Western Turner Syncline Stage 2: B1 and Section 17...

Western Turner Syncline Stage 2: B1 and Section 17 Deposits

EPA Referral Supporting Documentation

Prepared for Rio Tinto by Strategen May 2012


EPA Referral Supporting Documentation

Strategen is a trading name of Strategen Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd Level 2, 322 Hay Street Subiaco WA ACN: 056 190 419 May 2012

Disclaimer and Limitation

This report has been prepared for the exclusive use of the Client, in accordance with the agreement

between the Client and Strategen (“Agreement”).

Strategen accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for it in respect of any use of or reliance upon

this report by any person who is not a party to the Agreement.

In particular, it should be noted that this report is a qualitative assessment only, based on the scope of

services defined by the Client, budgetary and time constraints imposed by the Client, the information

supplied by the Client (and its agents), and the method consistent with the preceding.

Strategen has not attempted to verify the accuracy or completeness of the information supplied by the

Client.

Copyright and any other Intellectual Property arising from the report and the provision of the services in

accordance with the Agreement belongs exclusively to Strategen unless otherwise agreed. This document

may not be reproduced or disclosed to any person other than the Client without the express written

authority of Strategen unless the document has been released for referral and assessment of proposals.

Client: Rio Tinto

Report Version Revision

No. Purpose

Strategen author/reviewer

Submitted to Client

Form Date

Preliminary Draft Report A Review N Zago Electronic 26 April 2012

Draft Report B Review N Zago/K Oliver Electronic 3 May 2012

Final Report C Submission to EPA Hardcopy 4 May 2012

Filename: PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C - 4 May 2012


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12

Table of contents 1. Introduction 1

1.1 Overview 1

1.2 The Proponent 1

1.3 Background 1

1.4 Project timing 1

1.5 EP Act assessment process 4

1.6 Tenure 4

1.7 Environmental legislation 6

1.8 Stakeholder consultation 6

2. Proposal description 10

2.1 Proposal overview 10

2.2 Key Proposal characteristics 12

2.3 Detailed Proposal description 12

2.3.1 Site preparation and mining method 12

2.3.2 Mineral waste management 12

2.3.3 Water extraction and management 13

2.3.4 Mine support infrastructure 13

2.3.5 Infrastructure corridor (B1 to S10) 14

2.3.6 Power supply 14

2.3.7 Workforce accommodation 14

2.3.8 Site access road 14

2.3.9 Investigative and monitoring activities 15

2.4 Exclusions from the Proposal 15

3. Existing environment 16

3.1 Physical environment 16

3.1.1 Climate 16

3.1.2 Geology and soils 16

3.1.3 Surface hydrology 16

3.1.4 Hydrogeology 16

3.2 Biological environment 19

3.2.1 Vegetation and flora 19

3.2.2 Terrestrial fauna 20

3.2.3 Subterranean fauna 20

3.3 Social environment and land use 20

4. Potential environmental impacts and management 21

4.1 Environmental management overview 21

4.2 Flora and vegetation 22

4.2.1 Introduction 22

4.2.2 Description of factor 22

4.2.3 Key potential impacts 31

4.2.4 Management measures 38

4.2.5 Planned studies/investigations 38

4.3 Fauna 39






4.4 Subterranean fauna 49







PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12

4.5 Surface water 53






4.6 Groundwater 55






4.7 Closure 57






4.8 Other environmental factors 63

4.8.1 Greenhouse gas emissions 63

4.8.2 Aboriginal heritage 63

4.8.3 Visual amenity 63

4.8.4 Air quality (dust) 63

4.8.5 Noise and vibration 64

4.8.6 Public risk and safety 64

4.8.7 Hazardous materials 64

4.8.8 Non-mineral waste 65

5. Environmental principles, sustainability and management 66

5.1 Principles of environmental protection 66

5.2 Environmental offsets 67

6. References 71

List of tables Table 1-1 Commonwealth and State legislation of relevance to the Proposal 6

Table 1-2 Key issues identified during stakeholder consultation 7

Table 2-1 Key characteristics of the Proposal 12

Table 4-1 Conservation significant flora recorded in the study area 22

Table 4-2 Vegetation communities of the Western Turner Syncline area 29

Table 4-3 Potential clearing impact to conservation significant vegetation communities 31

Table 4-4 Potential impacts to conservation significant flora 32

Table 4-5 Fauna habitat unit descriptions 42

Table 4-6 Conservation significant vertebrate terrestrial fauna species recorded in the Western Turner

Syncline area 43

Table 4-7 Potential SREs recorded in the Western Turner Syncline area 43

Table 4-8 Conservation significant aquatic fauna in the Western Turner Syncline region 44

Table 4-9 Impacts to conservation significant terrestrial fauna recorded in the study area 47

Table 4-10 Stygofauna recorded in the vicinity of B1 and S17 deposits 49

Table 4-11 Potential troglofauna recorded in the vicinity of B1 and S17 deposits 49

Table 4-12 Mineral waste volumes and erodibility classification 57

Table 5-1 Principles of environmental protection 66

Table 5-2 Environmental offsets assessment form 68


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12

List of figures Figure 1-1 Regional Location 2

Figure 1-2 Project locality 3

Figure 1-3 Project tenure 5

Figure 2-1 Indicative Project layout 11

Figure 3-1 B1 deposit geological sections 17

Figure 3-2 S17 deposit geological sections 18

Figure 4-1 Vegetation and flora 23

Figure 4-2 Vegetation legend 25

Figure 4-3 Conveyor alignment and sheetflow-dependent vegetation 35

Figure 4-4 Groundwater drawdown contours for B1 main pit and vegetation in the Western Turner Syncline

area 37

Figure 4-5 Fauna habitat and conservation significant fauna records in the Western Turner Syncline area 40

Figure 4-6 Fauna habitat legend 41

Figure 4-7 Modelled extent of groundwater discharge, and aquatic fauna sampling sites, in Western Turner

Syncline region 45

Figure 4-8 Subterranean fauna recorded in the vicinity of the B1 deposit 50

Figure 4-9 Subterranean fauna recorded in the vicinity of the S17 deposit 51

Figure 4-10 Hydrogeological conceptualisation of the B1 main pit void 59

List of appendices All appendices are contained on a data CD ROM attached to the inside the hard cover of this report or on

the disc containing the electronic version of this report.

Appendix 1 Biota 2012a, West Turner Syncline Phase 2 Vegetation and Flora Report

Appendix 2 Biota 2012b, West Turner Syncline Fauna Survey Summary Report

Appendix 3 WRM 2012b, Western Turner Syncline: Baseline Assessment of Aquatic Fauna & Water Quality

– Wet & Dry 2011 Survey

Appendix 4 Biota 2012c, West Turner Syncline Stage 2 B1 and Section 17 Deposits Subterranean Fauna

Survey

Appendix 5 Rio Tinto 2012b, Western Turner Syncline B1 Dewatering Strategy – Groundwater numerical

modelling


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 1

1. Introduction 1.1 Overview Hamersley Iron Pty Limited (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto) proposes to develop the Western

Turner Syncline (WTS) Stage 2; B1 and Section 17 Deposits (the Project), located approximately 30 km

west of Tom Price in the central Pilbara region of Western Australia (Figure 1-1). The Project involves

open-pit mining of the B1 and Section 17 (S17) iron ore deposits, the transport of ore to the existing WTS

Section 10 (S10) mine (approximately 12 km west of the B1 deposit) and the construction/operation of

associated infrastructure (Figure 1-2). The Project will operate at production rates of up to approximately

32 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa).

The Project will be integrated into the current Rio Tinto Greater Tom Price mining operation. After

transport to the WTS S10 mine, ore will be transferred via an existing transportation corridor to the Tom

Price mine for further processing, and subsequently to port facilities at Cape Lambert and Dampier via the

existing Rio Tinto rail network. 1.2 The Proponent The Proponent for the Proposal is Hamersley Iron Pty Limited (Hamersley).

Hamersley is part of the Rio Tinto group of companies and comprises a significant component of its global

iron ore business, that includes several wholly-owned subsidiaries and joint venture initiatives in the

Pilbara region of northwest Western Australia. Rio Tinto assets in the Pilbara integrate multiple iron ore

mines, approximately 1650 km of railway, and ports at both Dampier and Cape Lambert.

The Rio Tinto contact person in relation to the assessment of the WTS Stage 2 Project under Part IV of the

Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) is:

Jeremy English

Environmental Approvals Specialist

Rio Tinto

GPO Box A42, Perth WA 6837

Telephone: (08) 9366 5153

Email: [email protected] 1.3 Background The WTS Stage 2 Project proposes mining of the B1 and S17 deposits, located approximately 30 km west

of the existing Rio Tinto Tom Price minesite. Mining operations commenced at Mount Tom Price in 1965,

with the majority of pits mined during the operation being located within a 7 km radius of the central

processing facilities. In 2010, the Tom Price operation incorporated mining of the WTS S10 deposit

(located 20 km to the north west) to supplement and sustain production. An infrastructure corridor links

S10 to Tom Price, enabling ore transport via road trains on a dedicated haul road, with an ore

transportation conveyor currently under construction. Mining of the S10 deposit, and construction/

operation of the infrastructure corridor, was approved in Statement 807 on 17 September 2009. The

development of the B1 and S17 deposits will further supplement and sustain production from the Tom

Price operation. 1.4 Project timing A Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for the Project was completed in March 2012, and a Feasibility Study will be

undertaken from April 2012 to May 2013. Project construction is planned to commence in Q1–Q2 2014.

The expected mine life is at least 15 years.

Western Turner Sy

ncline Stage 2: B1 and Section 17 Dep

osits

PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

2

Fig

ure

1-1

Re

gio

na

l Lo

cation

Western Turner Sy


osits

PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

3

Fig

ure

1-2

Pro

ject

loca

lity


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 4

1.5 EP Act assessment process The Proposal (as defined in Section 2 of this document) has been referred to the Environmental Protection

Authority (EPA) under s. 38 of the EP Act. Rio Tinto considers the Proposal warrants an Assessment on

Proponent Information (API) level of assessment, based on consideration of the criteria identified in the

Environmental Impact Assessment Administrative Procedures 2010 (EPA 2010a), as follows:

1. The Proposal raises a limited number of significant environmental factors that can be readily

managed (as demonstrated in Section 4 of this document). The environmental factors raised by the

Proposal are similar to numerous other iron ore mines in the Pilbara that are subject to

implementation conditions imposed by the Minister for Environment (the Minister) under s. 45 of the

EP Act. This demonstrates that there is an established condition-setting framework for the

environmental factors raised by the Proposal.

2. The Proposal is consistent with established environmental policy frameworks, guidelines and

standards, as detailed in Section 4 of this document.

3. Appropriate and effective consultation with key stakeholders has been undertaken and stakeholders

have not identified any intractable issues with the Project (refer to Section 1.8 of this document).

Ongoing stakeholder consultation will be undertaken during preparation of the EIA document that will

be submitted for assessment. 1.6 Tenure All proposed infrastructure is located on current and pending tenure (Figure 1-3), as follows:

1. The B1 and S17 deposits, and the majority of support infrastructure near B1, are located on State

Agreement tenure ML4SA granted pursuant to the Iron Ore (Hamersley Range) Agreement Act 1963.

2. Stockpiles and waste dumps near S17 are located on pending Mining Leases under the Mining Act

1978 (Mining Act). These areas are in the process of being converted into State Agreement tenure

pursuant to the Iron Ore (Hamersley Range) Agreement Act 1963.

3. Applications for Miscellaneous Licences under the Mining Act have been submitted where required

for infrastructure corridors and potential access road routes.

4. Applications for leases under s 79 of the Land Administration Act 1997 (Land Administration Act)

have been made where required for infrastructure, and where potentially required for stockpiles and

waste dumps.

The Proposal boundary incorporates some 'off tenure' areas where tenure is held by third parties

(Exploration Licences under the Mining Act). Project infrastructure is not planned to be located in these

areas. However, to reduce the potential for EP Act s. 45C applications should locations of infrastructure

be modified during ongoing Project planning, the Proposal boundary incorporates some additional 'off-

tenure' areas in proximity to planned infrastructure. If any 'off-tenure' areas are required due to

modifications in planned infrastructure location, suitable tenure and approvals required under relevant

legislation will be obtained prior to implementing activities within these areas.

Western Turner Sy


osits

PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

5

Fig

ure

1-3

Pro

ject

tenu

re


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 6

1.7 Environmental legislation The Proposal is subject to compliance with Commonwealth and State environmental legislation, as

summarised in Table 1-1.

Table 1-1 Commonwealth and State legislation of relevance to the Proposal

Commonwealth legislation

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (which operates concurrently with any existing State laws in so far as those laws would not be consistent with this Act)

Native Title Act 1993

State legislation

Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) Iron Ore (Hamersley Range) Agreement Act 1963

Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 Land Administration Act 1997

Agricultural and Related Resources Protection Act 1976 (ARRP Act)

Local Government Act 1995

Bush Fires Act 1954 Mining Act 1978 (Mining Act)

Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 Native Title (State Provisions) Act 1999

Contaminated Sites Act 2003 Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984

Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947 Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 (RIWI Act)

Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945

Health Act 1911 Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WC Act) 1.8 Stakeholder consultation Identified key stakeholders for this project include:

• Government agencies:

∗ Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA)

∗ Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) – Pilbara regional office and Perth office

– Environmental Management Branch (EMB)

∗ Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP)

∗ Department of State Development (DSD)

∗ Department of Water (DoW) – Pilbara regional office and Perth office

∗ Shire of Ashburton.

• Traditional Owners:

∗ Eastern Guruma Group

∗ Yinhawangka Group.

A number of discussions and meetings have been held with the OEPA, DEC and other stakeholders (refer

to Table 1-2) and Rio Tinto will continue to consult with relevant stakeholders during the environmental

approval process.

Western Turner Sy


osits

PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

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7

Ta

ble

1-2

K

ey issu

es id

en

tifie

d d

urin

g s

take

ho

lde

r co

nsu

ltatio

n

Sta

kehold

er

and d

ate

of

consultation

Topic

s/issues r

ais

ed

Pro

ponent

response

OE

PA

29 F

ebru

ary

2012

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed d

eta

iled o

verv

iew

of

the P

roje

ct, c

urr

ent/

pla

nned e

nvironm

enta

l stu

die

s,

pote

ntial environm

enta

l im

pacts

and p

roposed m

anagem

ent.

OE

PA

advis

ed k

ey issues for

Pro

ject lik

ely

to b

e a

ssocia

ted w

ith c

losure

. R

io T

into

will

addre

ss c

losure

as a

key issue d

uring E

nvironm

enta

l Im

pact

Assessm

ent

(EIA

) fo

r th

e P

roje

ct, a

nd w

ill p

rovid

e a

clo

sure

pla

n p

repare

d

in a

ccord

ance w

ith the G

uid

elin

es for

Pre

paring M

ine C

losure

Pla

ns

(DM

P/E

PA

2011)

as p

art

of th

e P

roje

ct E

IA d

ocum

ent subm

itte

d t

o the

EP

A.

OE

PA

advis

ed r

efe

rral should

inclu

de a

ssessm

ent

of re

quirem

ent fo

r an o

ffset

in a

ccord

ance w

ith

Appendix

2 o

f E

PA

Guid

ance S

tate

ment

No.

19.

This

docum

ent

inclu

des a

n a

ssessm

ent

of

requirem

ent fo

r an o

ffset

(refe

r to

Section 5

.2).

D

EC

– P

ert

h o

ffic

e (

EM

B)

20 F

ebru

ary

2012

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed d

eta

iled o

verv

iew

of

the P

roje

ct, c

urr

ent/

pla

nned e

nvironm

enta

l stu

die

s,

pote

ntial environm

enta

l im

pacts

and p

roposed m

anagem

ent, w

ith f

ocus o

n b

iolo

gic

al is

sues.

DE

C a

dvis

ed the p

roposed a

ppro

ach to identify

are

as w

here

pote

ntially

sheetflo

w-d

ependent

vegeta

tion m

ay b

e im

pacte

d w

as r

easonable

. R

io T

into

will

pro

ceed w

ith c

urr

ent appro

ach,

and w

ill p

rovid

e d

eta

il on

pote

ntial im

pacts

and p

roposed m

anagem

ent in

the P

roje

ct E

IA

docum

ent.

DE

C a

dvis

ed the p

roposed a

ppro

ach to a

ssessm

ent of im

pacts

on t

roglo

fauna identified in t

he

Pro

ject are

a (

genetic a

naly

sis

, habitat assessm

ent)

was r

easonable

. R

io T

into

will

pro

ceed w

ith c

urr

ent appro

ach,

and w

ill p

rovid

e d

eta

il on

pote

ntial im

pacts

and p

roposed m

anagem

ent in

the P

roje

ct E

IA

docum

ent.

DE

C q

ueried t

he p

ote

ntial fo

r fu

rther

“gorg

e a

nd g

ully

” vegeta

tion to o

ccur

outs

ide t

he P

roje

ct

boundary

. R

io T

into

will

continue t

o p

lan for

surv

ey o

f additio

nal are

as o

f th

e W

TS

outs

ide the c

urr

ent P

roje

ct

boundary

in 2

012.

DE

C q

ueried t

he t

imefr

am

e t

o f

urt

her

develo

p u

nders

tandin

g o

f lik

ely

pit lake w

ate

r qualit

y at th

e

B1 d

eposit, and p

roposed m

anagem

ent.

Rio

Tin

to w

ill p

rovid

e f

urt

her

deta

il on c

urr

ent

and p

lanned p

it lake w

ate

r in

vestigations in the P

roje

ct E

IA d

ocum

ent.

D

EC

– P

ilbara

Regio

n

1 M

arc

h 2

012

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed d

eta

iled o

verv

iew

of

the P

roje

ct, c

urr

ent/

pla

nned e

nvironm

enta

l stu

die

s,

pote

ntial environm

enta

l im

pacts

and p

roposed m

anagem

ent.

Weed m

onitoring m

eth

odolo

gy w

as d

iscussed in t

he c

onte

xt o

f curr

ent

refinem

ents

to t

he R

io T

into

w

eed m

anagem

ent str

ate

gy,

and e

xpecte

d M

inis

terial conditio

ns f

or

the P

roje

ct.

Rio

Tin

to t

o a

lign w

eed m

onitoring m

eth

odolo

gy w

ith r

efined w

eed

managem

ent str

ate

gy,

and e

xpecte

d M

inis

terial conditio

ns f

or

the P

roje

ct.

The p

ote

ntial fo

r baselin

e m

onitoring o

f pote

ntially

sheetflo

w-d

epend

ent

vegeta

tion a

nd w

eeds in

2012 w

as d

iscussed. D

EC

advis

ed E

MB

as the first

poin

t of conta

ct to

dis

cuss m

onitoring

meth

odolo

gie

s.

Note

d.

Western Turner Sy


osits

PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

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8

Sta

kehold

er

and d

ate

of

consultation

Topic

s/issues r

ais

ed

Pro

ponent

response

DM

P –

Min

era

ls B

ranch

28 F

ebru

ary

2012

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed d

eta

iled o

verv

iew

of

the P

roje

ct, c

urr

ent/

pla

nned e

nvironm

enta

l stu

die

s,

pote

ntial environm

enta

l im

pacts

and p

roposed m

anagem

ent, w

ith f

ocus o

n w

aste

chara

cte

risation

and c

losure

issues.

DM

P p

rovid

ed c

om

ment

on a

range o

f P

roje

ct-

specific

issues, pre

dom

inantly a

ssocia

ted w

ith m

ine

clo

sure

, in

clu

din

g:

•

pote

ntial fo

r dew

ate

ring o

f M

ount M

cR

ae S

hale

(M

CS

) to

genera

te A

cid

and M

eta

llife

rous

Dra

inage (

AM

D)

•

pote

ntial im

pacts

of

dew

ate

ring d

ischarg

e o

n w

ate

rcours

e v

egeta

tion

•

waste

chara

cte

risation a

nd v

olu

mes o

f m

ate

rial to

be m

anaged

•

location o

f to

psoil

sto

ckpile

s p

refe

rably

in p

roxi

mity

to r

ehabili

tation a

reas

•

pote

ntial to

recover

mate

rial oth

er

than t

opsoil

for

utilis

ation a

s g

row

th m

ediu

m in r

ehabili

tation

•

com

mitm

ents

in r

ela

tion to c

losure

need t

o b

e r

ealis

tic, site-s

pecific

, consid

er

availa

ble

baselin

e d

ata

, and d

em

onstr

ate

a p

lan is in p

lace to a

ddre

ss k

now

ledge g

aps

•

ensure

any p

ote

ntial risk o

f fibro

us m

ate

rial is

addre

ssed.

DM

P a

lso p

rovid

ed g

enera

l advic

e o

n e

xpecta

tions r

egard

ing m

ine c

losure

pla

ns.

Rio

Tin

to w

ill c

onsid

er

DM

P a

dvic

e d

uring d

evelo

pm

ent

of th

e m

ine

clo

sure

pla

n f

or

the P

roje

ct.

DM

P a

dvis

ed R

io T

into

to e

nsure

Mis

cella

neous L

icences a

re g

rante

d p

rior

to s

ubm

issio

n o

f M

inin

g P

roje

cts

under

the M

inin

g A

ct.

Note

d.

D

oW

– P

ilbara

Regio

n

1 M

arc

h 2

012

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed d

eta

iled o

verv

iew

of

the P

roje

ct, c

urr

ent/

pla

nned e

nvironm

enta

l stu

die

s,

pote

ntial environm

enta

l im

pacts

and p

roposed m

anagem

ent.

DoW

advis

ed k

ey issues o

f in

tere

st

to a

ddre

ss in E

IA w

ere

:

•

low

connectivity

of th

e o

rebody a

quifer

to t

he r

egio

nal aquifer

•

facto

rs lik

ely

to influence the p

it lake w

ate

r qualit

y

•

min

imis

ation o

f dis

charg

e w

ate

r volu

mes.

Rio

Tin

to w

ill a

ddre

ss t

hese issues in the P

roje

ct E

IA d

ocum

ent.

D

OW

– P

ert

h O

ffic

e

2 M

arc

h 2

012

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed d

eta

iled o

verv

iew

of

the P

roje

ct, c

urr

ent/

pla

nned e

nvironm

enta

l stu

die

s,

pote

ntial environm

enta

l im

pacts

and p

roposed m

anagem

ent, w

ith f

ocus o

n w

ate

r m

anagem

ent

issues.

DoW

indic

ate

d t

he p

roposed a

ppro

ach t

o d

ischarg

e w

ate

r qualit

y m

anagem

ent str

ate

gy w

as

reasonable

and w

as w

illin

g t

o p

rovid

e f

urt

her

advic

e o

n d

raft s

trate

gy.

Rio

Tin

to w

ill p

roceed w

ith c

urr

ent appro

ach t

o d

ischarg

e w

ate

r qualit

y

managem

ent str

ate

gy a

nd w

ill lia

ise w

ith D

oW

as n

ecessary

.

DoW

suggeste

d a

site v

isit w

ould

be b

eneficia

l.

Rio

Tin

to w

ill f

acili

tate

a s

ite v

isit o

n d

ate

s r

equeste

d b

y D

oW

.

D

SD

– P

ert

h

16 N

ovem

ber

2011

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed a

n u

pdate

on t

he P

roje

ct

and s

tatu

s o

f P

art

IV

refe

rral at m

onth

ly m

eeting w

ith

DS

D.

Rio

Tin

to t

o c

ontinue c

onsultation w

ith D

SD

regard

ing t

he P

roje

ct.

15 D

ecem

ber

2011

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed a

n u

pdate

on t

he P

roje

ct

at m

onth

ly m

eeting w

ith D

SD

. R

io T

into

to c

ontinue c

onsultation w

ith D

SD

regard

ing t

he P

roje

ct.

25 J

anuary

2012

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed a

n u

pdate

on t

he P

roje

ct

at m

onth

ly m

eeting w

ith D

SD

. R

io T

into

to c

ontinue c

onsultation w

ith D

SD

regard

ing t

he P

roje

ct.

22 M

arc

h 2

012

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed a

n u

pdate

on t

he P

roje

ct

at m

onth

ly m

eeting w

ith D

SD

. R

io T

into

to c

ontinue c

onsultation w

ith D

SD

regard

ing t

he P

roje

ct.

30 A

pril 2012

The P

roje

ct w

as inclu

ded in a

pre

senta

tion p

rovid

ing o

verv

iew

of

Rio

Tin

to o

pera

tions.

Rio

Tin

to t

o c

ontinue c

onsultation w

ith D

SD

regard

ing t

he P

roje

ct.

Western Turner Sy


osits

PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

9

Sta

kehold

er

and d

ate

of

consultation

Topic

s/issues r

ais

ed

Pro

ponent

response

Tra

ditio

nal O

wners

–

Easte

rn G

uru

ma G

roup

14 S

epte

mber

2011

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed a

n o

verv

iew

of

the P

roje

ct during s

ite v

isit.

Rio

Tin

to t

o c

ontinue c

onsultation w

ith t

he E

aste

rn G

uru

ma r

egard

ing t

he

Pro

ject.

4 O

cto

ber

2011

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed o

verv

iew

of

the P

roje

ct.

Rio

Tin

to t

o c

ontinue c

onsultation w

ith t

he E

aste

rn G

uru

ma r

egard

ing t

he

Pro

ject.

24 A

pril 2012

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed o

verv

iew

of

the P

roje

ct, e

nvironm

enta

l stu

die

s,

pote

ntial environm

enta

l im

pacts

and p

roposed m

anagem

ent,

tenure

requirem

ents

, overv

iew

of

clo

sure

pla

nnin

g.

Pote

ntial im

pacts

to p

lanned E

aste

rn G

uru

ma lease n

ear

Beasle

y R

iver,

appro

xim

ate

ly 8

km

nort

h

west

of B

1 d

eposit. P

rim

ary

concern

was t

raff

ic o

n m

ain

site a

ccess r

oad (

e.g

., n

ort

h f

rom

B1

deposit to W

hite Q

uart

z R

oad),

suggeste

d a

ccess r

oad b

e locate

d a

s far

east

as p

ractical.

Pre

ferr

ed a

ccess r

oute

join

s W

hite Q

uart

z R

oad 8

km

east

of th

e r

ele

vant

are

a,

impacts

due t

o s

ite tra

ffic

expecte

d to b

e m

inim

al.

Vis

ual im

pacts

on M

t T

urn

er.

C

urr

ent

infr

astr

uctu

re layout

does n

ot

directly im

pact

Mt T

urn

er.

A

waste

dum

p w

ill b

e locate

d a

ppro

xim

ate

ly 2

.5 k

m t

o the s

outh

east. V

isual

am

enity a

ssessm

ent of th

e P

roje

ct w

ill b

e u

ndert

aken,

and inclu

ded in

P

roje

ct E

IA d

ocum

ent.

Genera

l in

tere

st

in t

he e

xtent

of

dew

ate

ring d

ischarg

e, in

clu

din

g p

ossib

le b

eneficia

l uses s

hould

dis

charg

e r

each p

lanned E

aste

rn G

uru

ma lease.

Dis

charg

e n

ot

exp

ecte

d t

o r

each the p

lanned E

aste

rn G

uru

ma lease,

and

for

majo

rity

of P

roje

ct lif

e, is

not

exp

ecte

d to r

each t

he B

easle

y R

iver.

Exi

sting p

revale

nce o

f w

eeds o

n the B

easle

y R

iver

was d

iscussed, in

conte

xt o

f how

to

diffe

rentiate

betw

een im

pacts

of catt

le a

nd d

ew

ate

ring.

Rio

Tin

to w

ill im

ple

ment a w

eed m

onitoring/m

anagem

ent str

ate

gy o

n t

he

dis

charg

e w

ate

r cours

e. T

he p

ote

ntial fo

r som

e m

onitoring "

contr

ol"

sites

to b

e locate

d w

ithin

the p

lanned f

enced a

rea o

n the E

aste

rn G

uru

ma

lease w

ill b

e d

iscussed furt

her.

T

raditio

nal O

wners

-

Yin

haw

angka G

roup

17 J

une 2

011

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed b

rief

overv

iew

of

pla

nned R

io T

into

exp

ansio

n p

roje

cts

, in

clu

din

g W

TS

Sta

ge 2

. R

io T

into

to c

ontinue c

onsultation w

ith t

he Y

inhaw

angka r

egard

ing t

he

Pro

ject.

10 O

cto

ber

2011

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed o

verv

iew

of

the P

roje

ct.

Rio

Tin

to t

o c

ontinue c

onsultation w

ith t

he Y

inhaw

angka r

egard

ing t

he

Pro

ject.

28 M

arc

h 2

012

Dis

cussio

n r

egard

ing t

enure

requirem

ents

for

the P

roje

ct, w

ith f

ocus o

n a

reas w

ithin

Yin

haw

angka

native t

itle

cla

im a

rea.

Rio

Tin

to t

o c

ontinue c

onsultation w

ith t

he Y

inhaw

angka r

egard

ing t

he

Pro

ject.

S

hire o

f A

shburt

on

9 A

pril 2011

Rio

Tin

to p

rovid

ed o

verv

iew

of

the P

roje

ct, inclu

din

g p

lans for

work

forc

e a

ccom

modation,

pote

ntial

requirem

ent fo

r tr

affic

managem

ent

on the N

anuta

rra-M

unjin

a r

oad a

dja

cent to

S17 d

uring b

lasting,

and m

ine c

losure

.

The S

hire q

ueried p

roposed m

anagem

ent

of w

ate

r ext

racte

d d

uring d

ew

ate

ring.

Rio

Tin

to a

dvis

ed m

ajo

rity

of

wate

r ext

racte

d f

or

dew

ate

ring o

f B

1 p

it

exp

ecte

d t

o b

e u

tilis

ed o

n s

ite, w

ith e

xcess d

ischarg

ed t

o a

wate

rcours

e.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 10

2. Proposal description 2.1 Proposal overview The Proposal comprises mining of iron ore from the B1 and S17 deposits, transport of ore to the existing

WTS S10 mine and construction/operation of required support infrastructure.

The main components of the Proposal comprise the following elements:

1. Open pit mining of iron ore at up to approximately 32 Mtpa from the B1 deposit (one main pit and four

small satellite pits) and S17 deposit (eight pits) for at least 15 years.

2. An infrastructure corridor (approximate length of 12 km) linking B1 to the S10 mine site, including a

conveyor system, light and heavy vehicle access roads, above-ground power lines, water pipelines

and communications.

3. Mine support infrastructure (located predominantly near B1) including primary crushing facilities,

ROM pad, workshops, fuel storage/refuelling facility, waste disposal facilities, explosives storage

facility, communications infrastructure, heavy and light vehicle access roads, power distribution

infrastructure, administration facilities, and other ancillary facilities as required.

4. Dewatering of the B1 main pit via in-pit bores at extraction rates of approximately 13 ML/day to

enable mining at a depth of approximately 185 m below water table (BWT). Required rates of

dewatering are expected to peak in the first two years of operation and then decline. The four B1

satellite pits are above water table (AWT).

5. Minor dewatering of S17 pits 3 and 8 to enable mining to approximately 10 m BWT. The other six

pits at S17 are AWT.

6. Water supply from mine dewatering with current demand predicted to average 6 ML/day. Should

dewatering rates be insufficient to meet operational requirements, additional water supply would be

sourced from existing or new borefields in the vicinity of the Proposal.

7. Discharge of dewatering in excess of operational requirements to a watercourse north of the B1

deposit.

8. Mineral waste disposal in approximately two permanent out-of-pit waste dumps. Progressive backfill

of the B1 satellite pits, and the S17 pits, will be undertaken where practical, with prioritisation to

ensure S17 pits 3 and 8 are backfilled to a level sufficient to prevent formation of pit lakes.

9. Stockpiling of high grade and low grade ore in approximately five out-of-pit stockpiles.

10. Stockpiling of topsoil and subsoil.

11. Clearing of up to 2500 ha of native vegetation within the Proposal boundary (9000 ha).

The Proposal boundary, and indicative layout of the main mine and infrastructure components (at

completion of PFS), is illustrated in Figure 2-1. The proposed extent of clearing (2500 ha) within the

Proposal boundary allows for an approximately 30% larger footprint than the current indicative layout. This

is to allow for:

• potential design modifications during the Project Feasibility Study, and construction and

operational phases

• temporary construction disturbance

• additional minor infrastructure components and activities, as detailed in Section 2.3 of this

document.

Western Turner Sy


osits

PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

11

Fig

ure

2-1

Ind

ica

tive

Pro

ject

layo

ut


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 12

2.2 Key Proposal characteristics Key characteristics of the Proposal are presented in Table 2-1.

Table 2-1 Key characteristics of the Proposal

Proposal characteristic Detail

Mine life At least 15 years.

Area of disturbance Approximately 2500 ha within the Proposal boundary.

Dewatering B1 dewatering of main pit at approximately 13 ML/day, to enable mining approximately 185 m BWT.

S17 minor dewatering of pits 3 and 8, to enable mining to approximately 10 m BWT.

Water disposal Preferential use to meet on-site requirements, excess discharged to a watercourse north of the B1 deposit.

Water supply Mine dewatering, supplemented by existing or new borefields if required.

Power supply Operational requirements from existing Rio Tinto power supply network. 2.3 Detailed Proposal description 2.3.1 Site preparation and mining method Initial site works Initial site works will involve vegetation clearing, topsoil and subsoil stripping, overburden stripping, bulk

earthworks, and establishment of borrow pits. Topsoil and subsoil will be stockpiled for subsequent use in

rehabilitation. Mining operations Open pit mining will be undertaken using standard drill and blast, truck and shovel type operations. Ore

from B1 and S17 deposits will be transported by truck to a ROM pad near B1, via dedicated haul roads.

Initially, it is expected that ore will be transported by road train from B1 to S10. Following construction of

the primary crusher at B1 and the conveyor system, ore will be crushed at B1 and transported by conveyor

to S10. Maximum ore production over the life of the operation will be approximately 32 Mtpa.

As part of managing ore supply and specification requirements for the Greater Tom Price operation,

stockpiling of both high grade and low grade ore will be required. Due to current limitations in suitable on-

tenure area in proximity to the B1 deposit, stockpiling will predominantly take place in the vicinity of the

S17 deposit. 2.3.2 Mineral waste management Mineral waste will be placed in several permanent out-of-pit waste dumps (Figure 2-1). Due to current

limitations in suitable on-tenure area in proximity to the B1 deposit, waste dumps will predominantly be

located in the vicinity of the S17 deposit.

Progressive backfill of the B1 satellite pits and the S17 pits will be undertaken where practical, with

prioritisation of backfill to ensure S17 pits 3 and 8 are backfilled to a level sufficient to prevent formation of

pit lakes. Progressive backfill of the B1 main pit during operations is not practical due to the required pit

design and operational constraints.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 13

2.3.3 Water extraction and management At B1, the water table is a minimum of 40 m below ground level (mbgl). Approximately 62% of the B1

resource is BWT. The orebody aquifer is considered to be isolated from the regional groundwater system

by low permeability un-mineralised Brockman Iron Formation and Mount McRae Shale Formation (MCS).

To enable mining to a maximum depth of approximately 185 m BWT, dewatering of the B1 main pit via in-

pit bores is required at extraction rates of up to approximately 13 ML/day. Required rates of dewatering

are expected to peak in the first two years of operation and then decline. The four B1 satellite pits are

AWT.

At S17, the water table is approximately 40 to 125 mbgl. Approximately 3% of the S17 resource is BWT.

Minor dewatering of S17 pits 3 and 8 (planned to be undertaken via in-pit sumps) is required to enable

mining to a depth of approximately 10 m BWT. The other six pits at S17 are AWT.

Water supply during construction and operation will be preferentially sourced from mine dewatering

(current demand predicted at average 6 ML/day). If dewatering rates are insufficient to meet operational

requirements, additional water supply will be sourced from existing or new borefields in the vicinity of the

Proposal. An integrated water management strategy is planned to manage supply and demand for both

the Proposal and the S10 minesite.

Dewatering in excess of operational requirements will be discharged to a watercourse north of the B1

deposit. At maximum potential discharge rates of approximately 13 ML/day, discharge is predicted to

extend to approximately 13 km downstream of the discharge point. Based on the expected declining rates

of dewatering required over the life of the B1 main pit, and the ongoing operational water demand of

approximately 6 ML/day, maximum discharge rates are expected to be substantially less than 13 ML/day,

and are expected to decline further over the life of the Proposal. 2.3.4 Mine support infrastructure Mine support infrastructure (located predominantly near B1) will be required (Figure 2-1), including:

• primary crushing facilities and ROM pad

• workshops for heavy and light vehicle maintenance, and fixed plant maintenance

• hazardous material storage (including fuel storage and refuelling facilities) and an explosive

storage facility; the explosives storage facility will be located either:

∗ east of the preferred access road from the B1 deposit to White Quartz Road (requires grant of

new tenure), or

∗ between B1 and S10, located on existing tenure.

• power supply facilities (including powerlines and associated infrastructure) will be distributed as

required through the Proposal area

• heavy and light vehicle haul/access roads

• communications facilities including a communications tower, currently planned to be located east

of the B1 area

• waste disposal facilities as required, including waste water treatment facilities

• other miscellaneous ancillary facilities as required, including administration buildings, warehouse,

borrow pits, water pipelines and tanks, turkey nests, washdown facilities.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 14

2.3.5 Infrastructure corridor (B1 to S10) An infrastructure corridor approximately 12 km long is required to link B1 to S10 (Figure 2-1). The

infrastructure corridor will include the following:

1. Conveyor system that will tie in to the conveyor from S10 to Tom Price.

2. Heavy vehicle access road to enable haulage of ore to S10, and to transport heavy equipment

between B1 and S10/Tom Price. The road will be sand sealed where practical and water trucks will

be used to provide dust suppression where necessary.

3. An ore transfer pad will be constructed at the S10 end of the heavy vehicle access road.

4. Light vehicle access tracks to enable infrastructure maintenance.

5. Above ground power lines to enable connection to the existing 33 kV distribution system at S10.

6. Water pipelines and associated infrastructure.

7. Communications cabling/infrastructure. 2.3.6 Power supply Power required during the operational phase of the Proposal will be supplied from the existing Rio Tinto

power supply network. Thirty three (33) kilovolt (kV) power lines will be constructed along the

infrastructure corridor to connect to the existing power distribution system at S10, which is connected to

the Rio Tinto power supply network via powerlines to Tom Price. Approximately three diesel generators

will be installed at B1 as emergency back-up to the power supply. 2.3.7 Workforce accommodation The operations workforce will be based primarily in Tom Price and will commute to site.

Several options are being considered for accommodation of the construction workforce, including a

construction camp adjacent to the B1 area. As specified in Section 2.4 of this document, establishment of

the construction camp and associated infrastructure is not part of the Proposal. Following Ministerial

approval for the Proposal, operation of the camp and associated infrastructure will be managed in

alignment with Ministerial conditions. 2.3.8 Site access road An all-weather access road to the B1 area will be required to enable establishment of the construction

camp (Figure 2-1); therefore, construction of this access road (including required borrow pits and topsoil

stockpiles) is not part of the Proposal, as specified in Section 2.4 of this document. Following Ministerial

approval for the Proposal, the access road will be utilised during Proposal construction and operational

phases; therefore, any required upgrades and maintenance of the road during Proposal construction and

operational phases are considered part of the Proposal.

The preferred access road option (Option 1) is a 6 km route northeast from B1 to the White Quartz road

(Figure 2-1). Alternative options include:

• Option 2: a route northwest from B1 to White Quartz road

• Option 3: a route southeast from B1 to Nanutarra-Munjina road.

These options all require new tenure; however, Rio Tinto expects tenure for the preferred option (Option 1)

will be secured.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 15

2.3.9 Investigative and monitoring activities A range of ongoing geotechnical, mineralogical, hydrogeological and environmental investigations and

monitoring activities will be undertaken as part of Proposal implementation following Ministerial approval,

including activities such as drilling, bore construction and test pumping, test pitting, environmental and

heritage surveys, associated track establishment/maintenance, etc.

As specified in Section 2.4 of this document, investigation and monitoring activities required to support

ongoing Project planning prior to Ministerial approval are not part of the Proposal. 2.4 Exclusions from the Proposal A range of activities will be undertaken prior to Ministerial approval for the Proposal; therefore, these

activities are not part of the Proposal. Approval for these activities will be obtained as required under

relevant legislation:

1. Geotechnical, mineralogical, hydrogeological and environmental investigation and monitoring

activities required to support ongoing Project planning, including activities such as drilling, bore

construction and test pumping, test pitting, environmental and heritage surveys, associated track

establishment/maintenance, etc.

2. Establishment of a construction camp and associated infrastructure, including an all-weather access

road. Clearing required at the planned camp location is authorised via a permit to clear native

vegetation (CPS 4780/1) granted under s. 51E of the EP Act.

3. Water extraction from existing/new bores for supply purposes. Extraction from current bores at B1 is

authorised by GWL107418(13) under s. 5C of the RIWI Act, and is currently utilised to augment water

supply to S10 via an existing pipeline.

.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 16

3. Existing environment 3.1 Physical environment 3.1.1 Climate The Pilbara region has an arid tropical climate with two distinct seasons; a summer wet season and a

winter dry season (Gentilli 1972). The region experiences very low rainfall, high evaporation rate and high

daytime temperatures. The closest meteorological station to the Proposal is 30 km east at Tom Price town

site, where the mean monthly maximum temperatures range from 38°C in January to 23°C in July, and

mean monthly minimum temperatures range from 23°C in January to 7°C in July. Average annual rainfall

at Tom Price is approximately 400 mm; however, rainfall is highly variable in frequency and magnitude.

Intense rainfall events occasionally occur as a result of cyclonic activity, usually during the months of

January to March (Bureau of Meteorology 2012). 3.1.2 Geology and soils The B1 and S17 deposits occur within the Brockman Iron Formation of the Hamersley Group, and are

typical of similar Banded Iron Formation (BIF) derived deposits that occur throughout the Pilbara. The

Brockman Iron Formation comprises four members (Yandicoogina Shale, Joffre, Whaleback Shale, and

Dales Gorge), and is underlain by the MCS. Mineralisation at B1 and S17 occurs primarily within the

Dales Gorge and Joffre Members, and to a lesser extent within the Whaleback Shale Member (Figure 3-1,

Figure 3-2). Both B1 and S17 are predominantly bedded deposits, although some deposits of secondary

surficial ironstone have also accumulated within the Brockman Iron Formation. Rio Tinto has extensive

experience mining similar deposits at other mines in the Pilbara. 3.1.3 Surface hydrology The Proposal is located within the Hardey River and the Beasley River sub-catchments of the Ashburton

River catchment (Figure 1-2). The combined area of these sub-catchments (approximately 4200 km2),

represents less than 6% of the total Ashburton catchment. The upper Hardey River channel is south of the

Proposal (closest point approximately 1 km east of S17 pit 8) and the upper Beasley River channel is north

of the Proposal (closest point approximately 7 km northwest of the B1 main pit). 3.1.4 Hydrogeology Aquifers within the Proposal area are associated with fractured basement rocks and are generally confined

or semi-confined. The hydraulic conductivity of these rocks is low (ranging between 0.001 m/d and 1 m/d)

with the exceptions of the dolomite of the Wittenoom Formation, which strikes in parallel with the regional

structural trend, and the B1 and S17 orebodies. Elsewhere in the Pilbara, the Wittenoom Formation and

the orebodies exhibit relatively high permeability (around 5 m/d and 6 m/d, respectively) with similar

characteristics expected at WTS.

Regional groundwater levels range from 550 m Australian height datum (mAHD) in the northeast of the

WTS, to 490 mAHD to the southwest where the Hardey River cuts through the southwest ridgeline of the

WTS. Regional groundwater flows in a broadly southwest direction sub-parallel with the WTS axis.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 17

Figure 3-1 B1 deposit geological sections


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 18

Figure 3-2 S17 deposit geological sections


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 19

3.2 Biological environment The Proposal is located within the Hamersley sub-region of the Pilbara bioregion as defined by the Interim

Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA) (Environment Australia 2000)1

. The Hamersley sub-

region is a mountainous area of Proterozoic sedimentary ranges and plateaux, dissected by basalt, shale

and dolerite gorges. Ranges within the sub-region typically feature snappy gum (Eucalyptus leucophloia)

over Triodia brizoides on skeletal soils. Valley floors within the sub-region comprise low mulga woodlands

over bunch grasses on fine textured soils (Kendrick 2003).

The Proposal boundary intersects six of the 63 land systems (Payne et al. 1988; van Vreesyck et al. 2004)

that occur within the Hamersley sub-region; the Boolgeeda, Newman, Platform, Robe, Rocklea and Table

land systems. All six of these land systems are relatively extensive within the Hamersley sub-region

(Biota 2012a). 3.2.1 Vegetation and flora The Proposal is located within the Fortescue Botanical District of the Eremaean Botanical Province as

defined by Beard (1975a, 1975b). Two vegetation units mapped by Beard (1975a, 1975b) are intersected

by the Proposal boundary:

• Hamersley 82 – Eucalyptus leucophloia low woodland over Triodia wiseana hummock grassland

• Hamersley 567 – Acacia aneura, A. pyrifolia open shrubland over Triodia basedowii, T. pungens

open hummock grassland.

Both these vegetation units are widespread throughout the Pilbara. Vegetation communities of conservation significance No Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) or Priority Ecological Communities (PECs) have been

identified as occurring within, or in proximity to, the Proposal boundary. The closest known TEC to the

Proposal is located approximately 30 km to the north and is described as "Themeda grasslands on

cracking clays". No PECs have been identified within 50 km of the Proposal area. Conservation significant flora There are currently two species of threatened flora (WC Act, EPBC Act) known from the Pilbara bioregion:

1. Lepidium catapycnon (Hamersley lepidium) is a woody perennial herb or shrub occurring mainly on

hillsides in skeletal soils. Two stands of this species were recorded near the Tom Price minesite to

the south east of the Proposal (Biota 2007). Seven additional locations of Lepidium catapycnon have

been recorded within 50 km of the Proposal.

2. Thryptomene wittweri is a spreading, perennial shrub occurring in skeletal stony soils on breakaways

and in drainage channels, typically high in the landscape. Thryptomene wittweri has not been

previously recorded within 50 km of the Proposal.

These two species have not been recorded in the Proposal boundary (Biota 2012a).

A total of 36 Priority flora species have previously been recorded from within approximately 50 km of the

Proposal, and nine Priority species have been recorded within the Proposal boundary (Biota 2012a).

Further detail on conservation significant flora species and potential impacts of the Proposal are provided

in Section 4.2 of this document.

1

The Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia divides the Australian continent into 85 bioregions, and then into 405 sub-regions according to the major geomorphic features in each bioregion.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 20

3.2.2 Terrestrial fauna The WTS area comprises 14 main fauna habitat units, distinguished on the basis of differences in

substrate, vegetation and landform, and are considered common and widespread throughout the

Hamersley sub-region (Biota 2012b).

Two hundred and forty nine (249) species of native vertebrate fauna, and six species of introduced non-

volant mammals, have the potential to occur in the WTS area (Biota 2011). Eighteen (18) species of

conservation significant fauna (listed under EPBC Act, WC Act, or as Priority species by DEC) are

considered to potentially occur in the WTS area (Biota 2011). To date, six of these species have been

recorded (Biota 2009a, 2009b, 2011). Further detail on conservation significant fauna species and

potential impacts of the Proposal are provided in Section 4.3 of this document. 3.2.3 Subterranean fauna The B1 and S17 deposits occur predominantly within Brockman Iron Formation on Proterozoic rock

groups. The Brockman Iron Formation characteristically exhibits a structurally consolidated, massive

texture which does not typically constitute core habitat for subterranean fauna. Subterranean fauna

surveys of the B1 and S17 deposits have indicated troglobitic and stygobitic populations of low density and

potentially limited diversity (Biota 2012c). Further detail on subterranean fauna species and potential

impacts of the Proposal are provided in Section 4.4 of this document. 3.3 Social environment and land use The Proposal is located within the Shire of Ashburton (Pilbara Region), approximately 30 km west of the

town of Tom Price.

The Proposal occurs within the traditional lands of the Eastern Guruma people, and the Yinhawangka

people. The B1 deposit occurs within the Eastern Guruma native title claim area (WC97/89). Rio Tinto

entered into an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) with the Eastern Guruma People on 13 February

2008. The S17 deposit occurs within the Yinhawangka native title claim area (WC10/16). Rio Tinto has a

Multiple Project Binding Agreement with the Yinhawangka people, and are currently in negotiations with a

view to reaching a commercial Participation Agreement, that will be registered later as an ILUA.

The Rocklea pastoral station (owned and operated by Rio Tinto) is partially intersected by the northern

Proposal boundary, and occurs in close proximity to the west (4 km) and south (200 m) of the Proposal

boundary.

The Hardey River borefield, that provides water to the Tom Price mining operation, occurs to the south

east of the Proposal boundary, on a Land Act lease held by Rio Tinto.

Mining operations in proximity to the Proposal include the WTS S10 mine (12 km to the east of B1), the

Tom Price mine (30 km southeast of B1) and the Brockman 4 mine (22 km northwest of B1), all owned and

operated by Rio Tinto (Figure 1-2). White Quartz Road, which passes through the north of the Proposal

boundary, is a sealed private road owned by Rio Tinto that provides access to the Brockman 4 minesite.

The Proposal boundary intersects, and occurs in proximity to, several Mining Act Exploration Licences held

by third parties, as outlined in Section 1.6 of this document. A proposed 500 ha lease (under s. 79 of the

Land Administration Act) to be leased to the Eastern Guruma, is located approximately 6 km northwest of

the B1 main pit (Rio Tinto has agreed to excise this area from the Rocklea pastoral station). The proposed

lease is north of White Quartz Road on the Beasley River, and is outside the Proposal boundary.

Karijini National Park, 30 km east of the Proposal area, is the only registered location in the vicinity of Tom

Price listed on the Australian Heritage Database. No Heritage Council of Western Australia listed sites

occur within the Proposal area.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 21

4. Potential environmental impacts and management Environmental factors of relevance to the Proposal are discussed in Sections 4.2 to 4.8, with greater detail

provided on:

• flora and vegetation

• fauna

• subterranean fauna

• surface water

• groundwater

• closure.

These sections focus on assessment of the key potential impacts to these factors. Further assessment of

additional potential impacts (considered of secondary importance) will be provided in the EIA document. 4.1 Environmental management overview Rio Tinto has developed and refined environmental management policies, systems and procedures over

decades of operational mining experience in the Pilbara region, that are successfully applied at multiple

iron ore mine sites in the Pilbara. The key components that will be implemented during the WTS Stage 2

Project include:

1. The Rio Tinto Iron Ore group Health, Safety, Environment and Quality Policy (HSEQ Policy). The

HSEQ Policy is the guiding document for environmental management and provides context and

direction for continuous improvement.

2. The Rio Tinto Iron Ore (WA) Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) Management System,

that is ISO14001 certified (since 2003). The HSEQ Management System is a continuous

improvement model covering:

• systematic assessment of environmental risk and legal requirements

• systems for training, operational control, communication, emergency response and corrective

actions

• the development of objectives and targets for improvement

• audits and review.

3. A Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) that will interface with the HSEQ

management system, to manage potential environmental impacts of construction activities for the

Project.

4. An Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the operational phase of the Project. The EMP will

interface with the HSEQ Management System and address all relevant environmental aspects of the

Project.

5. The Rio Tinto Closure Standard will continue to guide Project closure planning and implementation

via the following requirements:

• address the development of a Closure Knowledge Base

• develop and maintain a Closure Strategy

• develop and maintain a Closure Management Plan

• undertake stakeholder consultation

• provide financial provisioning for closure

• review closure plans on a regular basis

• develop a final decommissioning plan five years prior to scheduled closure.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 22

4.2 Flora and vegetation 4.2.1 Introduction Studies/investigations completed to date Multiple flora and vegetation surveys undertaken between 2007 and 2011 (Biota 2007, 2009a, 2009b,

2011) have surveyed 22 300 ha of the WTS area (the study area) to Level 2 standard (EPA 2002a,

2004a), including the 9000 ha area within the Proposal boundary (Figure 4-1). The report West Turner

Syncline Phase 2 Vegetation and Flora Report (Biota 2012a) consolidates the results of all flora and

vegetation surveys completed to date in the WTS area (Appendix 1). Relevant guidelines Flora and vegetation surveys, and associated reports, have been developed with consideration of the

following EPA guiding documents:

1. Position Statement No. 2, Environmental Protection of Native Vegetation in Western Australia

(EPA 2000).

2. Position Statement No. 3, Terrestrial Biological Surveys as an Element of Biodiversity Protection

(EPA 2002a).

3. Guidance Statement No. 51, Terrestrial Flora and Vegetation Surveys for Environmental Impact

Assessment in Western Australia (EPA 2004a). 4.2.2 Description of factor Flora A total of 635 native vascular flora taxa and nine Priority species as listed by the DEC were recorded from

the study area (Biota 2012a) (Table 4-1, Figure 4-1). No species of threatened flora listed under the

EPBC Act or the WC Act were recorded from within the study area.

Table 4-1 Conservation significant flora recorded in the study area

Species Conservation status No. of locations1

Dampiera anonyma P3 9

Eremophila magnifica subsp. velutina P3 82

Goodenia sp. East Pilbara (A.A. Mitchell PRP 727) P3 6

Indigofera sp. Bungaroo Creek (S. van Leeuwen 4301) P3 88

Nicotiana umbratica P3 1

Ptilotus subspinescens P3 79

Sida sp. Barlee Range (S. van Leeuwen 1642) P3 106

Eremophila magnifica subsp. magnifica P4 49

Goodenia nuda P4 1 1 multiple individuals at each location.

A total of 21 introduced flora taxa (weeds) were recorded from the study area (Biota 2012a). None of

these species are currently listed as Declared Plants in the Pilbara region under the ARRP Act. However,

five species (Acetosa vesicaria, Aerva javanica, Argemone ochroleuca subsp. ochroleuca, Cenchrus

ciliaris and Vachellia farnesiana) are considered to be serious environmental weeds in WA (Biota 2012a).


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 23

Figure 4-1 Vegetation and flora


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 24

This page has intentionally been left blank.

AanTmTw Acacia aneura tall shrubland over Triodia melvillei, (T. wiseana) open hummock

grassland

AxAanTw Acacia xiphophylla, (A. aneura) tall shrubland over Triodia wiseana very open hummock grassland

AanAxTaffpTm

AanAprArTeTw

AanApr

Acacia aneura, A. xiphophylla tall open shrubland over Triodia aff. pungens, (T. melvillei)

open hummock grassland

Acacia aneura, A. pruinocarpa, A. rhodophloia tall shrubland over Triodia epactia, T. wiseana hummock grassland

Acacia aneura, (A. pruinocarpa) tall shrubland over mixed scattered hummock grasses

Page 1 of 3

WTS Stage 2 Vegetation Legend

Vegetation of Stony Plains and Low Spurs

AxAanTaTlo

ExPlTaTlo

AiERfTaTlo

Acacia xiphophylla, A. aneura tall shrubland over Triodia angusta, T. longiceps very open

hummock grassland

Eucalyptus xerothermica scattered low trees over Petalostylis labicheoides scattered tall

shrubs over Triodia angusta, T. longiceps closed hummock grassland

Acacia inaequilatera scattered tall shrubs over Eremophila fraseri subsp. fraseri scattered shrubs over Triodia angusta, T. longiceps hummock grassland

ElAbTaTlo Eucalyptus leucophloia subsp. leucophloia scattered low trees over Acacia bivenosa

open shrubland over Triodia angusta, T. longiceps open hummock grassland

ElCdAsppTw

EsMeAbTaTw

ChAiAaTe Corymbia hamersleyana scattered low trees over Acacia inaequilatera, A. ancistrocarpa

scattered tall shrubs over Triodia epactia open hummock grassland

Eucalyptus leucophloia subsp. leucophloia, Corymbia deserticola subsp. deserticola scattered low trees over mixed Acacia scattered tall shrubs over Triodia wiseana open

hummock grassland

Eucalyptus socialis subsp. eucentrica low open mallee woodland over Melaleuca eleuterostachya, Acacia bivenosa scattered shrubs over Triodia angusta, T. wiseana open hummock grassland

ElTloTe Eucalyptus leucophloia subsp. leucophloia low open woodland over Triodia longiceps, T.

epactia hummock grassland

ElTwTa Eucalyptus leucophloia subsp. leucophloia scattered low trees over Triodia wiseana, (T.

angusta) open hummock grassland

CdAanAprGbTe Corymbia deserticola subsp. deserticola scattered low trees over Acacia aneura, A. pruinocarpa, Grevillea berryana tall shrubland over Triodia epactia hummock grassland over Aristida contorta very open tussock grassland

AbTw Acacia bivenosa scattered shrubs over Triodia wiseana hummock grassland

ElAanTe Eucalyptus leucophloia low open woodland over Acacia aneura tall shrubland over Triodia epactia hummock grassland

PDE0095025v1, April 2012

ElTbr Eucalyptus leucophloia scattered low trees over Triodia brizoides hummock grassland

ElAmTbr Eucalyptus leucophloia scattered low trees over Acacia maitlandii tall shrubland over

Triodia brizoides hummock grassland

ElEgAhAmrSTsTw

ElAhAprAmTbrTeERIm

ElEgAsppTbr

Eucalyptus leucophloia subsp. leucophloia, E. gamophylla low open woodland over Acacia hamersleyensis, A. marramamba, Stylobasium spathulatum open shrubland over Triodia wiseana hummock grassland

Eucalyptus leucophloia subsp. leucophloia low open woodland over Acacia hamersleyensis, A. pruinocarpa tall open shrubland over Acacia maitlandii open shrubland over Triodia brizoides, T. epactia open hummock grassland with Eriachne

mucronata very open tussock grassland

Eucalyptus leucophloia, E. gamophylla low open woodland over mixed Acacia open shrubland over Triodia brizoides open hummock grassland

Vegetation of Stony Hills and Slopes

ElAhAmTbrTw

ElAmTw

ElAhAmTw

Eucalyptus leucophloia subsp. leucophloia scattered low trees over Acacia hamersleyensis, (A. maitlandii) tall open shrubland over Triodia brizoides, T. wiseana

open hummock grassland

Eucalyptus leucophloia subsp. leucophloia scattered low trees over Acacia maitlandii tall shrubland over Triodia wiseana open hummock grassland

Eucalyptus leucophloia subsp. leucophloia scattered low trees over Acacia hamersleyensis, (A. maitlandii) tall open shrubland over Triodia wiseana open hummock

grassland

ElAhTwTe Eucalyptus leucophloia scattered low trees over Acacia hamersleyensis tall open

shrubland over Triodia wiseana, T. epactia open hummock grassland

ElAsppTe

ElChAiTw

AiERfTw Acacia inaequilatera scattered tall shrubs over Eremophila fraseri subsp. fraseri scattered

shrubs over Triodia wiseana hummock grassland

Eucalyptus leucophloia subsp. leucophloia scattered low trees over mixed Acacia spp.

open shrubland over Triodia epactia hummock grassland

Eucalyptus leucophloia subsp. leucophloia, Corymbia hamersleyana scattered low trees

over Acacia inaequilatera scattered tall shrubs over Triodia wiseana hummock grassland

ElEgAprTeTw Eucalyptus leucophloia subsp. leucophloia, E. gamophylla low open woodland over Acacia pruinocarpa tall open shrubland over Triodia epactia, T. wiseana hummock grassland

ElAprTw Eucalyptus leucophloia subsp. leucophloia scattered low trees over Acacia pruinocarpa

tall open shrubland over Triodia wiseana hummock grassland

AanAxTbr Acacia aneura, A. xiphophylla tall shrubland over Triodia brizoides open hummock grassland

AanAxTe Acacia aneura, A. xiphophylla tall shrubland over Triodia epactia open hummock

grassland

AanAprTbr Acacia aneura, (A. pruinocarpa) low open forest over Triodia brizoides open hummock grassland

Page 2 of 3


PDE0095025v1, April 2012

ExAciApyTeCEc Eucalyptus xerothermica low open woodland over Acacia citrinoviridis tall shrubland over Triodia epactia open hummock grassland with *Cenchrus ciliaris open tussock grassland

ExChAciAbTeTlo Eucalyptus xerothermica, Corymbia hamersleyana low open woodland over Acacia citrinoviridis, A. bivenosa tall shrubland over Triodia epactia, T. longiceps open hummock grassland

EcEvAci

EvMgERIt

EvAciTeCEc

Eucalyptus camaldulensis subsp. refulgens, E. victrix woodland over Acacia citrinoviridis tall open scrub

Eucalyptus victrix low open woodland over Melaleuca glomerata tall open shrubland over Eriachne tenuiculmis very open tussock grassland

Eucalyptus victrix scattered trees over Acacia citrinoviridis tall shrubland over Triodia

epactia open hummock grassland and/or *Cenchrus ciliaris open tussock grassland

Vegetation of Creeks, Flowlines and Floodplains

AciAbTaCEc

ExElAbAaTa

ExElPlAbAciTwTa

Acacia citrinoviridis, A. bivenosa tall open scrub over Triodia angusta very open hummock grassland with *Cenchrus ciliaris open tussock grassland

Eucalyptus xerothermica, E. leucophloia subsp. leucophloia scattered low trees over Acacia bivenosa, (A. ancistrocarpa) tall open scrub over Triodia angusta very open hummock grassland

Eucalyptus xerothermica, E. leucophloia subsp. leucophloia low open woodland over Petalostylis labicheoides, Acacia bivenosa, A. citrinoviridis tall shrubland over Triodia

wiseana, T. angusta hummock grassland

ElAbAmTe Eucalyptus leucophloia low open woodland over Acacia bivenosa, A. maitlandii tall open shrubland over Triodia epactia open hummock grassland

AaCEc

CfAanAciTbrTeERIm

ElCfGOrTe Eucalyptus leucophloia, Corymbia ferriticola low open woodland over Gossypium robinsonii tall open scrub over Triodia epactia open hummock grassland

Acacia ancistrocarpa shrubland over *Cenchrus ciliaris open tussock grassland

Corymbia ferriticola low open woodland over Acacia aneura, A. citrinoviridis tall shrubland over Triodia brizoides, T. epactia open hummock grassland with Eriachne mucronata very open tussock grassland

ElChAciApyAmoTe Eucalyptus leucophloia, Corymbia hamersleyana low open woodland over Acacia citrinoviridis, A. pyrifolia, A. monticola tall open scrub over Triodia epactia open hummock grassland

AaTlo Acacia ancistrocarpa open shrubland over Triodia longiceps open hummock grassland

AanAciTspp Acacia aneura, A. citrinoviridis tall open scrub over mixed Triodia open hummock grassland

AanAciCEc Acacia aneura, A. citrinoviridis tall shrubland over *Cenchrus ciliaris open tussock

grassland

AanAprAbERfTeTw Acacia aneura, A. pruinocarpa tall shrubland over Acacia bivenosa, Eremophila forrestii subsp. forrestii open shrubland over Maireana georgei, Tribulus suberosus scattered low

shrubs over Triodia epactia, T. wiseana hummock grassland

Disturbed

Other

Page 3 of 3


PDE0095025v1, April 2012


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 28

Vegetation Within the study area, 52 different vegetation units were identified (Figure 4-1), as detailed in Biota (2012a)

(Appendix 1). No vegetation units recorded within the study area are considered to correspond to any

current TEC endorsed by the Minister, or PEC listed by the DEC (Biota 2012a). The 52 vegetation units

were broadly classified into three groups based on associated landforms, and each group was further

classified into sub-groups (or vegetation communities). General descriptions of each are provided in

Table 4-2.

Three vegetation communities were considered by Biota (2012a) to be equivalent to "ecosystems at risk"

within the Hamersley IBRA sub-region (as identified by Kendrick 2003), and are considered to have

elevated conservation significance compared to other vegetation within the study area (Biota 2012a):

1. 'Hills and slopes dominated by mulga (Acacia aneura)' (Biota 2012a), considered equivalent to 'Lower

slope mulga' (Kendrick 2003). Threatening processes are considered to comprise frequent fires

preventing regeneration (Kendrick 2003).

2. 'Plains and low spurs dominated by mulga (Acacia aneura) and snakewood (A. xiphophylla)' (Biota

2012a), considered equivalent to 'Valley floor mulga' (Kendrick 2003). Threatening processes are

considered to comprise cattle grazing pressure, feral animals (donkey, horse and cattle), weeds (ruby

dock), large fires killing mulga stands, and drainage shadow from linear infrastructure (Kendrick

2003).

3. 'Major creeks dominated by coolibahs (Eucalyptus victrix) and/or river red gums (E. camaldulensis

subsp. refulgens)', considered equivalent to 'Major ephemeral watercourses' (Kendrick 2003).

Threatening processes are considered to comprise cattle grazing pressure, feral animals (donkey,

horse and cattle), and weeds (buffel grass, ruby dock) (Kendrick 2003).

Additionally, vegetation community sub-group 'gullies and gorges' was considered to have elevated

conservation significance compared to other vegetation within the study area, as this community is likely to

provide refuge for fire-sensitive species and other species which prefer rocky, mesic habitats

(Biota 2012a).

Western Turner Syncline Stage 2: B1 a

nd Section 17 Deposits

PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

29

Ta

ble

4-2

V

eg

eta

tio

n c

om

mu

nitie

s o

f th

e W

este

rn T

urn

er

Synclin

e a

rea

Landfo

rm

Vegeta

tion c

om

munity

Description

Vegeta

tion u

nit(s

)

Vegeta

tion o

f sto

ny p

lain

s

and low

spurs

Pla

ins a

nd

lo

w s

pu

rs d

om

inate

d b

y

mu

lga (

Acacia

an

eu

ra)

an

d s

nakew

oo

d

(A.

xip

ho

ph

ylla) 1

Acacia

aneura

and A

. xip

hophylla

dom

inate

d s

hru

bla

nds, ty

pic

ally

associa

ted w

ith

A.

pru

inocarp

a a

nd A

. rh

odophlo

ia,

over

Triodia

spp. (T

. m

elv

illei, T

. epactia/p

ungens,

T. w

iseana; and o

n c

alc

are

ous s

ubstr

ate

s, T

. angusta

and/o

r T

. lo

ngic

eps).

AanA

xTaff

pT

m

AanA

pr

AanA

prA

rTeT

w

AanT

mT

w

AxA

anT

w

AxA

anT

aT

lo

Pla

ins a

nd low

spurs

dom

inate

d b

y

baderi (

Acacia

inaequila

tera

) A

cacia

inaequila

tera

scatt

ere

d tall

shru

bs o

ver

Ere

mophila

fra

seri s

ubsp. fr

aseri s

cattere

d

shru

bs o

ver

Triodia

angusta

, T

. lo

ngic

eps h

um

mock g

rassla

nd.

AiE

RfT

aT

lo

AbT

w

Pla

ins a

nd low

spurs

dom

inate

d b

y

Pilb

ara

box

(Eucaly

ptu

s x

ero

therm

ica)

Eucaly

ptu

s x

ero

therm

ica s

cattere

d low

tre

es o

ver

Peta

losty

lis labic

heoid

es s

catt

ere

d tall

shru

bs o

ver

Triodia

angusta

, T

. lo

ngic

eps c

losed h

um

mock g

rassla

nd.

ExP

lTaT

lo

Pla

ins a

nd low

spurs

dom

inate

d b

y

snappy g

um

(E

ucaly

ptu

s leucophlo

ia

subsp.

leucophlo

ia)

Eucaly

ptu

s leucophlo

ia s

ubsp. le

ucophlo

ia d

om

inate

d w

oodla

nds o

ver

mix

ed A

cacia

spp.

shru

bla

nds o

ver

Triodia

spp.

(T.

angusta

, T

. lo

ngic

eps, T

. epactia/p

ungens a

nd

T. w

iseana).

ElA

bT

aT

lo

ElT

loT

e

ElT

wT

a

ElC

dA

sppT

w

ElA

anT

e

Pla

ins a

nd low

spurs

dom

inate

d b

y r

ed

malle

e (

Eucaly

ptu

s s

ocia

lis s

ubsp.

eucentr

ica)

Eucaly

ptu

s s

ocia

lis s

ubsp.

eucentr

ica low

open m

alle

e w

oodla

nd o

ve

r M

ela

leuca

ele

ute

rosta

chya, A

cacia

biv

enosa s

catt

ere

d s

hru

bs o

ver

Triodia

angusta

, T

. w

iseana o

pen

hum

mock g

rassla

nd.

EsM

eA

bT

aT

w

Pla

ins a

nd low

spurs

dom

inate

d b

y

Cory

mbia

ham

ers

leyana

Cory

mbia

ham

ers

leyana s

catt

ere

d low

tre

es o

ver

Acacia

inaequila

tera

, A

. ancis

trocarp

a

scatt

ere

d tall

shru

bs o

ver

Triodia

epactia o

pen h

um

mock g

rassla

nd.

ChA

iAaT

e

Pla

ins a

nd low

spurs

dom

inate

d b

y

Cory

mbia

desert

icola

subsp.

desert

icola

C

ory

mbia

desert

icola

subsp.

desert

icola

scattere

d low

tre

es o

ver

Acacia

aneura

, A

. pru

inocarp

a,

Gre

vill

ea b

err

yana t

all

shru

bla

nd o

ver

Triodia

epactia h

um

mock g

rassla

nd

over

Aristida c

onto

rta v

ery

open t

ussock g

rassla

nd.

CdA

anA

prG

bT

e

Vegeta

tion o

f cre

eks,

flow

lines a

nd

floodpla

ins

Majo

r cre

eks d

om

inate

d b

y c

oo

lib

ah

s

(Eu

caly

ptu

s v

ictr

ix)

an

d/o

r ri

ver

red

g

um

s (

E. cam

ald

ule

nsis

su

bsp

. re

fulg

en

s) 1

Eucaly

ptu

s v

ictr

ix (

som

etim

es c

o-d

om

inant

with E

. cam

ald

ule

nsis

subsp.

refu

lgens)

dom

inate

d w

oodla

nd,

typic

ally

over

Acacia

citrinovirid

is a

nd/o

r M

ela

leuca g

lom

era

ta o

ver

tussock g

rasses (

*Cenchru

s c

iliaris, E

riachne t

enuic

ulm

is)

and T

riodia

epactia/p

ungens.

EcE

vA

ci

EvA

ciT

eC

Ec

EvM

gE

RIt

Modera

te c

reeks

Modera

te c

reeks t

ypic

ally

support

ed b

y A

cacia

citrinovirid

is w

oodla

nds o

ver

mix

ed A

cacia

spp. shru

bs o

ver

*Cenchru

s c

iliaris w

ith T

riodia

epactia/p

ungens o

r T

. lo

ngic

eps.

Scatt

ere

d tre

es inclu

ded E

ucaly

ptu

s x

ero

therm

ica a

nd C

ory

mbia

ham

ers

leyensis

.

ExA

ciA

pyT

eC

Ec

ExC

hA

ciA

bT

eT

lo

AciA

bT

aC

Ec

Min

or

flow

lines

Min

or

flow

lines w

ere

typic

ally

mix

ed A

cacia

spp.

and P

eta

losty

lis labic

heoid

es o

ver

Triodia

epactia/p

ungens, T

. w

iseana,

T.

angusta

and o

ccasio

nally

*C

enchru

s c

iliaris. S

catt

ere

d

trees inclu

ded E

ucaly

ptu

s x

ero

therm

ica, E

. le

ucophlo

ia s

ubsp. le

ucophlo

ia a

nd C

ory

mbia

ham

ers

leyana.

ExE

lPlA

bA

ciT

wT

a

ExE

lAbA

aT

a

ElA

bA

mT

e

ElC

hA

ciA

pyA

moT

e

AaT

lo

AaC

Ec

Gu

llie

s a

nd

go

rges

1

Cory

mbia

ferr

itic

ola

and E

ucaly

ptu

s leucophlo

ia s

ubsp. le

ucophlo

ia d

om

inate

d w

oodla

nds

over

tall

shru

bs, ty

pic

ally

Acacia

aneura

, A

. citrinovirid

is (

som

etim

es inclu

ded in t

he tre

e

str

atu

m)

and G

revill

ea b

err

yana o

ver

Triodia

epactia/p

ungens.

CfA

anA

ciT

brT

eE

RIm

ElC

fGO

rTe

Flo

odpla

ins a

nd b

road d

rain

age p

lain

s

Acacia

aneura

dom

inate

d w

oodla

nds, ty

pic

ally

with A

. citrinovirid

is a

nd A

. pru

inocarp

a,

over

Triodia

sp.

(typic

ally

T.

epactia/p

ungens a

nd T

. w

iseana).

A

anA

ciT

spp

AanA

ciC

Ec

AanA

prA

bE

RfT

eT

w



PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

30

Landfo

rm

Vegeta

tion c

om

munity

Description

Vegeta

tion u

nit(s

)

Vegeta

tion o

f sto

ny h

ills a

nd

slo

pes

Hill

s a

nd s

lopes w

ith s

nappy g

um

(E

ucaly

ptu

s leucophlo

ia s

ubsp.

leucophlo

ia)

Eucaly

ptu

s leucophlo

ia s

ubsp. le

ucophlo

ia d

om

inate

d w

oodla

nds (

co-o

ccurr

ing w

ith

E.

gam

ophylla

malle

es o

n talle

r hill

ranges a

nd o

ccasio

nally

co-o

ccurr

ing w

ith C

ory

mbia

ham

ers

leyensis

) over

Acacia

spp., inclu

din

g A

. ham

ers

leyensis

, A

. m

arr

am

am

ba,

A.

pru

inocarp

a a

nd A

. m

aitla

ndii,

over

Triodia

bri

zoid

es,

T. w

iseana a

nd

T.

epactia/p

ungens.

ElE

gA

hA

mrS

TsT

w

ElE

gA

sppT

br

ElA

hA

prA

mT

brT

eE

RIm

ElT

br

ElA

mT

br

ElA

hA

mT

brT

w

ElA

hA

mT

w

ElA

mT

w

ElA

hT

wT

e

ElE

gA

prT

eT

w

ElA

prT

w

ElA

sppT

e

ElC

hA

iTw

Hill

s a

nd s

lopes d

om

inate

d b

y w

att

les

(Acacia

spp.)

S

hru

bla

nds d

om

inate

d b

y A

cacia

spp.

(A. biv

enosa o

r A

. in

aequila

tera

) over

Triodia

w

iseana.

AiE

RfT

w

AbT

w

Hil

ls a

nd

slo

pes d

om

inate

d b

y m

ulg

a

(Acacia

an

eu

ra) 1

A

cacia

aneura

and A

. xip

hophylla

dom

inate

d s

hru

bla

nds, ty

pic

ally

associa

ted w

ith

A.

pru

inocarp

a,

over

Triodia

bri

zoid

es o

r T

. epactia/p

ungens.

AanA

xTbr

AanA

xTe

AanA

prT

br

1C

om

munitie

s c

onsid

ere

d t

o h

ave e

levate

d c

onserv

ation s

ignific

ance c

om

pare

d to o

ther

vegeta

tion w

ithin

the s

tudy a

rea.

* In

troduced s

pecie

s.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 31

4.2.3 Key potential impacts Vegetation clearing Approximately 2500 ha of native vegetation will be cleared within the 9000 ha Proposal boundary. As

stated in Section 2, the proposed extent of clearing (2500 ha) within the Proposal boundary allows for a

footprint approximately 30% larger than the current indicative infrastructure layout (Figure 4-1).

Four vegetation communities were considered to have elevated conservation significance compared to

other vegetation within the study area (Biota 2012a); greater than 50% of the surveyed extent of three of

these communities occurs outside the Proposal boundary (Table 4-3, Figure 4-1). Approximately 90% of

the 'gorges and gullies' community surveyed to date occurs within the Proposal boundary (Figure 4-1).

Based on helicopter reconnaissance by botanists in April 2012, this community is expected to occur

throughout the extensive incised ridges in the northwest of the WTS area that have not yet been surveyed

(flora and vegetation survey of this area is planned for 2012). The current indicative infrastructure layout

intersects a relatively small proportion of the four communities; an approximation of the likely clearing

impact within the Proposal boundary is provided in Table 4-3. Clearing of these communities within the

Proposal boundary is not expected to result in significant local or regional impacts.

Table 4-3 Potential clearing impact to conservation significant vegetation communities

Vegetation community

Area within WTS study area

Area within Proposal boundary Area intersected by indicative

infrastructure footprint1

ha ha % of total

surveyed area ha

% of total surveyed area

Lower slope mulga 603 296 49 67 11

Valley floor mulga 2507 694 28 112 4

Major ephemeral watercourses 1287 57 4 0 0

Gorges and gullies 136 122 89 20 15

Total 4533 1169 26 199 4

1 Based on indicative infrastructure layout at completion of Project PFS. Infrastructure layout is subject to change during

Project Feasibility Study, construction and operational phases. Proposed extent of clearing (2500 ha) within the

Proposal boundary (9000 ha) allows for a footprint approximately 30% larger than the current indicative infrastructure

layout, as detailed in Section 2 of this document.

Of the nine species of Priority flora recorded within the study area, eight species occur within the Proposal

boundary; therefore, some locations of these species may be impacted by the Proposal (Figure 4-1).

Based on the current indicative infrastructure layout, clearing of several locations of three Priority species

is expected. A summary of the extent of potential impacts to Priority species is provided in Table 4-4. The

Proposal is not expected to have significant local or regional impacts on these species.



PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

32

Ta

ble

4-4

P

ote

ntia

l im

pa

cts

to c

on

se

rva

tio

n s

ign

ific

an

t flo

ra

Specie

s

Conserv

ation

sta

tus

Locations

within

WT

S

stu

dy a

rea

Locations w

ithin

P

roposal boundary

Locations w

ithin

in

dic

ative infr

astr

uctu

re

layout1

Pote

ntial im

pact

#

#

% o

f to

tal in

stu

dy a

rea

#

% o

f to

tal in

stu

dy a

rea

Dam

pie

ra

anonym

a

P3

9

7

78

0

0

Appro

xim

ate

ly 6

0 indiv

iduals

of th

is s

pecie

s w

ere

record

ed a

t nin

e locations o

n u

pper

slo

pes o

f th

e r

idges in the w

est

of th

e s

tudy a

rea.

These locations a

re n

ot

within

clo

se p

roxi

mity to the

indic

ative infr

astr

uctu

re layout.

D. anonym

a h

as b

een p

revio

usly

record

ed a

t eig

ht oth

er

locations w

ithin

50 k

m o

f th

e s

tudy

are

a.

The P

roposal is

not exp

ecte

d t

o h

ave s

ignific

ant

local

or

regio

nal im

pacts

on t

his

specie

s.

Ere

mophila

m

agnific

a

subsp. velu

tina

P3

82

76

93

0

0

Over

1100 indiv

iduals

of th

is s

pecie

s w

ere

record

ed a

t 82 locations, concentr

ate

d o

n s

cre

e

slo

pes o

f hill

s in t

he e

ast

of th

e s

tudy a

rea.

These locations a

re n

ot w

ithin

clo

se p

roxi

mity

to the

indic

ative infr

astr

uctu

re layout. T

his

specie

s h

as b

een p

revio

usly

record

ed a

t fo

ur

oth

er

locations

within

50 k

m o

f th

e s

tudy a

rea. T

he P

roposal is

not exp

ecte

d t

o h

ave s

ignific

ant lo

cal or

regio

nal

impacts

to t

his

specie

s.

Goodenia

sp.

East P

ilbara

(A

.A.

Mitchell

PR

P 7

27)

P3

6

1

17

0

0

Appro

xim

ate

ly 7

0 indiv

iduals

of th

is s

pecie

s w

ere

record

ed f

rom

six

locations d

istr

ibute

d

rela

tively

wid

ely

thro

ugh t

he c

entr

e o

f th

e s

tudy a

rea. A

ll re

cord

s w

ere

within

vegeta

tion u

nits

EsM

eA

bT

aT

w a

nd E

lTw

Ta o

n c

alc

rete

outc

rop. T

hese locations a

re g

enera

lly n

ot

within

clo

se

pro

xim

ity t

o t

he indic

ative infr

astr

uctu

re layout. T

his

specie

s h

as b

een p

revio

usly

record

ed a

t five o

ther

locations w

ithin

50 k

m o

f th

e s

tudy a

rea. T

he P

roposal is

not

exp

ecte

d t

o h

ave

sig

nific

ant

local or

regio

nal im

pacts

on this

specie

s.

Indig

ofe

ra s

p.

Bungaro

o C

reek

(S.

van

Leeuw

en 4

301)

P3

88

78

89

5

6

Appro

xim

ate

ly 6

00 indiv

iduals

of th

is s

pecie

s w

ere

record

ed a

t 88 locations fro

m a

variety

of

habitats

within

the s

tudy a

rea, in

clu

din

g s

cre

e s

lopes,

gulli

es a

nd c

reek lin

es. T

his

specie

s h

as

pre

vio

usly

been r

ecord

ed a

t 17 o

ther

locations w

ithin

50 k

m o

f th

e s

tudy a

rea.

Although s

om

e

locations o

f th

is s

pecie

s w

ithin

the P

roposal boundary

are

in c

lose p

roxi

mity to t

he indic

ative

infr

astr

uctu

re layout

and w

ill p

ote

ntially

be c

leare

d, th

is is n

ot exp

ecte

d t

o h

ave s

ignific

ant

local

or

regio

nal im

pacts

on t

his

specie

s.

Nic

otiana

um

bra

tica

P3

1

1

100

0

0

This

specie

s w

as r

ecord

ed a

t one location in a

cre

ek b

ed w

ithin

the v

egeta

tion u

nit E

vM

gE

RIt.

T

he s

pecie

s w

as n

ot re

cord

ed d

uring a

subsequent surv

ey b

ut it is lik

ely

that it w

as n

ot

pre

sent

or

identifiable

at th

e t

ime g

iven r

ain

fall

was low

prior

to the s

urv

ey.

This

specie

s h

as n

ot

pre

vio

usly

been r

ecord

ed w

ithin

50 k

m o

f th

e s

tudy a

rea. T

he s

pecie

s w

as n

ot lo

cate

d w

ithin

clo

se p

roxi

mity

to the indic

ative infr

astr

uctu

re layout. T

he P

roposal is

not exp

ecte

d t

o h

ave

sig

nific

ant

local or

regio

nal im

pacts

to t

his

specie

s.

Ptilo

tus

subspin

escens

P3

79

75

95

0

0

Appro

xim

ate

ly 9

60 indiv

iduals

of th

is s

pecie

s w

ere

record

ed f

rom

79 locations,

on t

he low

sto

ny

undula

ting p

lain

s s

upport

ing T

riodia

hum

mock g

rassla

nds a

nd s

catt

ere

d E

ucaly

ptu

s leucophlo

ia

trees in t

he n

ort

hern

section o

f th

e s

tudy a

rea. T

he s

pecie

s h

as p

revio

usly

been r

ecord

ed a

t 239

locations w

ithin

50 k

m o

f th

e s

tudy

are

a.

The m

ajo

rity

of

locations o

f th

e s

pecie

s w

ere

not

record

ed w

ithin

clo

se p

roxi

mity t

o the indic

ative infr

astr

uctu

re layout. A

lthough s

om

e locations o

f th

is s

pecie

s w

ithin

the P

roposal boundary

are

exp

ecte

d t

o b

e c

leare

d,

this

is n

ot exp

ecte

d t

o

have s

ignific

ant lo

cal or

regio

nal im

pacts

to this

specie

s.



PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

33

Specie

s

Conserv

ation

sta

tus

Locations

within

WT

S

stu

dy a

rea

Locations w

ithin

P

roposal boundary

Locations w

ithin

in

dic

ative infr

astr

uctu

re

layout1

Pote

ntial im

pact

#

#

% o

f to

tal in

stu

dy a

rea

#

% o

f to

tal in

stu

dy a

rea

Sid

a s

p. B

arlee

Range (

S.

van

Leeuw

en 1

642)

P3

106

94

89

6

6

Appro

xim

ate

ly 5

00 indiv

iduals

of th

is s

pecie

s w

ere

record

ed a

t 106 locations w

idely

dis

trib

ute

d

thro

ughout

the s

tudy a

rea. T

his

specie

s h

as p

revio

usly

been r

ecord

ed a

t 15 locations w

ithin

50 k

m o

f th

e s

tudy a

rea. A

lthough s

om

e locations o

f th

is s

pecie

s w

ithin

the P

roposal boundary

are

exp

ecte

d t

o b

e c

leare

d, th

is is n

ot

exp

ecte

d t

o h

ave s

ignific

ant lo

cal or

regio

nal im

pacts

on

this

specie

s.

Ere

mophila

m

agnific

a

subsp.

magnific

a

P4

49

49

100

13

27

Appro

xim

ate

ly 5

40 indiv

iduals

of th

is s

pecie

s w

ere

record

ed f

rom

49 locations o

n the s

cre

e

slo

pes o

f th

e w

este

rn a

nd c

entr

al nort

hern

hill

s o

f th

e s

tudy a

rea. T

his

specie

s h

as p

revio

usly

been r

ecord

ed a

t 2 locations w

ithin

50 k

m o

f th

e s

tudy a

rea. A

lthough s

om

e locations o

f th

is

specie

s w

ithin

the P

roposal boundary

are

expecte

d t

o b

e c

leare

d, th

is is n

ot

exp

ecte

d to h

ave

sig

nific

ant

local or

regio

nal im

pacts

on this

specie

s.

Goodenia

nuda

P4

1

0

0

0

0

Six

indiv

iduals

at one location w

ere

record

ed,

on a

fla

t sto

ny p

lain

in a

ssocia

tion w

ith v

egeta

tion

unit E

lAsppT

e, in

the s

outh

east corn

er

of

the s

tudy a

rea. T

his

locatio

n is n

ot

within

the P

roposal

boundary

. T

his

specie

s h

as p

revio

usly

been r

ecord

ed a

t tw

o locations w

ithin

50 k

m o

f th

e s

tudy

are

a.

The P

roposal is

not

exp

ecte

d t

o h

ave s

ignific

ant

local or

regio

nal im

pacts

on t

his

specie

s.

1 B

ased o

n indic

ative infr

astr

uctu

re layout

at com

ple

tion o

f P

roje

ct P

FS

. Infr

astr

uctu

re layout is

subje

ct

to c

hange d

uring P

roje

ct F

easib

ility

Stu

dy, constr

uction a

nd o

pera

tional phases. P

roposed e

xtent

of

cle

aring (

2500 h

a)

within

the P

roposal boundary

(9000 h

a)

allo

ws f

or

a f

ootp

rint

appro

xim

ate

ly 3

0%

larg

er

than t

he c

urr

ent in

dic

ative infr

astr

uctu

re layout, a

s d

eta

iled in S

ection 2

of th

is d

ocum

ent.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 34

Disruption of surface water flows Proposal infrastructure has the potential to alter surface water drainage patterns which could impact

vegetation. However, the potential for disruption to watercourses to cause significant impacts to

downstream vegetation is considered minimal, as there are no major watercourses within the Proposal

boundary. Additionally, surface water management is a key consideration during the infrastructure design

process; therefore, proposed infrastructure (such as dumps and stockpiles) has been located to avoid

disruption to watercourses where practical, and where watercourses are intersected (such as on conveyor

and haul/access road routes), culverts will generally be installed.

Disruption to overland flow (sheetflow) may impact downstream sheetflow-dependent vegetation.

Generally, mulga groves in areas of minimal slope (i.e., <2%) are considered potentially sheetflow-

dependent, with impacts considered to potentially occur where linear infrastructure is located within 50 to

200 m upslope of these areas; this is based on previous management plans developed for other projects

in the Pilbara (e.g., FMG 2008, BHPBilliton 2009, Astron 2010). Within the WTS area, the vegetation

community considered equivalent to 'valley floor mulga' (Kendrick 2003) is considered to have the highest

potential for sheetflow dependency. Slope analysis of contours has indicated that the central WTS has

substantial areas where slope is <2%, and the most extensive areas of the 'valley floor mulga' community

generally coincide with these areas of lower slope (Figure 4-3). The potential for impacts to sheetflow-

dependent mulga was a factor considered during assessment of potential routes for the infrastructure

corridor from B1 to S10 during the PFS, and in alignment of the proposed route. The proposed route for

the infrastructure corridor is located on the lower slopes of the northern ridgeline of the WTS where

watercourses are generally well defined, and is at least several hundred metres north of the main areas of

valley floor mulga on <2% slope (Figure 4-3).

Further assessment of the potential for impacts to sheetflow-dependent vegetation will be undertaken

during the Project Feasibility Study, and management measures developed to minimise potential impacts,

with consideration of approaches previously adopted by other proponents to manage this issue. The

outcome of this assessment (and proposed management measures) will be detailed in the Proposal EIA

document. At a minimum, management measures will comprise:

(a) culvert installation where areas of fill intersect watercourses along the infrastructure corridor

(b) installation of environmental culverts every 50 m in areas where disruption to sheetflow by

embankments may significantly impact downstream sheetflow-dependent vegetation. Discharge of surplus water Discharge of surplus groundwater from dewatering of the B1 main pit has the potential to affect flora and

vegetation in the discharge watercourse by:

• providing favourable conditions for competing species (e.g., annuals, weeds) due to increased

soil moisture and/or increased nutrient availability

• causing plant death or decline due to water-logging, or exposure to discharge water of poor

quality (saline, detrimental elemental concentrations, etc.).

Dewatering in excess of operational requirements will be discharged to a watercourse (located north of the

B1 deposit) that joins the Beasley river approximately 10 km downstream (Figure 4-7). At maximum

potential discharge rates of approximately 13 ML/day, continual discharge is predicted to extend to

approximately 13 km downstream of the discharge point (Rio Tinto 2012a). Based on the expected

declining rates of dewatering required over the life of the B1 main pit, and the ongoing operational water

demand of approximately 6 ML/day, maximum discharge rates are expected to be substantially less than

13 ML/day, and are expected to decline further over the life of the Proposal. At continual discharge rates

of 5 ML/day and 10 ML/day, discharge is expected to extend to approximately 8 km and 12 km

respectively, downstream of the discharge point (Figure 4-7).



PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

35

Fig

ure

4-3

Co

nve

yo

r a

lign

men

t an

d s

he

etflo

w-d

ep

en

de

nt

ve

ge

tatio

n


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 36

Analysis of groundwater from the B1 aquifer indicates discharge water is of good quality, all analytes are

less than ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000) default trigger values for drinking water, and for protection of 80% of

species in freshwater aquatic ecosystems (WRM 2012a). The discharge water quality is not expected to

cause significant impacts to vegetation in the discharge watercourse. However, this aspect of water

quality will be considered in the development of a Project discharge water quality management and

monitoring strategy (including site-specific water quality trigger values) that will be developed in

accordance with the ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000) water quality management framework.

Major vegetation units potentially impacted by the proposed discharge comprise:

1. Within the upper 4 km of the discharge watercourse, the dominant vegetation comprises Eucalyptus

xerothermica low open woodland over Acacia citrinoviridis tall shrubland over Triodia epactia open

hummock grassland with *Cenchrus ciliaris open tussock grassland (ExAciApyTeCEc), with potential

impacts at continual discharge rates of <5 ML/day.

2. Within the lower 6 km of the discharge watercourse, the dominant vegetation comprises Eucalyptus

victrix scattered trees over Acacia citrinoviridis tall shrubland over Triodia epactia open hummock

grassland and/or *Cenchrus ciliaris open tussock grassland (EvAciTeCEc), with potential impacts at

continual discharge rates of <5 ML/day to <10 ML/day.

3. Within the Beasley River, the dominant vegetation comprises Eucalyptus camaldulensis subsp.

refulgens, E. victrix woodland over Acacia citrinoviridis tall open scrub (EcEvAci), with potential

impacts to approximately a 3 km section of this vegetation at continual discharge rates between

>5 ML/day to 13 ML/day.

Although vegetation may be detrimentally impacted by the increased availability of water due to dewatering

discharge, this impact is not considered significant as:

• the maximum area potentially impacted by discharge is relatively confined, and discharge is

expected to decline over the life of the Proposal

• vegetation communities are expected to recover after cessation of discharge, towards the end of

the mine life.

Potential increased diversity or abundance of weeds within the discharge watercourse will be monitored

during Proposal implementation, and management implemented as appropriate. Groundwater drawdown At B1, the water table is a minimum of 40 mbgl. To enable mining to a maximum depth of approximately

185 m BWT, dewatering of the B1 main pit via in-pit bores is required at extraction rates of up to

approximately 13 ML/day. As the orebody aquifer is considered to be isolated from the regional

groundwater system by low permeability un-mineralised Brockman Iron Formation and MCS Formation,

the modelled groundwater drawdown is relatively limited in extent, with 5 m drawdown up to 1 km north of

the B1 main pit, and up to 3 km south of the B1 main pit (Figure 4-4).

The only flora species within the WTS area considered likely to have a high degree of groundwater

dependency is Eucalyptus camaldulensis, which is a dominant species within the vegetation unit EcEvAci

(Eucalyptus camaldulensis subsp. refulgens, E. victrix woodland over Acacia citrinoviridis tall open scrub).

This vegetation unit only occurs in association with the Beasley and Hardey Rivers, at least 6.5 km from

the B1 main pit; no impacts to these areas are expected due to groundwater drawdown. Weeds As weed species are present within the Proposal boundary, disturbance associated with Proposal

earthworks may provide conditions favourable for weed establishment. Introduction of weeds may also

occur via soil containing weed propagules being transported to site on dirty vehicles, or via importation of

contaminated construction materials to site. Dewatering discharge may provide favourable conditions for

weeds due to increased soil moisture and/or increased nutrient availability.



PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

37

Fig

ure

4-4

Gro

un

dw

ate

r d

raw

do

wn

co

nto

urs

fo

r B

1 m

ain

pit a

nd v

eg

eta

tio

n in

the

Weste

rn T

urn

er

Synclin

e a

rea


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 38

4.2.4 Management measures The following key mitigation and management measures will be implemented to minimise potential impacts

to flora and vegetation:

1. Minimising planned vegetation clearing during mine planning and design phases to areas necessary

for safe construction and operation of the Project.

2. Avoid and minimise clearing of elevated conservation significance vegetation and flora where

practical.

3. Implementing the Rio Tinto internal ground disturbance authorisation procedure, including internal

assessment and authorisation prior to any clearing of vegetation, and physical demarcation of areas

to be cleared.

4. Mine planning and design to incorporate consideration of surface water management, including

avoiding disruption to watercourses where practical, and installation of culverts as required where

watercourses are intersected.

5. In areas where linear infrastructure is assessed as potentially impacting downstream sheetflow-

dependent vegetation, management measures will be implemented, including installation of

environmental culverts every 50 m in embankments.

6. A Project discharge water quality management and monitoring strategy (including site-specific water

quality trigger values) will be developed in accordance with the ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000) water

quality management framework, with consideration of potential impacts to vegetation.

7. Management of weeds will be carried out in accordance with the HSEQ Weed Management Strategy,

Equipment Hygiene Inspections Procedure, Borrow Pit Specification and Management Procedure,

and Soil Resource Management Procedure, including the following actions:

(a) Weed monitoring will be undertaken within the discharge watercourse and management

implemented as appropriate.

(b) A weed action plan will be developed and implemented during construction and operations.

(c) All equipment will be inspected as being clean and free of built up mud, rock, soil and

vegetation prior to entry to, and departure from, site.

(d) Areas to be cleared will be assessed for weeds, and topsoil cleared from weed infested areas

will be separated from other stockpiles and/or managed to prevent the spread of weeds.

(e) Borrow pit locations will avoid areas with weed infestations. If they cannot be avoided,

appropriate weed treatment, hygiene and control will be implemented prior to disturbance. 4.2.5 Planned studies/investigations 1. Further assessment of the potential for impacts to sheetflow-dependent vegetation, and management

measures to minimise potential impacts (outcomes to be provided in Proposal EIA document).

2. Establishment of weed monitoring sites in the discharge watercourse to enable collection of baseline

data for weed monitoring.

3. A flora and vegetation survey of the extensive incised ridges in the northwest of the WTS area

(outside the Proposal boundary).


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 39

4.3 Fauna 4.3.1 Introduction Studies/investigations completed to date

Multiple fauna surveys undertaken between 2007 and 2011 (Biota 2007, 2009a, 2009b, 2011) have

surveyed 22 300 ha of the WTS area (the study area) to Level 2 standard (EPA 2002a, 2004b), including

the 9000 ha area within the Proposal boundary (Figure 4-1). The Biota report, West Turner Syncline

Fauna Survey Summary Report (Biota 2012b [Appendix 2]), summarises the key findings of these surveys

in relation to conservation significant fauna species, and provides consolidated fauna habitat mapping of

the WTS area (Figure 4-5).

Aquatic fauna within the WTS area was surveyed via wet and dry season sampling in 2011 of sites on both

the Hardey and Beasley Rivers, including control sites and sites potentially impacted by dewatering

discharge (WRM 2012b [Appendix 3]). Relevant guidelines Fauna surveys and associated reports have been developed with consideration of the following EPA

guiding documents:

1. Position Statement No. 3, Terrestrial Biological Surveys as an Element of Biodiversity Protection

(EPA 2002a).

2. Guidance Statement No. 20, Sampling for Short Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna for

Environmental Impact Assessment in Western Australia (EPA 2009).

3. Guidance Statement No. 56, Terrestrial Fauna Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment in

Western Australia (EPA 2004b).



PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

40

Fig

ure

4-5

Fa

un

a h

abita

t a

nd

con

se

rva

tion

sig

nific

an

t fa

un

a r

eco

rds in

th

e W

este

rn T

urn

er

Syn

clin

e a

rea

Habitat 6: Eucalypt woodland over Acacia citrinoviridis shrubland on major creeks

Habitat 12: Eucalypt woodland over Acacia spp. shrubland over tussock grassland on minor drainages

Habitat 2: Acacia spp. tall shrubland over *Cenchrus ciliaris tussock grassland on minor drainages and flowlines

Habitat 14: Eucalypt woodland over Acacia spp. shrubland over Triodia hummock grassland on incised flowlines

Habitat 9: Eucalyptus victrix woodland over Melaleuca glomerata shrubland over tussock grassland on major creeks

Habitat 13: Corymbia spp. and eucalypt open woodland over mixed Acacia spp. shrubland over tussock grasslands in gullies and gorges

Habitat 8: Eucalyptus leucophloia woodland over Acacia spp. shrubland over Triodia hummock grassland on

spurs and hill slopes

Habitat 4: Corymbia spp. open woodland over mixed Acacia spp. shrubland over tussock grasslands on low hills and stony plains

Habitat 11: Mulga and Acacia shrublands over Triodia hummock grasslands on rocky hill slopes

Habitat 1: Acacia inaequilatera tall shrubs over Triodia hummock grassland on low hills

Habitat 7: Eucalypt woodland over Acacia spp. shrubland over Triodia hummock grassland on stony plains and slopes

Habitat 10: Mixed Acacia spp. shrublands over Triodia hummock grasslands on stony plains and low hills

Habitat 3: Acacia xiphophylla shrubland over Triodia hummock grassland on clay plains

Habitat 5: Disturbed

WTS Stage 2 – Fauna Habitat Legend PDE0095036v1, April 2012


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 42

4.3.2 Description of factor Terrestrial fauna habitat The combined terrestrial fauna study area comprises 14 main habitat units, distinguished on the basis of

differences in substrate, vegetation and landform (Biota 2012b). Figure 4-5 illustrates the distribution of

these fauna habitats within the study area. Descriptions of each habitat unit are provided in Table 4-5

along with a summary of their comparative extents. Three habitat units (units 7, 8 and 10) make up a

combined total of more than 75% of the study area.

Table 4-5 Fauna habitat unit descriptions

No. Habitat description

Area within WTS study

area

Area within Proposal boundary

Area within indicative Proposal footprint

1

ha ha % of area in study area

ha % of area in study area

1 Acacia inaequilatera tall shrubs over Triodia hummock grassland on low hills.

37 0 0 0 0

2 Acacia spp. tall shrubland over *C. ciliaris tussock grassland on minor drainages and flow lines.

176 39 22 0.1 0.1

3 Acacia xiphophylla shrubland over Triodia hummock grassland on clay plains.

982 318 32 37 4

4 Corymbia spp. open woodland over mixed Acacia spp. shrubland over tussock grasslands on low hills and stony plains.

1567 31 2 0 0

5 Disturbed. 35 27 77 0.5 1.4

6 Eucalypt woodland over Acacia citrinoviridis shrubland on major creeks.

1283 53 4 0 0

7 Eucalypt woodland over Acacia spp. shrubland over Triodia hummock grassland on stony plains and slopes.

5930 2258 38.1 560 9

8 Eucalyptus leucophloia woodland over Acacia spp. shrubland over Triodia hummock grassland on spurs and hill slopes.

8691 5116 58.9 1090 13

9 Eucalyptus victrix woodland over Melaleuca glomerata shrubland over tussock grassland on major creeks.

4 4 100 0 0

10 Mixed Acacia spp. shrublands over Triodia hummock grasslands on stony plains and low hills.

2380 507 21.3 159 7

11 Mulga and Acacia shrublands over Triodia hummock grasslands on rocky hill slopes.

603 296 49.1 67 11

12 Eucalypt woodland over Acacia spp. shrubland over tussock grassland on minor drainages.

315 141 44.9 16 5

13 Corymbia spp. and eucalypt open woodland over mixed Acacia spp. shrubland over tussock grasslands in gullies and gorges.

136 122 89.4 21 15

14 Eucalypt woodland over Acacia spp. shrubland over Triodia hummock grassland on incised flow lines.

173 53 31 3 2

TOTAL 22 313 8971 40 1953 9 1 Based on indicative infrastructure layout at completion of Project PFS. Infrastructure layout is subject to change during

Project Feasibility Study, construction and operational phases. Proposed extent of clearing (2500 ha) within the Proposal boundary (9000 ha) allows for a footprint approximately 30% larger than the current indicative infrastructure layout, as detailed in Section 2 in this document.

* Introduced species.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 43

Vertebrate terrestrial fauna A total of 124 vertebrate species of terrestrial fauna were recorded within the Proposal area and surrounds

(Biota 2009a). This represents approximately 50% of the total number of species (249) that could be

expected to occur in the area (Biota 2012b). The majority of species recorded were either reptiles or birds.

Eighteen (18) species of conservation significant fauna (listed under EPBC Act, WC Act, or as Priority

species by DEC) are considered to potentially occur in the WTS area; six of these species have been

recorded (as listed in Table 4-6) at locations illustrated in Figure 4-5 (Biota 2009a, 2009b, 2011, 2012b).

Table 4-6 Conservation significant vertebrate terrestrial fauna species recorded in the Western Turner

Syncline area

Fauna group

Species Conservation status

(EPBC Act) Conservation status

(State) Habitat unit(s)

Bats Rhinonicteris aurantius (Pilbara form) (Pilbara leaf-nosed bat, orange leaf-nosed bat)

Vulnerable Schedule 1 9

Reptiles Liasis olivaceus barroni (Pilbara olive python)

Vulnerable Schedule 1 7

Notoscincus butleri Priority 4 2

Mammals (excl. bats)

Pseudomys chapmani (western pebble-mound mouse)

Priority 4 7, 8, 10

Birds Ardeotis australis (Australian bustard)

Priority 4 7

Merops ornatus (rainbow bee-eater)

Migratory Schedule 3 2, 6, 7, 10, 11 Invertebrate terrestrial fauna Six possible short-range endemic (SRE) taxa were recorded within the WTS area (Biota 2012b). Of these,

two taxa (Austrostrophus stictopygus and Rhagada sp. ‘Mt Brockman’) are known to occur elsewhere in

the Pilbara and are considered to be widespread; therefore, these are not considered to represent SRE

species (Biota 2012b). The two pseudoscorpion taxa (Synsphyronus sp. and Afrosternophorus sp.) are

considered to have a low likelihood of short-range endemism given the same genus (and probably the

same species) has been recorded more widely in the Pilbara (Biota 2012b). The two trapdoor spider taxa,

Barychelidae sp. and Aname sp. (Table 4-7; Figure 4-5), may represent SREs (Biota 2012b); however,

based on spatial spread of records and morphotype, these taxa are considered unlikely to be restricted to

the WTS study area (Biota 2012b). Neither taxon has a current State or EPBC Act conservation status.

Table 4-7 Potential SREs recorded in the Western Turner Syncline area

Fauna group Taxa Habitat unit(s) recorded

SREs Aname sp. 7, 8, 10

Barychelidae sp. 2, 7, 10


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 44

Aquatic fauna Aquatic fauna were sampled in April and August 2011 from ephemeral pools within the Beasley River

upstream (control) and downstream (potential impact) of the junction with the discharge watercourse, and

at control sites in pools on the Hardey River and a western channel of the Beasley River (Figure 4-7). No

ephemeral pools were present on the discharge watercourse between the discharge point and the junction

with the Beasley River, 10 km downstream (WRM 2012b).

A total of 321 aquatic fauna taxa were recorded from sites located on the Beasley and Hardey Rivers

(Figure 4-7), and comprised microinvertebrates2

, hyporheic3

fauna, macroinvertebrates and fish

(Table 4-8).

Table 4-8 Conservation significant aquatic fauna in the Western Turner Syncline region

Fauna group Taxa Conservation status Recorded from

Hardey or Beasley River

Control or Potential

Impact site EPBC Act State IUCN

Micro-invertebrates

Lecane noobijupi Both Both

Synchaeta sp. (undescribed)

Beasley Control

Hyporheic fauna

Microcyclops varicans Both Both

Scirtidae spp. Both Control

Oligochaeta spp. Both Both

Pentaneura sp. Beasley Potential Impact

Limbodessus occidentalis

Beasley Control

Macro-invertebrates

Hemicordulia koomina

(Pilbara emerald dragonfly)

Near Threatened

Both Both

Eurysticta coolawanyah

(Pilbara pin damselfly)

Near Threatened

Beasley Both

Haliplus pilbaraensis Beasley Both

Fish Leiopotherapon aheneus

(Fortescue grunter)

Priority 4 Lower Risk Near

Threatened

Beasley Both

2

Animals without backbones which are not large enough to be seen by the unaided eye. 3

Hyporheic zone is a region beneath and alongside a stream bed, where there is mixing of shallow groundwater and surface water.



PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

45

Fig

ure

4-7

Mo

de

lled

exte

nt

of g

rou

nd

wa

ter

dis

cha

rge

, a

nd a

qua

tic f

au

na

sam

plin

g s

ite

s, in

Weste

rn T

urn

er

Syn

clin

e r

egio

n


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 46

4.3.3 Key potential impacts Vegetation clearing Clearing of vegetation, and associated habitat disturbance, is considered to comprise the key potential

impact to terrestrial fauna. Approximately 2500 ha of native vegetation will be cleared within the 9000 ha

Proposal boundary (Figure 4-5). As stated in Section 2, the proposed extent of clearing (2500 ha) within

the Proposal boundary allows for a footprint approximately 30% larger than the current indicative

infrastructure layout.

Greater than 50% of the surveyed extent of most habitat units is outside the Proposal boundary, whereas

<50% of the surveyed extent of habitat units 8, 9 and 13 occurs outside the Proposal boundary

(Table 4-5). Habitat unit 8, that aligns with the 'gorges and gullies' vegetation community, is expected to

occur throughout the extensive incised ridges in the northwest of the WTS area that have not yet been

surveyed based on helicopter reconnaissance by botanists in April 2012 (flora, vegetation and fauna

survey of this area is planned for 2012). The current indicative infrastructure layout intersects a relatively

small proportion of all fauna habitat units, providing an approximation of the likely clearing impact within

the Proposal boundary (Table 4-5). The fauna habitats within the study area are common and widespread

throughout the Hamersley sub-region (Biota 2012b); therefore, clearing of these communities within the

Proposal boundary is not expected to result in significant local or regional impact to fauna. An assessment

of potential impacts to each species of conservation significant vertebrate terrestrial fauna recorded in the

study area is provided in Table 4-9 (Biota 2009a, 2009b, 2011, 2012b).

The two invertebrate terrestrial taxa recorded within the study area that may represent SREs (Aname sp.

and Barychelidae sp.) are considered unlikely to be restricted to the WTS study area (Biota 2012b). Both

taxa were recorded at multiple locations in the WTS area, both within and outside the Proposal boundary

(Figure 4-5); therefore, impacts to these taxa are not expected to be significant. Discharge of surplus water Dewatering discharge will potentially impact aquatic fauna via changes in surface water quality and flow

regimes. At maximum potential discharge rates of approximately 13 ML/day, continual discharge is

predicted to extend to approximately 13 km downstream of the discharge point (Rio Tinto 2012a). No

ephemeral pools were present along the discharge watercourse between the discharge point and the

junction with the Beasley River (10 km downstream); however, several ephemeral pools were recorded

with the 3 km section of the Beasley River that may be impacted at maximum potential discharge rates.

Analysis of groundwater from the B1 aquifer indicates discharge water is of good quality, all analytes are

less than ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000) default trigger values for drinking water, and for protection of 80% of

species in freshwater aquatic ecosystems (WRM 2012a). Analytes that exceed ANZECC/ARMCANZ

(2000) default trigger values for protection of 95% of species in freshwater aquatic ecosystems are

generally also elevated in pools sampled on the Beasley River (WRM 2012a), including nutrient

concentrations (P and N). Discharge of water with elevated nutrient concentrations could potentially

impact aquatic fauna if eutrophication occurs. A Project discharge water quality management and

monitoring strategy (including site-specific water quality trigger values) will be developed in accordance

with the ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000) water quality management framework, to manage the potential

impacts of discharge water quality on aquatic fauna.

All aquatic fauna species recorded within the area potentially impacted by dewatering discharge were also

recorded at control sites (on the Beasley or Hardey River) or have been recorded elsewhere in the Pilbara

(WRM 2012b). While the fauna within the area affected by discharge may change from species adapted to

ephemeral pools to species adapted to more permanent water bodies, the presence of potential

recruitment sources upstream and within the surrounding area indicates these species will repopulate the

area after cessation of discharge. Based on species identified to date, the presence of similar habitat in

the surrounding area, and the relatively limited area affected by discharge, dewatering discharge from the

Proposal is unlikely to cause significant impacts to aquatic fauna.

Western Turner Sy


osits

PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

47

Ta

ble

4-9

Im

pacts

to

co

nse

rva

tio

n s

ignific

an

t te

rrestr

ial fa

un

a r

eco

rde

d in

the

stu

dy a

rea

Specie

s

Conserv

ation s

tatu

s

Assessm

ent

Rhin

onic

teris a

ura

ntius

(Pilb

ara

form

)

(Pilb

ara

leaf-

nosed b

at,

ora

nge leaf-

nosed b

at)

Vuln

era

ble

, S

chedule

1

The P

ilbara

leaf-

nosed b

at

was r

ecord

ed f

rom

calls

at a s

ingle

site w

ithin

a g

org

e a

ppro

xim

ate

ly 4

km

south

west

of th

e B

1 m

ain

pit (

Habitat

9)

- an a

rea

within

the P

roposal boundary

but outs

ide the c

urr

ent

indic

ative P

roje

ct fo

otp

rint

(Fig

ure

4-5

).

Giv

en t

hat

this

was t

he o

nly

record

of th

e s

pecie

s d

uring

all

investigations, it is c

onsid

ere

d u

nlik

ely

that th

ere

is a

roost of any s

ignific

ance in the a

rea (

Bio

ta 2

012b).

T

he r

ecord

is c

onsid

ere

d t

o r

epre

sent

an

itin

era

nt

indiv

idual and t

he h

abitats

within

the s

tudy a

rea a

re u

nlik

ely

to b

e 'c

ritical to

the s

urv

ival'

of th

e s

pecie

s (

Bio

ta 2

012b).

Lia

sis

oliv

aceus b

arr

oni

(Pilb

ara

oliv

e p

yth

on)

Vuln

era

ble

, S

chedule

1

A s

ingle

Pilb

ara

oliv

e p

yth

on w

as r

ecord

ed f

rom

just

beyond the e

aste

rn e

xtent

of

the s

tudy a

rea,

appro

xim

ate

ly 2

0 k

m s

outh

east

of th

e P

roposal

boundary

(lo

cation o

uts

ide a

rea d

ispla

yed in F

igure

4-5

).

With

in the s

tudy a

rea, H

abitat 13 r

epre

sents

the m

ost suitable

habitat

for

this

specie

s. H

abitat 6 r

epre

sents

pote

ntially

suitable

habitat w

hen w

ate

r is

availa

ble

. T

he f

auna h

abitats

found w

ithin

the s

tudy a

rea a

re c

om

mon a

nd w

idespre

ad t

hro

ughout

the H

am

ers

ley s

ub-r

egio

n (

Bio

ta 2

012b);

there

fore

, m

inim

al im

pact to

this

specie

s is e

xpecte

d.

Noto

scin

cus b

utleri

Priority

4

N.

butleri w

as r

ecord

ed in m

ixed A

cacia

open s

hru

bla

nd o

ver

spin

ifex

(Triodia

sp.)

hum

mock g

rassla

nd (

Habitat 2)

near

the H

ard

ey R

iver,

south

of th

e

Pro

posal boundary

(F

igure

4-5

). T

he f

auna h

abitats

found w

ithin

the s

tudy a

rea a

re c

om

mon a

nd w

idespre

ad t

hro

ughout

the H

am

ers

ley s

ub-r

egio

n

(Bio

ta 2

012b);

there

fore

, m

inim

al im

pact to

this

specie

s is e

xpecte

d.

Pseudom

ys c

hapm

ani

(weste

rn p

ebble

-mound

mouse)

Priority

4

Active p

ebble

-mounds w

ere

locate

d a

t fo

ur

sites, both

within

and o

uts

ide the P

roposal boundary

(F

igure

4-5

), w

ith a

sin

gle

indiv

idual re

cord

ed a

t one o

f th

ese s

ites.

The f

auna h

abitats

found w

ithin

the s

tudy a

rea a

re c

om

mon a

nd w

idespre

ad t

hro

ughout th

e H

am

ers

ley s

ub-r

egio

n (

Bio

ta 2

012b);

there

fore

, m

inim

al

impact to

this

specie

s is e

xpecte

d.

Ard

eotis a

ustr

alis

(Austr

alia

n b

usta

rd)

Priority

4

The A

ustr

alia

n b

usta

rd w

as r

ecord

ed a

t one location to t

he s

outh

of

the P

roposal boundary

(F

igure

4-5

). T

his

specie

s is r

ela

tively

wid

espre

ad a

nd

mobile

and, as t

he f

auna h

abitats

found w

ithin

the s

tudy a

rea a

re c

om

mon a

nd w

idespre

ad t

hro

ughout th

e H

am

ers

ley s

ub-r

egio

n (

Bio

ta 2

012b),

m

inim

al im

pact to

this

specie

s is e

xpecte

d.

Mero

ps o

rnatu

s

(rain

bo

w b

ee-e

ate

r)

Mig

rato

ry,

Schedule

3

The r

ain

bow

bee-e

ate

r w

as r

ecord

ed a

t seven s

ites d

istr

ibute

d t

hro

ughout

the s

tudy a

rea (

Fig

ure

4-5

). T

he s

pecie

s h

as a

wid

e r

angin

g d

istr

ibution a

nd

it is h

ighly

mobile

and, as t

he fauna h

abitats

found w

ithin

the s

tudy a

rea a

re c

om

mon a

nd w

idespre

ad thro

ughout

the H

am

ers

ley s

ub-r

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min

imal im

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this

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xpecte

d.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 48

4.3.4 Management measures The key potential impact of the Proposal on terrestrial fauna (e.g., habitat disruption due to clearing) will

generally be minimised via management measures to minimise potential impacts on flora and vegetation,

as outlined in Section 4.2.4. In addition, the following management measures will be implemented to

manage potential impacts on fauna:


quality trigger values), will be developed in accordance with the ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000) water

quality management framework, to manage the potential impacts of discharge water quality on

aquatic fauna.

2. Food wastes appropriately disposed of in bins/waste facilities to discourage scavenging by both feral

and native animals, and bin lids securely closed.

3. Fencing of dams/turkey nests to prevent access to permanent water sources by feral animals, and

the installation of fauna egress mats in lined facilities.

4. Internal reporting of all incidents involving fauna death.

5. Implementing and enforcing appropriate vehicular speed limits on site access roads. 4.3.5 Planned studies/investigations 1. Fauna survey of the extensive incised ridges in the northwest of the WTS area (outside the Proposal

boundary).

2. Re-sampling of aquatic fauna monitoring sites in wet and dry seasons (2012–2013) to more

comprehensively characterise the aquatic fauna and water quality of the area.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 49

4.4 Subterranean fauna 4.4.1 Introduction Studies/investigations completed to date Subterranean fauna investigations have been completed within and adjacent to the B1 and S17 deposits,

with sampling undertaken in 2009 and 2011 (Biota 2012c [Appendix 4]). Relevant guidelines Studies to date have been developed with consideration of the following guiding documents, where

practical:

1. Guidance Statement No. 54, Sampling of subterranean fauna in groundwater and caves (EPA 2003).

2. Guidance Statement No. 54a, Sampling Methods and Survey Considerations for Subterranean

Fauna in Western Australia (EPA 2007). 4.4.2 Description of factor Subterranean fauna was recorded in the vicinity of both the B1 and S17 deposits, as shown in Figure 4-8

and Figure 4-9 (Biota 2012c). A total of 16 stygobites were recorded, representing two orders

(Table 4-10), and 77 potential troglobites were recorded, representing five orders (Table 4-11). Given the

sampling effort, the results suggest that subterranean fauna populations in the area occur in low densities

and with potentially limited diversity (Biota 2012c).

Table 4-10 Stygofauna recorded in the vicinity of B1 and S17 deposits

Class Order Family Taxa Deposit Sites Total No. of individuals

Malacostraca Amphipoda Paramelitidae Paramelitidae sp. B22 B1 3 15

Copepoda Cyclopoida Cyclopidae Diacyclops sp. S17 1 1

Table 4-11 Potential troglofauna recorded in the vicinity of B1 and S17 deposits

Class Order Taxon Deposit Sites Total No. of individuals

Diplopoda Polyxenida Polyxenida sp. B1 & S17 10 30

Insecta Blattodea Nocticolidae sp. B1 & S17 8 29

Hemiptera Hemiptera sp. S17 4 16

Myriapoda Pauropoda Pauropoda sp. S17 1 1

Symphyla Symphyla sp. S17 1 1

The stygofauna results generally indicate a low density stygal community, with the amphipod species from

B1 deposit being widespread throughout the Pilbara and the single copepod from S17 likely to be

widespread (Biota 2012c). Therefore; the data suggest that no significant groundwater fauna occurs in the

locality.

The troglobitic specimens collected could not be readily resolved to species level. The polyxenid millipede

specimens collected during this study were troglomorphic; however, the degree to which they are obligate

subterranean animals is unclear. A recent genetic study of polyxenids on the mainland Pilbara has shown

that there appear to be two commonly collected widespread species (Biota & Helix 2011). True troglobites

display short-range endemism at small spatial scales. As it appears that polyxenid species may generally

be widespread in the region, it is unlikely that they are troglobitic (Biota & Helix 2011). Given these

findings from elsewhere in the region, it is likely that all the polyxenids recorded from B1 and S17

represent the same species (genetic analysis is being undertaken to confirm).

Western Turner Sy


osits

PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

50

Fig

ure

4-8

S

ub

terr

an

ea

n f

aun

a r

eco

rde

d in

th

e v

icin

ity o

f th

e B

1 d

epo

sit

Western Turner Sy


osits

PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

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51

Fig

ure

4-9

Su

bte

rran

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n f

aun

a r

eco

rde

d in

th

e v

icin

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e S

17 d

ep

osit


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 52

Similarly, a recent genetic study on troglomorphic Blattodea specimens from the Brockman area,

approximately 20 km north of the WTS area (Helix 2010), indicated that there appear to be two distinct

Nocticolidae lineages and that both lineages are not restricted at small spatial scales. Given the

distribution of Nocticolidae specimens at both B1 and S17 deposits, and the continuity of the potential

habitat between the deposits (e.g., the northwest ridgeline of the WTS), it is likely the specimens are the

same species, and are distributed across the local habitat (genetic analysis is being undertaken to

confirm). 4.4.3 Key potential impacts Mining activities such as direct disturbance/excavation and dewatering can affect subterranean fauna

habitat. Considering the sampling effort (Biota 2012c), the results suggest that subterranean fauna

populations occur in low densities and potentially limited diversity. Similar sampling effort at other sites

known to support stygobitic and troglobitic communities typically yield greater numbers of these animals

(Biota 2002, 2006).

The Proposal is not expected to have a significant impact on stygofauna, as only B1 requires substantial

dewatering. The B1 aquifer supports a limited stygal population from a species complex that is

widespread throughout the Pilbara.

The Proposal is unlikely to have a significant impact to troglofauna, as troglobitic habitat at both deposits

extends beyond the pit shell, and the occurrence of Polyxenida and Nocticolidae specimens at both the B1

and S17 deposits suggests the troglobitic population is distributed at low densities across the locality.

Genetic analysis of the Polyxenida and Nocticolidae specimens is currently being undertaken to confirm

the general distribution patterns of troglofauna in the vicinity of the Proposal, and confirm that restriction of

troglofauna to areas of potential impact is unlikely. 4.4.4 Management measures Management measures are not expected to be required for the management of subterranean fauna;

however, management measures will be developed, if required. 4.4.5 Planned studies/investigations Further studies are being undertaken to assess the general distribution patterns of troglofauna in the

vicinity of the Proposal, including genetic studies to confirm troglobitic species (Polyxenida and Blattodea

specimens) recorded at S17 and B1 are the same species (results to be provided in proposal EIA

document).


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 53

4.5 Surface water 4.5.1 Introduction Studies/investigations completed to date Studies undertaken to date include:

1. Modelling of the extent of dewatering discharge within the watercourses downstream of the proposed

discharge point north of the B1 main pit (Rio Tinto 2012a).

2. A preliminary assessment of surface water management in relation to the B1 and S17 pits

(BG&E 2011).

3. An assessment of water quality in ephemeral pools in the WTS area, including pools potentially

impacted by dewatering discharge (WRM 2012b). Relevant guidelines Studies to date have been developed with consideration of the following guiding documents, where

practical:

1. Water Quality Protection Guidelines No. 6, Mining and Mineral Processing – Stormwater

(WRC 2000a).

2. Water Quality Protection Guidelines No. 11, Mining and Mineral Processing – Mine dewatering

(WRC 2000b).

3. ANZECC Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC/ARMCANZ 2000). 4.5.2 Description of factor The Proposal is located within the Hardey River and the Beasley River sub-catchments of the Ashburton

River catchment (Figure 1-2). The B1 deposit is located within a low point in northern ridgeline of the WTS

that forms the catchment divide between the Beasley River catchment to the north, and the Hardey River

catchment to the south. The Beasley River channel is approximately 7 km northwest of the B1 deposit.

The S17 deposit is located on the western ridgeline of the WTS, which forms a local surface water divide

within the Hardey River Catchment. The Hardey River trends in a south westerly direction through the

centre of the WTS. The Hardey River channel is approximately 1 km east of S17 pit 8. Both the Hardey

and Beasley Rivers are ephemeral watercourses, and in the vicinity of the WTS, may also support

ephemeral pools. In April 2011, ephemeral pools were present in both the Hardey and Beasley River

channels; however, by August 2011 pools had contracted, and were only present within the Beasley River

(WRM 2012b).

There are no major watercourses within the Proposal boundary. Surface water drainage within the

Proposal boundary generally comprises numerous minor ephemeral drainage lines which are subject to

short periods of flow following significant rainfall events. No ephemeral pools were located on the minor

watercourses within the Proposal boundary during helicopter reconnaissance in April and August 2011

(WRM 2012b), although pools may be potentially be present for short periods following significant rainfall

events.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 54

4.5.3 Key potential impacts Altered hydrology Proposal infrastructure has the potential to alter surface water drainage patterns, and impact downstream

environments. The potential for disruption to watercourses to cause significant impacts to downstream

environments is considered minimal, as there are no major watercourses within the Proposal boundary.

As the B1 and S17 deposits occur on surface water divides, local runoff generally flows away from the

proposed pit voids, which are anticipated to predominantly receive incidental rainfall only. An assessment

of sub-catchments upstream of the B1 and S17 pits indicated these catchments are not expected to

contribute significant volumes of runoff to downstream environments. Additionally, surface water

management is a key consideration during the infrastructure design process; therefore, proposed

infrastructure (such as dumps and stockpiles) has been located to avoid disruption to watercourses where

practical, and where watercourses are intersected (such as on conveyor and haul/access road routes),

culverts will generally be installed. Discharge of surplus water Dewatering in excess of operational requirements will be discharged to a watercourse north of the B1

deposit, that joins the Beasley river approximately 10 km downstream (Figure 4-7). At maximum potential

discharge rates of approximately 13 ML/day, continual discharge is predicted to extend to approximately

13 km downstream of the discharge point (Rio Tinto 2012a). Based on the expected declining rates of

dewatering required over the life of the B1 main pit, and the ongoing operational water demand of

approximately 6 ML/day, maximum discharge rates are expected to be substantially less than 13 ML/day,

and are expected to decline further over the life of the Proposal. At continual discharge rates of 5 ML/day

and 10 ML/day, discharge is expected to extend to approximately 8 km and 12 km respectively,

downstream of the discharge point (Figure 4-7).

Discharge of surplus groundwater from dewatering of the B1 main pit has the potential to affect vegetation

and aquatic fauna in the downstream environment, via alteration to hydrological regimes, or detrimental

water quality; these impacts are discussed in Section 4.2 for vegetation and Section 4.3 for aquatic fauna. 4.5.4 Management measures Key management measures will include the following:

1. Mine planning and design will continue to incorporate consideration of surface water management,

including avoiding disruption to watercourses where practical.

2. A Project surface water management plan will be developed and implemented, with the objective of

minimising adverse impacts to water courses, water quality and the downstream environment.

3. A Project water management strategy will be developed and implemented, and will be integrated with

water management at the S10 minesite. The strategy will prioritise beneficial use of water extracted

during dewatering, predominantly via utilisation to meet operational requirements for the Project and

the S10 minesite, with discharge to the environment the least preferred management option.



quality management framework, to manage the potential impacts of discharge water quality on the

downstream environment. 4.5.5 Planned studies/investigations Re-sampling of aquatic fauna monitoring sites in wet and dry seasons (2012-2013) will be undertaken that

will more comprehensively characterise the surface water quality of the area.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 55

4.6 Groundwater 4.6.1 Introduction Studies/investigations completed to date The following groundwater studies have been undertaken to date:

1. A hydrogeological drilling investigation at B1 in 2008, including installation of three production bores

and 11 monitoring bores (URS 2009).

2. Development of a conceptual hydrogeological model, and numeric groundwater model for the B1

deposit (MWH 2009).

3. Review of the conceptual hydrogeological model, development of an updated numerical groundwater

model, and prediction of dewatering requirements, for the B1 deposit (Rio Tinto 2012b [Appendix 5]).

4. Development of a preliminary water balance and water strategy to assess and manage life-of-mine

water supply and demand for the Project, with integration of the S10 minesite (Rio Tinto 2012c).

5. Assessment of groundwater quality of the B1 orebody aquifer (WRM 2012b). Relevant guidelines Studies to date have been developed in consideration of the following guiding documents, where practical:

1. State-wide Policy No. 3, Policy Statement on Water Sharing (WRC 2000c).

2. State-wide Policy No. 5, Environmental Water Provisions Policy for Western Australia (WRC 2000d).

3. Water resource allocation planning series Report No. 34, Pilbara water in mining guideline

(DoW 2009).

4. Pilbara Region Water Plan 2010–2030 (DoW 2010).

5. ANZECC Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC/ARMCANZ 2000). 4.6.2 Description of factor The B1 orebody aquifer is considered to be isolated from the regional groundwater system by low

permeability un-mineralised Brockman Iron Formation to the south and MCS Formation to the north

(Rio Tinto 2012b; Figure 4-10). The orebody aquifer is considered to be isolated from the aquifer in the

Wittenoom formation to the north of the deposit, by the low permeability MCS and Mt Silvia Formations.

The water table at B1 is relatively flat at approximately 535 mAHD, and is considered to represent a

groundwater col (or divide) between north or north westerly trending flow and southerly trending flow. The

mineralised ore is permeable and reasonable bore-yields have been recorded. Recharge to the orebody

aquifer is expected to predominantly occur via direct rainfall infiltration, which is likely to be very low.

Groundwater discharge from the orebody aquifer is considered to be negligible owing to low hydraulic

gradients from the orebody to the adjacent low permeability un-mineralised Brockman Iron Formation and

MCS Formation (Rio Tinto 2012a).

The water table is approximately 40 mbgl in the central area of the B1 deposit, and approximately 62% of

the B1 resource is BWT (Figure 4-10). To enable mining to a maximum depth of approximately

185 m BWT, dewatering of the B1 main pit via in-pit bores is required at extraction rates of up to

approximately 13 ML/day. Required rates of dewatering are expected to peak in the first two years of

operation and then decline (Rio Tinto 2012b). The modelled groundwater drawdown is relatively limited in

extent, with 5 m drawdown up to 1 km north of the B1 main pit, and up to 3 km south of the B1 main pit

(Figure 4-4).


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 56

Analysis of groundwater from the B1 aquifer indicates the water is of good quality; all analytes are less

than ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000) default trigger values for drinking water, and for protection of 80% of

species in freshwater aquatic ecosystems (WRM 2012a). Analytes that exceed ANZECC/ARMCANZ

(2000) default trigger values for protection of 95% of species in freshwater aquatic ecosystems are

generally also elevated in pools sampled on the Beasley River (WRM 2012b).

The S17 orebody aquifer is considered to be isolated from the regional groundwater system by low

permeability un-mineralised Brockman Iron Formation and MCS Formation. The water table at S17 is

approximately 40 to 125 mbgl and approximately 3% of the S17 resource is BWT. Minor dewatering of

S17 pits 3 and 8 (planned to be undertaken via in-pit sumps) is required to enable mining to a depth of

approximately 10 m BWT. The other six pits at S17 are AWT. 4.6.3 Key potential impacts Abstraction of groundwater at B1 is expected to have minimal impact on surrounding local groundwater

resources, as the available data indicate the orebody aquifer is isolated by low permeability un-mineralised

Brockman Iron Formation and MCS Formation. Extraction of groundwater from the S17 aquifer is

expected to have minimal impact on surrounding local groundwater resources due to the minor volumes

extracted, and the orebody aquifer is considered to be isolated by low permeability un-mineralised

Brockman Iron Formation and MCS Formation.

Impacts of groundwater drawdown on vegetation and fauna due to dewatering of B1 are considered in

Sections 4.2 and 4.3 respectively, and are not expected to be significant.

Potential impacts of pit voids that extend BWT at cessation of mining are considered in Section 4.7. 4.6.4 Management measures Key management measures will include the following:

1. Monitoring of water levels and abstraction rates during B1 dewatering, and ongoing validation of the

hydrogeological conceptual model and numerical groundwater model.

2. A Project water management strategy will be developed and implemented, and will be integrated with

water management at the S10 minesite. The strategy will prioritise beneficial use of water extracted

during dewatering, predominantly via utilisation to meet operational requirements for the Project and

the S10 minesite, with discharge to the environment the least preferred management option.



quality management framework, to manage the potential impacts of discharge water quality on the

downstream environment.

Management of pit voids that extend BWT at cessation of mining are considered in Section 4.7. 4.6.5 Planned studies/investigations 1. Review of the B1 conceptual hydrogeological model and numerical groundwater model utilising data

collected from bores during 2012, with focus on further verifying the isolation of the orebody aquifer.

2. A hydrogeological drilling and investigation program to install additional bores within the orebody and

surrounds, currently scheduled for 2013.

3. Further develop the Project water balance and water strategy during the Project Feasibility Study.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 57

4.7 Closure 4.7.1 Introduction Studies/investigations completed to date Studies and investigations undertaken to date include:

1. Comprehensive program of geochemical waste characterisation predominantly complete, with kinetic

testing in progress.

2. Preliminary assessment of geochemical risk associated with mining of the B1 and S17 deposits

(Rio Tinto 2012d).

3. Preliminary assessment of B1 pit lake water quality under a range of scenarios (KCB 2012).

4. Assessment of post-closure groundwater recovery in the B1 pit void (Rio Tinto 2012e).

5. Preliminary ecological risk assessment, focussed on final closure landforms

(Equinox Environmental 2012).

6. Assessment of erodibility of major waste types.

7. Preliminary assessment of surface water management for final landforms.

8. A mine closure plan is well progressed, developed in accordance with the Rio Tinto Closure Standard

and the Guidelines for Preparing Mine Closure Plans (DMP/EPA 2011). Relevant guidelines Studies to date have been developed in consideration of the following guiding documents, where practical:

1. Global Acid Rock Drainage (GARD) Guide (INAP 2010).

2. Managing Acid and Metalliferous Drainage (DITR 2007).

3. ARD Test Handbook (AMIRA International 2002).

4. Guidelines for Preparing Mine Closure Plans (DMP/EPA 2011).

5. Mine Void Water Resource Issues in Western Australia (Johnson & Wright 2003).

6. ANZECC Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC/ARMCANZ 2000). 4.7.2 Description of factor Key aspects of the Proposal related to closure are outlined in the following sections. Mineral waste volumes and physical characteristics Based on the current mine plan, a total of approximately 131 Mt of mineral waste material will be mined

from the B1 and S17 pits (Table 4-12). Mineral waste materials have been classified into erodibility

classes of 'Low' or 'Medium-high', based on known characteristics of Brockman Iron Formation mineral

wastes at multiple existing Rio Tinto iron ores mines (HSEQ Landform Design Guidelines). Approximately

55% of waste from B1 and 58% of waste from S17 is classified as 'Low' erodibility; consequently, sufficient

competent mineral waste will be available to build stable waste dumps.

Table 4-12 Mineral waste volumes and erodibility classification

Erodibility classification

Geozone B1 waste (Mt) S17 waste (Mt)

Low Dales Gorge, Joffre, Footwall Zone, Hydrated (Dales Gorge, Joffre)

59 15

Medium-high Detritals, MCS, Whaleback Shale, Hydrated (Detritals, MCS, Whaleback Shale)

47 10

Total 106 25


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 58

Geochemical characterisation of mineral waste A comprehensive program of geochemical waste characterisation is predominantly complete. The

program comprised analysis of the percentage of sulfur (S%) in all drillhole samples, and analysis of a

suite of elemental concentrations in a representative selection of drillhole samples. Further analysis of

dominant waste types and higher risk material was undertaken via static acid base accounting testwork

and short-term leach tests. Sequential leach and kinetic testing of dominant waste types and higher risk

material has commenced.

A preliminary acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) risk assessment for the B1 and S17 deposits was

undertaken, utilising available results from the geochemical waste characterisation program, and the

extensive knowledge base derived from mining the Brockman Iron Formation at multiple existing Rio Tinto

iron ores mines (Green & Borden 2011; Rio Tinto 2012d). The risk assessment identified a moderate AMD

risk for the B1 deposit, and a low-moderate risk for the S17 deposit. This is primarily due to the presence

of potentially acid forming (PAF) unoxidised MCS with elevated S% (generally 0.1–0.3%) in proximity to

some BWT areas of the deposits.

Additionally, the potential for limited volumes of material containing alunite was identified in several

lithologies, based on elevated S% in AWT material, and recent analysis of similar material from the

Brockman 2 mine. Alunite can potentially solubilise4

and release a low flux of acid (alunite poses a

significantly lower geochemical risk compared to unoxidised MCS). Further mineralogical analysis is being

undertaken to quantify the volume of waste material potentially containing alunite; however, at worst case,

the volume was calculated as approximately 9 Mt, representing a minor proportion of the total waste

volume, which can be easily managed. Pit voids and lakes At S17, pits 3 and 8 will be mined to approximately 10 m BWT; these pits will be preferentially backfilled to

a level sufficient to prevent formation of pit lakes. The remaining pits at S17 are AWT, and backfill will be

undertaken where practical; however, pit voids are expected to remain at closure.

The B1 main pit will be mined to a maximum depth of approximately 225 m, and up to approximately

185 m BWT (Figure 4-10). The four B1 satellite pits are AWT and will be progressively backfilled where

practical. Progressive backfill of the B1 main pit during operations is not practical due to the required pit

design and operational constraints.

A pit lake is expected to form in the B1 main pit void, and modelling has been undertaken to predict

groundwater recovery (Rio Tinto 2012b). The most likely scenario is considered to comprise water level

recovery to approximately 485 mAHD after 140 years (pre-mining groundwater table 535 mAHD), resulting

in a maximum pit lake depth of approximately 130 m, and a pit lake surface approximately 90 mbgl

(Figure 4-10) (Rio Tinto 2012b). As the B1 pit void will form a groundwater sink with minimal groundwater

inflow or outflow, the dominant mechanisms influencing water level recovery will be rainfall recharge and

evaporation (Rio Tinto 2012b).

Preliminary modelling and assessment of the potential B1 pit lake water quality was undertaken based on

available hydrogeological and geochemical data, with a focus on the potential effects of the unoxidised

MCS, and consideration of a range of possible scenarios (KCB 2012). The assessment indicated that for

the most probable scenarios, the pit lake will have circumneutral5

pH, and salinise due to evaporative

concentration. More comprehensive modelling and assessment of the potential pit lake water quality will

be undertaken during the Project Feasibility Study, with the outcomes of this work to be provided in the

Proposal EIA document.

4

To make a substance soluble or more soluble, or become soluble or more soluble. 5

Nearly neutral: having a pH between 6.5 and 7.5.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 59

Figure 4-10 Hydrogeological conceptualisation of the B1 main pit void


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 60

4.7.3 Key potential impacts Mining of material susceptible to erosion can result in environmental impacts, due mainly to sedimentation

from landforms (waste dumps, tailings facilities, etc.) that have been designed and constructed without

consideration of material properties and surface water management. Successful revegetation may also be

compromised on landforms prone to erosion.

Mining of material with potentially deleterious geochemical properties can result in waste dumps, pit wall

exposures, and pit lakes that generate runoff or seepage that is acidic and/or contaminated with metals

and metalloids. Environmental impacts can occur via contamination of surface water and groundwater if

appropriate management is not implemented.

AMD related to oxidation of sulfides and some sulfate minerals includes:

• acid drainage, which involves elevated concentrations of contaminants (metals and metalloids) at

low pH

• neutral drainage, which includes elevated concentrations of contaminants at near-neutral pH

(INAP 2010; DITR 2007).

Additionally, poor quality drainage may result from exposure of unstable minerals to the atmosphere via

dissolution of readily soluble salts at neutral pH (HSEQ Mineral Waste Management Plan).

Pit lakes of poor water quality may impact the surrounding environment via contamination of surrounding

groundwater, or via impacts to fauna accessing the pit lake (DMP/EPA 2011). The potential for impact on

surrounding groundwater resources is largely dependent on the hydrogeological environment, that will

determine if the mine void will comprise a groundwater sink, a groundwater throughflow cell or a

groundwater recharge area (Johnson & Wright 2003; DMP/EPA 2011).

Generally, significant impacts to groundwater are unlikely for pit voids that form a groundwater sink,

whereas pit voids that form a groundwater throughflow cell or recharge cell have a higher potential for

impact to surrounding groundwater (Johnson & Wright 2003; DMP/EPA 2011). 4.7.4 Management measures Closure plan A mine closure plan will be developed in accordance with the Rio Tinto Closure Standard and the

Guidelines for Preparing Mine Closure Plans (DMP/EPA 2011), and will be integrated with the HSEQ

Management System. The closure plan for the Project is well progressed, and will be provided with the

Proposal EIA documentation. The proposed closure objectives for the Project comprise:

1. Preserve, protect and manage the cultural heritage values of the area, in cooperation with the

Traditional Owners and other stakeholders.

2. Develop and implement strategies for closure which consider the implications on local communities.

3. Achieve completion criteria which have been developed with stakeholders and agreed with

Government.

4. Develop landforms that are safe and stable and compatible with the surrounding environment and

post-mining land use.

5. Achieve environmental outcomes that are compatible with the surrounding environment.

6. Implement a workforce strategy which addresses the impacts of closure on employees and

contractors.

7. Achieve successful closure in a cost-effective manner.

8. Pit voids do not cause significant adverse impacts on the regional groundwater resource, or

environmental values of the WTS area.

The closure plan will address management of the key closure-related issues for the Proposal, as outlined

in the following sections.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 61

Waste dump design The HSEQ Landform Design Guidelines will continue to be implemented to ensure waste dumps meet

closure objectives. The waste dumps have been designed with consideration of the volumes and physical

properties of waste material, and surface water management, to ensure the dumps are stable and not

susceptible to excessive erosion. The waste dump designs will be further refined during the Project

Feasibility Study. Significant environmental impacts due to erosion of waste dumps are considered

unlikely. Management of geochemical risk The HSEQ Mineral Waste Management Plan and the HSEQ Spontaneous Combustion and ARD (SCARD)

Management Plan will continue to be implemented, to ensure waste material is adequately geochemically

characterised during Project planning and operational stages, and material with potentially deleterious

geochemical properties is appropriately managed. A comprehensive program of geochemical waste

characterisation for the Proposal is predominantly complete, with kinetic testing and further targeted

investigations in progress. A preliminary AMD risk assessment has identified a low-moderate AMD risk

due to the presence of unoxidised MCS below the water table in the vicinity of the B1 and S17 deposits,

and potential for limited volumes of material containing alunite in several waste lithologies

(Rio Tinto 2012d).

The B1 and S17 pit shells will be revised (based on new geotechnical data) as part of the Project

Feasibility Study and avoidance/minimisation of potential intersections with unoxidised MCS will be a key

consideration during pit shell revisions. Although not currently expected, if redesigned pit shells intersect

unoxidised MCS, specific detail on management would be provided in the Proposal EIA document;

management would be in accordance with the HSEQ SCARD plan (as successfully implemented at

multiple Rio Tinto iron ore mines).

Further mineralogical analysis is being undertaken to quantify the volume of waste material potentially

containing alunite; however, at worst case, the volume was calculated as approximately 9 Mt, representing

a minor proportion of the total waste volume. If present in bulk and in mineable units, this material will be

managed via encapsulation within a minimum of 3 m of inert waste, with a store and release cover

constructed on the dump surface. Currently the B1 satellite pits (AWT) have been identified as the

preferred location for disposal of this material, if required. Pit voids and water quality At S17, pits 3 and 8 will be mined to approximately 10 m BWT; these pits will be preferentially backfilled to

a level sufficient to prevent formation of pit lakes. The remaining pits at S17 are AWT, and backfill will be

undertaken where practical; however, pit voids are expected to remain at closure.

Progressive backfill of the B1 main pit during operations is not practical due to the required pit design and

operational constraints, and a pit lake is expected to form in the pit void. Preliminary modelling and

assessment of the potential B1 pit lake water quality indicated the pit lake will have circumneutral pH, and

salinise due to evaporative concentration. As the pit lake is expected to form a groundwater sink, no

significant impacts of the pit lake on surrounding groundwater are expected.

Due to the B1 main pit void geometry, and the predicted pit lake surface stabilising approximately 40 to

120 mbgl, fauna exposure to the pit lake is expected to be minimal. Further modelling and assessment of

the potential pit lake water quality, and associated ecological risk, will be undertaken during the Project

Feasibility Study, with the outcomes of this work to be provided in the Proposal EIA document.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 62

Rio Tinto is committed to ensuring the B1 pit lake will meet closure objectives, with particular focus on

objective 8. During the operational phase, Rio Tinto will update assessments of the potential B1 pit lake

water quality and associated ecological risk, based on ongoing improvements in geological,

hydrogeological, geotechnical and environmental knowledge. A Decommissioning Plan will be prepared

five years prior to scheduled mine closure in consultation with the OEPA and relevant stakeholders, which

will include final completion criteria in relation to the pit lake (as agreed with stakeholders). Monitoring

post-closure will be undertaken until it has been demonstrated that completion criteria have been met, or

as otherwise agreed with Government and key stakeholders.

Potential closure strategies to ensure the B1 pit lake achieves closure objectives and completion criteria,

which will be considered and assessed during ongoing refinement of the closure plan, include:

1. No backfilling of the B1 pit void. This is the preferred closure strategy, and will remain the preferred

strategy if ongoing investigations indicate the pit lake is likely to meet closure objectives and

associated completion criteria (potentially with implementation of additional management measures).

Potential additional management measures include, but are not limited to:

(a) allowing, or diverting, watercourses to discharge into pit voids, to enhance rate of recovery in

groundwater levels, or remediate poor quality pit lake water and/or groundwater

(b) extraction and treatment, or treatment in-situ, to remediate poor quality pit lake water and/or

groundwater.

2. Backfilling of B1 pit void to prevent formation of a pit lake. This is a non-preferred closure strategy,

as backfilling cannot be undertaken progressively during operations, significant volumes of material

would be required to prevent formation of a pit lake, and investigations to date indicate the pit lake

should not cause significant environmental impacts. However, backfilling of the B1 pit void is a

management option that will be considered if ongoing investigations, and/or monitoring, establish that

predicted or actual impacts from a pit lake managed via the preferred closure strategy will not meet

closure objectives and completion criteria. 4.7.5 Planned studies/investigations 1. Completion of a mine closure plan prepared in accordance Rio Tinto Closure Standard and the

Guidelines for Preparing Mine Closure Plans (DMP/EPA 2011) that will be provided with the Proposal

EIA document.

2. Completion of current kinetic testing of mineral waste.

3. Completion of mineralogical analyses to more accurately quantify the volume of mineral waste that

potentially contains alunite.

4. Update of the AMD risk assessment for the B1 and S17 deposits to incorporate results of additional

geochemical/mineralogical analysis, which will be provided with the Proposal EIA document.

5. Further modelling and assessment of the potential pit lake water quality, and associated ecological

risk, that will be provided with the Proposal EIA document.

6. Review of the B1 conceptual hydrogeological model and numerical groundwater model utilising data

collected from bores during 2012, with focus on further verifying the isolation of the orebody aquifer.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 63

4.8 Other environmental factors 4.8.1 Greenhouse gas emissions Annual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the Proposal will average approximately 190 000 tonnes

of CO2 equivalent per year (tCO2-e/year).

In accordance with the Rio Tinto GHG Emissions Standard, and the Rio Tinto Iron Ore (WA)

Environmental Design Principles, opportunities for GHG emission reduction and energy efficiency

improvement will be identified during Project design/engineering phases and implemented where practical.

An updated assessment of GHG emissions will be provided with the Proposal EIA document. 4.8.2 Aboriginal heritage Aboriginal heritage surveys are at various stages of completion. Initial archaeological surveys of the area

in proximity to the B1 deposit have been completed, with 18 new sites identified. Archaeological surveys

of the area in proximity to the S17 deposit are in progress with no sites identified to date. Archaeological

surveys of remaining areas (e.g., infrastructure corridors) are expected to be completed by August 2012.

An ethnographic survey has been conducted over the entire Eastern Guruma Native Title Claim portion of

the Proposal area, with no sites identified. An ethnographic survey over the Yinhawangka Native Title

Claim portion of the Proposal area is expected to be completed by August 2012.

Aboriginal heritage values will be addressed during planning and implementation of the Proposal by:

• avoiding disturbance to heritage sites where practical

• obtaining approval for any required disturbance to identified sites in accordance with s. 18 of the

Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA)

• protecting all identified sites located near construction or operational areas that are not approved

to be disturbed under s. 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA) (e.g., through the installation

of physical barriers)

• documenting the location of all protected sites in the Rio Tinto Iron Ore Geographic Information

System (GIS) database and on site plans. 4.8.3 Visual amenity Proposal infrastructure, particularly waste dumps and the S17 pits, are expected to be visible from the

Nanutarra-Munjina Road. Waste dump design is undertaken in accordance with the HSEQ Landform

Design Guidelines and with consideration of closure objectives for the Proposal, to achieve final landforms

that are considered aesthetically compatible with the surrounding landscape. Waste dumps for the

Proposal have been designed to abut the ridges in the vicinity of S17 and it is expected that, after

rehabilitation and revegetation, these landforms will not significantly impact visual amenity of the area. An

assessment of the visual impact of the Proposal will be conducted and provided in the Proposal EIA

document. 4.8.4 Air quality (dust) Dust will be generated as a result of the Proposal primarily through construction clearing and earthworks,

blasting, materials handling, crushing of ore, transport of ore via the conveyor system, and haulage and

light traffic on unsealed roads.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 64

Management measures to minimise dust will include:

• the application of water (or appropriate suppressants) to haul roads, working surfaces and

stockpiles (as required)

• sand sealing of the haul road from B1 to S10 where practical

• sealing of the main site access road

• incorporation of dust controls in key infrastructure, such as water sprays at the ROM bin, and dust

collectors at major dust generating centres (primary crusher, conveyor transfers)

• implementing and enforcing appropriate vehicular speed limits on site access roads. 4.8.5 Noise and vibration Noise and vibration will be generated from activities such as blasting and operation of machinery, conveyor

system and crushing facilities. Due to the remoteness of the proposed operation, noise and vibration are

not expected to affect any sensitive premises. The nearest sensitive premises to the proposed mine site

are located in the town of Tom Price approximately 35 km to the east, and will not be impacted by the

Proposal. The generation of noise and vibration from the Proposal will be managed in accordance with the

Rio Tinto Noise and Vibration Control Standard. 4.8.6 Public risk and safety The Proposal will require interaction with Nanutarra-Munjina Road, a public, unsealed, low-traffic road.

Due to the proximity of the S17 deposit to the Nanutarra-Munjina Road, it is likely the road will need to be

temporarily closed (for durations of up to approximately 1 to 2 hours) during blasting of the most south

easterly pits. Temporary road closures would be carried out in accordance with a traffic management plan

developed in consultation with, and approved by, Main Roads WA. All other road interactions (e.g., heavy

vehicle access, intersections, signage, etc.) would be carried out in accordance with the requirements of

the relevant road authority, and relevant legislation.

The Proposal will require transportation of personnel, construction materials, fuel, explosives, hazardous

materials and waste via public roads (primarily the Nameless Valley Road from Tom Price). The preferred

route for the main site access road (e.g., north from B1 to White Quartz Road) will enable utilisation of the

Rio Tinto private White Quartz Road for a significant proportion of the route from Tom Price (Figure 1-2),

thereby reducing interactions with public traffic. Transport of any fuel, explosives or hazardous materials

would be undertaken in accordance with the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 and associated

Dangerous Goods Safety Regulations 2007, at minimum, and in accordance with the HSEQ Hazardous

Materials Management Work Practice, which mandates practices to minimise adverse health, safety and

environment risks from the use, storage, transport and disposal of hazardous substances. 4.8.7 Hazardous materials The Proposal would involve the use of a number of hazardous materials such as fuels (including distillate

and liquefied petroleum gas) and ammonium nitrate. Inappropriate handling and/or storage of hazardous

materials has the potential to result in discharges to the environment (i.e., contamination) and creating

health or safety hazards.

All hazardous material storage facilities will comply with the Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004 and

associated Dangerous Goods Safety Regulations 2007, at minimum. Hazardous materials will be

managed in accordance with the HSEQ Hazardous Materials Management Work Practice, which

mandates practices to minimise adverse health, safety and environment risks from the use, storage,

transport and disposal of hazardous substances.

Any accidental discharges of hazardous materials will be managed in accordance with the HSEQ Spill

Response Procedure.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 65

4.8.8 Non-mineral waste Non-mineral waste includes domestic solid and liquid wastes (including general office waste), sewage and

controlled waste (e.g., paints, acids, hydrocarbon waste). Inert and putrescible waste will be disposed of

at either an on-site licensed landfill, or at appropriate off-site licensed facility. Sewage effluent will be

treated on-site in sewage treatment plants, or disposed of at an appropriate off-site licensed facility. All

non-mineral waste generated by the Proposal will be managed in accordance with the HSEQ Non-Mineral

Waste Management Work Practice that ensures:

• waste management practices meet all relevant regulatory and Rio Tinto requirements

• the generation of waste is minimised and the reuse and recycling of waste is maximised where

practical

• appropriate processes for the storage, transportation and disposal of waste products are

undertaken which reduce potential risks and minimises any residual impact on the environment

• all personnel are adequately trained and aware of their responsibilities in regard to waste

management.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 66

5. Environmental principles, sustainability and management 5.1 Principles of environmental protection The EP Act includes a core set of Principles that are applied by the OEPA in formal assessments. These

include the:

• precautionary principle

• principle of intergenerational equity

• principle of the conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity

• principles relating to improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms

• principle of waste minimisation.

These principles have been considered in the assessment of the environmental impacts associated with

the Proposal (refer to Table 5-1).

Table 5-1 Principles of environmental protection

Principle Consideration given in Proposal

1. Precautionary principle

Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.

In the application of the precautionary principle, decisions should be guided by:

a. careful evaluation to avoid, where practicable, serious or irreversible damage to the environment

b. an assessment of the risk-weighted consequences of various options.

During Project planning and design phases, Rio Tinto will continue to undertake comprehensive baseline studies, investigations and modelling of Project aspects that may affect the surrounding environment. Where significant potential environmental impacts are identified, measures have been, and will continue to be, incorporated into Project design and management to avoid or minimise these impacts where practical.

2. Intergenerational equity

The present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations.

The Rio Tinto Iron Ore group HSEQ Policy incorporates the principles of sustainable development. This includes the commitment to:

• strive to implement the best available practices to deliver HSEQ excellence, minimise impacts to land, make a positive contribution to biodiversity and improve efficiency in water and energy use

• be active contributors to the climate change solution and ensure the effective implementation of climate change work programs

• positively contribute to local communities in the areas of health, safety and environment to provide a lasting benefit.

3. Conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity

Conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration.

Biological investigations are undertaken by Rio Tinto during the Project planning process to identify aspects of the environment that are of conservation significance. Where significant potential environmental impacts are identified, measures have been, and will continue to be, incorporated into Project design and management to avoid or minimise these impacts where practical. The Rio Tinto HSEQ Management System has well established rehabilitation procedures for restoring disturbed environments.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 67

Principle Consideration given in Proposal

4. Improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms

a. environmental factors should be included in the valuation of assets and services

b. the polluter pays principle – those who generate pollution and waste should bear the cost of containment, avoidance or abatement

c. the users of goods and services should pay prices based on the full life cycle costs of providing goods and services, including the use of natural resources and assets and the ultimate disposal of any wastes

d. environmental goals, having been established, should be pursued in the most cost-effective way, by establishing incentives structures, including market mechanisms, which enable those best placed to maximise benefits and/or minimise costs to develop their own solutions and responses to environmental problems.

Environmental factors have been considered during the Project planning phase, and will continue to be considered during the operational and closure phases of the Project. Project planning, design and operational management will continue to investigate and implement opportunities to minimise waste, pollution and energy consumption, where practical, in accordance with the Rio Tinto Iron Ore group HSEQ Policy.

5. Waste minimisation

All reasonable and practicable measures should be taken to minimise the generation of waste and its discharge into the environment.

Project planning, design and operational management will continue to investigate and implement opportunities to minimise waste, pollution and energy consumption, where practical, in accordance with the Rio Tinto Iron Ore group HSEQ Policy. 5.2 Environmental offsets

An assessment of requirement for an offset has been undertaken, in accordance with EPA Position

Statement No. 9, Environmental offsets (EPA 2006), and EPA Guidance Statement No. 19, Environmental

Offsets – Biodiversity (EPA 2008) (Table 5-2). An offset is not considered to be required for the Proposal.

Western Turner Sy


osits

PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

68

Ta

ble

5-2

E

nvir

on

men

tal o

ffse

ts a

ssessm

en

t fo

rm

Se

cti

on

A:

Ad

min

istr

ati

ve

in

form

ati

on

.

Pro

po

sa

l o

r s

ch

em

e n

am

e:

Weste

rn T

urn

er

Syn

clin

e S

tage

2;

B1

an

d S

ectio

n 1

7 D

ep

osits

Su

mm

ary

of

pro

po

sa

l o

r s

ch

em

e:

Ha

me

rsle

y I

ron

Pty

Lim

ite

d (

a w

ho

lly-o

wn

ed

su

bsid

iary

of

Rio

Tin

to)

pro

po

se

s to

de

ve

lop

th

e W

este

rn T

urn

er

Synclin

e (

WT

S)

Sta

ge

2;

B1

and

S

ectio

n 1

7 D

ep

osits (

the

Pro

ject)

, lo

cate

d a

pp

roxim

ate

ly 3

0 k

m w

est

of

To

m P

rice in

th

e c

en

tra

l P

ilba

ra r

eg

ion o

f W

este

rn A

ustr

alia

(F

igu

re 1

-1).

T

he

Pro

ject

invo

lves o

pe

n-p

it

min

ing

of

the

B1

an

d S

ectio

n 1

7 (

S1

7)

iro

n o

re d

ep

osits,

the

tra

nspo

rt o

f o

re to

the

exis

ting

WT

S S

ectio

n 1

0 (

S1

0)

min

e (

ap

pro

xim

ate

ly 1

2 k

m w

est

of th

e B

1 d

ep

osit)

an

d th

e

co

nstr

uction

/ope

ratio

n o

f associa

ted

in

frastr

uctu

re. T

he

Pro

ject

will

op

era

te a

t p

rodu

ctio

n r

ate

s o

f up

to

ap

pro

xim

ate

ly 3

2 m

illio

n t

onn

es p

er

an

nu

m (

Mtp

a).

Th

e P

roje

ct w

ill b

e in

teg

rate

d in

to t

he

cu

rre

nt R

io T

into

Gre

ate

r T

om

Pri

ce

min

ing

op

era

tio

n.

Aft

er

tra

nsp

ort

to

the

WT

S S

10

min

e, o

re w

ill b

e t

ran

sfe

rred

via

an

exis

tin

g

tra

nsp

ort

atio

n c

orr

ido

r to

the

To

m P

rice

min

e f

or

furt

he

r p

roce

ssin

g, a

nd s

ub

seq

uen

tly t

o p

ort

facili

ties a

t C

ap

e L

am

be

rt a

nd

Da

mp

ier

via

th

e e

xis

tin

g R

io T

into

rail

ne

two

rk.

Se

cti

on

B:

Typ

e o

f e

nvir

on

me

nta

l as

se

t(s

) –

sta

te w

he

ther

Cri

tic

al

or

Hig

h V

alu

e,

de

scri

be

th

e e

nvir

on

me

nta

l va

lues

an

d a

ttri

bu

tes

.

En

vir

on

men

tal a

sse

ts th

at m

ay b

e a

ffecte

d b

y t

he P

rop

osa

l, a

nd

co

uld

be c

on

sid

ere

d ‘cri

tica

l’ asse

ts if sig

nific

ant

ad

ve

rse im

pa

ct o

ccu

rs a

s d

efin

ed

in

Po

sitio

n S

tate

me

nt N

o.

9,

En

vir

on

me

nta

l o

ffse

ts (

EP

A 2

00

6).

Cri

tical asse

t ca

tego

ry (

ii) N

ative

Ve

ge

tatio

n -

n

ative

ve

ge

tatio

n g

row

ing in

, o

r in

associa

tion

with

, a

n e

nvir

on

me

nt a

ssocia

ted

with

a w

ate

rco

urs

e o

r w

etla

nd

:

1.

A m

ajo

r e

ph

em

era

l w

ate

rco

urs

e v

eg

eta

tio

n c

om

mu

nity (

EcE

vA

ci)

occu

rs o

n t

he

Be

asle

y R

ive

r, 1

0 k

m d

ow

nstr

eam

of

the d

ew

ate

rin

g d

isch

arg

e p

oin

t.

App

roxim

ate

ly 3

km

of

this

co

mm

unity m

ay b

e im

pacte

d b

y a

lte

red

su

rfa

ce

wa

ter

flo

w r

eg

imes a

t m

axim

um

dis

ch

arg

e r

ate

s. E

xte

nsiv

e a

rea

s o

f th

is v

eg

eta

tio

n c

om

mu

nity w

ere

map

pe

d in

th

e W

TS

are

a,

an

d w

ill n

ot

be im

pacte

d b

y t

he

Pro

posa

l (r

efe

r to

Sectio

n 4

.2 f

or

de

scri

ptio

n o

f fa

cto

r a

nd

asse

ssm

en

t o

f im

pacts

).

Cri

tical asse

t ca

tego

ry (

iii)

Bio

div

ers

ity -

Decla

red

Th

rea

ten

ed

Fa

una

(lis

ted

pu

rsua

nt

to W

C A

ct)

:

2.

A s

ing

le c

all

of R

hin

on

icte

ris a

ura

ntiu

s (

Pilb

ara

fo

rm)

(Pilb

ara

le

af-

no

se

d b

at,

ora

nge

lea

f-n

ose

d b

at)

wa

s r

eco

rde

d w

ith

in P

rop

osa

l bo

und

ary

, a

pp

roxim

ate

ly 4

km

so

uth

we

st

of

the

B1

ma

in p

it.

Giv

en

th

is w

as t

he o

nly

reco

rd o

f th

e s

pecie

s d

urin

g a

ll in

ve

stig

atio

ns, it is c

onsid

ere

d u

nlik

ely

th

at

the

re is a

roo

st o

f an

y s

ign

ific

an

ce in t

he

are

a (

Bio

ta 2

01

2b

).

Th

e r

eco

rd is c

on

sid

ere

d t

o r

ep

resen

t an

itin

era

nt

ind

ivid

ua

l a

nd

the

hab

ita

ts w

ith

in t

he s

tud

y a

rea

are

unlik

ely

to

be

'critica

l to

the

su

rviv

al'

of

the

sp

ecie

s (

Bio

ta 2

01

2b

).

No

d

ire

ct

imp

act

to ind

ivid

ua

ls o

f th

is s

pecie

s a

re e

xp

ecte

d (

refe

r to

Section

4.3

fo

r d

escrip

tion

of

facto

r an

d a

sse

ssm

en

t of

imp

acts

).

Cri

tical asse

t ca

tego

ry (

iii)

Bio

div

ers

ity -

Prio

rity

sp

ecie

s lis

ted

by D

EC

:

1.

Mu

ltip

le loca

tio

ns o

f se

ve

n P

rio

rity

3 f

lora

sp

ecie

s w

ere

re

co

rde

d w

ith

in th

e P

rop

osa

l b

oun

da

ry (

Da

mp

iera

an

onym

a,

Ere

mo

ph

ila m

ag

nific

a s

ub

sp.

ve

lutin

a,

Goo

de

nia

sp

. E

ast

Pilb

ara

(A

.A.

Mitch

ell

PR

P 7

27),

In

dig

ofe

ra s

p.

Bun

ga

roo

Cre

ek (

S.

va

n L

eeu

we

n 4

30

1),

Nic

otia

na

um

bra

tica

, P

tilo

tus s

ubsp

ine

sce

ns,

Sid

a s

p.

Ba

rle

e R

an

ge

(S

. va

n L

ee

uw

en

1

64

2))

. S

om

e lo

ca

tio

ns o

f th

ese

sp

ecie

s m

ay b

e im

pacte

d b

y c

lea

rin

g fo

r th

e P

ropo

sal (r

efe

r to

Sectio

n 4

.2 f

or

descrip

tion

of

facto

r a

nd a

ssessm

en

t o

f im

pacts

).

2.

Mu

ltip

le loca

tio

ns o

f tw

o P

rio

rity

4 f

lora

sp

ecie

s w

ere

reco

rded

with

in P

ropo

sal bo

un

da

ry (

Ere

mo

ph

ila m

ag

nific

a s

ubsp

. m

ag

nific

a,

Go

ode

nia

nud

a).

S

om

e lo

catio

ns o

f th

ese

sp

ecie

s m

ay b

e im

pacte

d b

y c

lea

rin

g f

or

the

Pro

posa

l (r

efe

r to

Se

ctio

n 4

.2 fo

r de

scri

ptio

n o

f fa

cto

r a

nd

assessm

ent

of im

pa

cts

).

3.

On

e t

err

estr

ial P

rio

rity

4 fa

una

sp

ecie

s (

Pse

ud

om

ys c

hap

ma

ni -

we

ste

rn p

eb

ble

-mo

und

mo

use

) w

as r

eco

rded

with

in th

e P

rop

osa

l bo

und

ary

. S

om

e in

div

idu

als

ma

y b

e im

pacte

d

by c

lea

rin

g fo

r th

e P

rop

osa

l (r

efe

r to

Se

ctio

n 4

.3 fo

r de

scri

ptio

n o

f fa

cto

r a

nd

assessm

en

t of

impa

cts

).

4.

On

e a

qua

tic P

rio

rity

4 f

au

na

sp

ecie

s (

Le

iop

oth

era

po

n a

he

neu

s -

Fo

rtescue

gru

nte

r) w

as r

eco

rded

with

in e

ph

em

era

l po

ols

on

the

Be

asle

y R

ive

r a

t le

ast 1

0 k

m d

ow

nstr

ea

m o

f th

e

de

wa

teri

ng

dis

ch

arg

e p

oin

t.

So

me

im

pa

ct to

in

div

idu

als

ma

y o

ccu

r d

ue

to a

lte

red

su

rfa

ce w

ate

r flo

w r

eg

imes a

t m

axim

um

de

wa

teri

ng

dis

ch

arg

e r

ate

s (

refe

r to

Se

ctio

n 4

.3 fo

r d

escri

ptio

n o

f fa

cto

r a

nd a

ssessm

en

t o

f im

pa

cts

).

Western Turner Sy


osits

PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

69

En

vir

on

men

tal a

sse

ts th

at m

ay b

e a

ffecte

d b

y t

he P

rop

osa

l, a

nd

co

uld

be c

on

sid

ere

d ‘hig

h v

alu

e’ en

vir

onm

en

tal a

sse

ts,

as d

efin

ed

in E

PA

20

06

.

1.

Th

ree

ve

ge

tatio

n c

om

mun

itie

s w

ere

co

nsid

ere

d b

y B

iota

(201

2a

) to

be

eq

uiv

ale

nt to

"e

co

syste

ms a

t risk"

with

in t

he

Ha

me

rsle

y I

BR

A s

ub

-re

gio

n (

as id

en

tifie

d b

y K

end

rick 2

00

3)

an

d a

re c

on

sid

ere

d t

o h

ave

ele

va

ted

co

nse

rva

tion

sig

nific

ance

co

mp

are

d t

o o

the

r ve

ge

tatio

n w

ith

in th

e s

tud

y a

rea

(B

iota

20

12a

) (r

efe

r to

Se

ctio

n 4

.2 for

de

scri

ptio

n o

f fa

cto

r a

nd

a

sse

ssm

en

t o

f im

pacts

).

2.

A t

ota

l o

f 60

3 h

a o

f th

e 'l

ow

er

slo

pe

mu

lga

' com

mu

nity w

as s

urv

eye

d in

th

e W

TS

are

a,

of

wh

ich 2

96 h

a (

49

%)

occu

rs w

ith

in t

he

Pro

posa

l b

oun

da

ry a

nd

ma

y b

e im

pa

cte

d b

y

cle

arin

g fo

r th

e P

rop

osa

l.

3.

A t

ota

l o

f 25

07

ha

of

the

'va

lley f

loo

r m

ulg

a' c

om

mu

nity w

as s

urv

eye

d in

th

e W

TS

are

a,

of

wh

ich 6

94 h

a (

28

%)

occu

rs w

ith

in t

he

Pro

posa

l b

oun

da

ry a

nd

ma

y b

e im

pa

cte

d b

y

cle

arin

g fo

r th

e P

rop

osa

l.

4.

A t

ota

l o

f 12

87

ha

of

the

'ma

jor

ep

hem

era

l w

ate

rcou

rse

' com

mu

nity w

as s

urv

eye

d in t

he W

TS

are

a,

of

wh

ich 5

7 h

a (

4%

) o

ccu

rs w

ith

in t

he P

rop

osal b

oun

da

ry a

nd m

ay b

e

imp

acte

d b

y c

lea

rin

g fo

r th

e P

rop

osa

l.

Ad

ditio

nally

, ve

ge

tation

co

mm

un

ity 'g

ulli

es a

nd

go

rges' w

as c

onsid

ere

d to

ha

ve

ele

va

ted

co

nse

rva

tio

n s

ign

ific

an

ce c

om

pa

red

to o

the

r ve

ge

tation

with

in t

he

WT

S a

rea,

as t

his

co

mm

unity is lik

ely

to p

rovid

e r

efu

ge

fo

r fire

-se

nsitiv

e s

pecie

s a

nd

oth

er

sp

ecie

s w

hic

h p

refe

r ro

cky, m

esic

ha

bita

ts (

Bio

ta 2

01

2a

).

A to

tal o

f 13

6 h

a o

f th

e 'g

ulli

es a

nd

go

rge

s'

co

mm

unity w

as s

urv

eye

d in

the

WT

S a

rea

, of

wh

ich

12

2 h

a (

89

%)

occu

rs w

ith

in t

he P

rop

osa

l b

ou

nd

ary

an

d m

ay b

e im

pacte

d b

y c

lea

ring

fo

r th

e P

rop

osa

l.

Base

d o

n h

elic

op

ter

reco

nn

ais

sa

nce

by b

ota

nis

ts in

Ap

ril 2

012

, th

is c

om

mu

nity is e

xp

ecte

d t

o o

ccu

r th

roug

ho

ut th

e e

xte

nsiv

e in

cis

ed

rid

ges in th

e n

ort

hw

est

of th

e W

TS

are

a,

tha

t h

ave

not

ye

t b

ee

n

su

rve

ye

d.

A flo

ra a

nd v

eg

eta

tio

n s

urv

ey o

f th

is a

rea

is p

lanne

d f

or

20

12

(re

fer

to S

ectio

n 4

.2 f

or

de

scri

ptio

n o

f fa

cto

r a

nd

asse

ssm

en

t o

f im

pacts

).

Se

cti

on

C:

Sig

nif

ica

nt

imp

acts

(d

esc

rib

e t

he

sig

nif

ica

nt

ad

ve

rse

en

vir

on

me

nta

l im

pa

cts

re

late

d t

o t

he

pro

po

sa

l o

r s

ch

em

e b

efo

re m

itig

ati

on

me

as

ure

s a

re a

pp

lied

).

Th

e P

rop

osa

l is

co

nsid

ere

d u

nlik

ely

to

ha

ve

sig

nific

an

t ad

ve

rse

im

pacts

to

an

y c

ritica

l o

r h

igh

va

lue a

sse

ts,

as d

eta

iled

in S

ectio

n 4

(P

ote

ntial e

nviro

nm

en

tal im

pa

cts

an

d

ma

nag

em

en

t) o

f th

is d

ocu

me

nt

(sp

ecific

section

s c

ross r

efe

ren

ced

in S

ectio

n B

of

this

fo

rm).

Se

cti

on

D:

Mit

iga

tio

n m

ea

su

res

(d

esc

rib

e a

ll m

ea

su

res

to

Avo

id,

Min

imis

e,

Re

cti

fy a

nd

Re

du

ce

).

Ma

na

ge

me

nt m

easu

res to

avoid

, m

inim

ise

, re

ctify

an

d r

ed

uce

th

e im

pa

cts

of

the P

rop

osal w

ill b

e im

ple

men

ted

in

acco

rda

nce w

ith

th

e H

SE

Q m

an

agem

en

t syste

m,

an

d a

s o

utlin

ed in

S

ectio

n 4

of

this

docu

me

nt.

M

ea

su

res o

f p

art

icu

lar

rele

va

nce

to

im

pact o

n c

ritical o

r hig

h v

alu

e a

sse

ts inclu

de

:

Avo

id:

1.

Avo

id a

nd m

inim

ise

cle

arin

g o

f ve

ge

tatio

n a

nd

flo

ra o

f ele

va

ted

co

nse

rva

tio

n s

ign

ific

an

ce

wh

ere

pra

ctical (r

efe

r to

Se

ctio

n 4

.2).

T

his

me

asu

re h

as b

een

im

ple

me

nte

d d

urin

g th

e

de

sig

n o

f th

e c

urr

en

t in

dic

ative in

frastr

uctu

re la

yo

ut.

2.

Min

e p

lan

nin

g a

nd

de

sig

n to

inco

rpo

rate

co

nsid

era

tio

n o

f su

rfa

ce

wa

ter

ma

nag

em

en

t (in

clu

din

g a

vo

idin

g d

isru

ptio

n t

o w

ate

rco

urs

es w

he

re p

ractica

l) a

nd

th

e in

sta

llatio

n o

f cu

lve

rts a

s r

equ

ire

d w

he

re w

ate

rco

urs

es a

re in

ters

ecte

d (

refe

r to

Section

4.5

).

Th

is m

ea

su

re h

as b

ee

n im

ple

me

nte

d d

uring

th

e d

esig

n o

f th

e c

urr

ent

infr

astr

uctu

re.

3.

Ma

na

ge

me

nt o

f w

ee

ds w

ill b

e c

arr

ied

out

in a

cco

rda

nce

with

th

e H

SE

Q W

eed

Ma

na

ge

men

t S

tra

teg

y,

Equ

ipm

ent

Hyg

iene

In

spe

ctio

ns P

roce

du

re,

Bo

rrow

Pit S

pe

cific

atio

n a

nd

Ma

na

ge

me

nt

Pro

ced

ure

, a

nd S

oil

Reso

urc

e M

an

ag

em

en

t P

roce

du

re (

refe

r to

Se

ctio

n 4

.2).

Min

imis

e:

4.

Min

imis

atio

n o

f pla

nne

d v

ege

tatio

n c

lea

rin

g d

uri

ng

bo

th m

ine

pla

nn

ing

an

d d

esig

n p

ha

se

to

th

at re

quir

ed

fo

r sa

fe c

on

str

uction

and

ope

ratio

n o

f th

e P

roje

ct

(refe

r to

Se

ctio

n 4

.2).

T

his

mea

su

re h

as b

ee

n im

ple

me

nte

d d

uri

ng t

he d

esig

n o

f th

e c

urr

en

t in

dic

ative

in

fra

str

uctu

re la

yo

ut.

5.

In a

reas w

he

re lin

ea

r in

fra

str

uctu

re is a

sse

ssed

as p

ote

ntia

lly im

pacting

do

wn

str

ea

m s

hee

tflo

w-d

ep

en

de

nt

ve

ge

tatio

n, m

an

ag

em

en

t m

ea

su

res w

ill b

e im

ple

men

ted

, in

clu

din

g

insta

llation

of e

nvir

onm

enta

l cu

lve

rts e

ve

ry 5

0 m

in

em

ba

nkm

en

ts (

refe

r to

Se

ctio

n 4

.2).

Western Turner Sy


osits

PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C

4-May-12

70

6.

A P

roje

ct

wa

ter

man

age

men

t str

ate

gy w

ill b

e d

eve

lope

d a

nd im

ple

me

nte

d,

an

d w

ill b

e inte

gra

ted

with

wa

ter

ma

nag

em

ent

at

the

S1

0 m

ine

site

. T

he

str

ate

gy w

ill p

rio

ritise

b

en

eficia

l u

se

of

wa

ter

extr

acte

d d

urin

g d

ew

ate

rin

g,

pre

do

min

an

tly v

ia u

tilis

ation

to

me

et

op

era

tio

nal re

qu

irem

ents

fo

r th

e P

roje

ct

and

the

S1

0 m

ine

site

, w

ith

dis

ch

arg

e t

o th

e

en

vir

onm

en

t th

e le

ast

pre

ferr

ed

man

ag

em

ent

optio

n.

7.

A P

roje

ct

dis

ch

arg

e w

ate

r q

ualit

y m

ana

gem

en

t a

nd m

on

ito

ring

str

ate

gy (

inclu

din

g s

ite

-sp

ecific

wa

ter

qua

lity t

rig

ge

r va

lues),

will

be

de

ve

lope

d in

acco

rdan

ce

with

the

A

NZ

EC

C/A

RM

CA

NZ

(2

00

0)

wa

ter

qua

lity m

ana

gem

en

t fr

am

ew

ork

, to

ma

nag

e t

he

pote

ntial im

pa

cts

of

dis

ch

arg

e w

ate

r qu

alit

y o

n t

he

do

wn

str

ea

m e

nviro

nm

en

t (r

efe

r to

S

ectio

n 4

.2).

Re

ctify

an

d R

edu

ce:

8.

Are

as c

lea

red

fo

r th

e P

ropo

sa

l (e

xclu

din

g p

it v

oid

s)

will

be

reh

ab

ilita

ted

in

acco

rda

nce

with

HS

EQ

re

qu

irem

en

ts a

nd

the

min

e c

losure

pla

n (

refe

r to

Sectio

n 4

.7).

9.

A w

ee

d a

ctio

n p

lan

will

be

im

ple

me

nte

d fo

r th

e a

pp

rop

ria

te c

on

tro

l o

f w

ee

d p

op

ula

tio

ns if

the

se

are

in

tro

du

ced

by t

he

Pro

po

sal (r

efe

r to

Se

ctio

n 4

.2).

10

. A

Pro

ject

dis

ch

arg

e w

ate

r q

ualit

y m

ana

gem

en

t a

nd m

on

ito

ring

str

ate

gy (

inclu

din

g s

ite

-sp

ecific

wa

ter

qua

lity t

rig

ge

r va

lues),

will

be

de

ve

lope

d in

acco

rdan

ce

with

the

A

NZ

EC

C/A

RM

CA

NZ

(2

00

0)

wa

ter

qua

lity m

ana

gem

en

t fr

am

ew

ork

, to

ma

nag

e t

he

pote

ntial im

pa

cts

of

dis

ch

arg

e w

ate

r qu

alit

y o

n t

he

do

wn

str

ea

m e

nviro

nm

en

t (r

efe

r to

S

ectio

n 4

.2).

Se

cti

on

E:

Sig

nif

ica

nt

res

idu

al

imp

ac

ts (

de

sc

rib

e a

ll t

he

sig

nif

ican

t a

dve

rse

res

idu

al

imp

ac

ts t

ha

t re

ma

in a

fte

r a

ll m

itig

ati

on

att

em

pts

ha

ve

bee

n e

xh

au

ste

d).

Th

e P

rop

osa

l is

co

nsid

ere

d u

nlik

ely

to

ha

ve

sig

nific

an

t ad

ve

rse

im

pacts

to

an

y c

ritica

l o

r h

igh

va

lue a

sse

ts;

the

refo

re, n

o s

ignific

an

t re

sid

ua

l im

pa

cts

to

an

y c

ritical o

r h

igh

va

lue

asse

ts a

re e

xp

ecte

d.

Se

cti

on

F:

Pro

po

se

d o

ffse

ts f

or

ea

ch

sig

nif

ica

nt

res

idu

al im

pa

ct

(id

en

tify

dir

ec

t a

nd

co

ntr

ibu

tin

g o

ffs

ets

). I

nc

lud

e a

de

sc

rip

tio

n o

f th

e la

nd

te

nu

re a

nd

zo

nin

g/r

es

erv

ati

on

s

tatu

s o

f th

e p

rop

os

ed

off

set

sit

e.

Id

en

tify

an

y e

nc

um

bra

nc

es

or

oth

er

res

tric

tio

ns

on

th

e l

an

d t

ha

t m

ay i

mp

ac

t th

e i

mp

lem

en

tati

on

of

the p

rop

os

ed

off

se

t a

nd

pro

vid

e

evid

en

ce

de

mo

ns

tra

tin

g h

ow

th

es

e i

ss

ues

ha

ve

bee

n r

es

olv

ed

.

Giv

en

no

sig

nific

an

t re

sid

ua

l im

pacts

are

exp

ecte

d t

o o

ccu

r a

s a

re

sult o

f th

e P

rop

osal, n

o o

ffsets

ha

ve

bee

n c

onsid

ere

d.

Se

cti

on

G:

Sp

ati

al d

ata

rela

tin

g t

o o

ffse

t s

ite

/s (

se

e E

PA

Gu

ida

nc

e S

tate

me

nt

No

. 1

9:

en

vir

on

me

nta

l o

ffs

ets

- b

iod

ive

rsit

y,

Ap

pe

nd

ix 4

).

No

t A

pp

licab

le.

Se

cti

on

H:

Re

leva

nt

da

ta s

ou

rce

s a

nd

evid

en

ce

of

co

nsu

lta

tio

n (

co

nsu

lta

tio

n w

ith

ag

en

cie

s,

rele

va

nt

sta

ke

ho

lders

, c

om

mu

nit

y a

nd

re

fere

nce

s t

o s

ou

rce

s o

f d

ata

/in

form

ati

on

).

Inc

lud

e d

eta

ils

of

sp

ec

ific

en

vir

on

men

tal,

tec

hn

ica

l o

r o

the

r re

leva

nt

ad

vic

e a

nd

in

form

ati

on

ob

tain

ed

to

ass

ist

in t

he

fo

rmu

lati

on

of

the

off

se

t.

No

t A

pp

licab

le.


PIR11250_01 R004 Rev C 4-May-12 71

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Mine Drainage, Ian Wark Research Institute and Environmental Geochemistry International Pty Ltd,

Melbourne.

Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council & Agriculture and Resource

Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ANZECC/ARMCANZ) 2000, Australian and New

Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, National Water Quality Management

Strategy Paper No. 4, Canberra.

Astron Environmental Services (Astron) 2010, West Pilbara Iron Ore Project Risk Assessment of Potential

Railway Impacts on Sheet Flow Dependent Vegetation, unpublished report prepared for API

Management Pty Ltd, Perth.

Beard JS 1975a, Pilbara Explanatory Notes and Map Sheet, 1:1,000,000 Series, Vegetation Survey of

Western Australia, University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands.

Beard JS 1975b, Vegetation Survey of Western Australia, 1:100,000 Vegetation Series Mapsheet 5 –

Pilbara, University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands.

BG&E 2011, Surface Water Management Plan for Mine B1 and S17, unpublished report prepared for Rio

Tinto, Perth.

BHPBilliton 2009, Rail Operations - Chichester Deviation Surface Water Management Plan, unpublished

report prepared by BHPBilliton, Perth.

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