Dewatering discharge location(Turee Creek relocation)” to align

Agreed, Schedule 1: Map 2 should be replaced with the updated map that was provided with comments.



Condition Summary of Applicant’s comment and rationale DWER response

with Map 3 and existing Operational Licence L7774. Updated Map attached to comments.



Attachment 1: Issued Works Approval W6232/2019/1

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