Section 15 Environmental Protection

Transcription

1 Section 15 Environmental Protection

2 15. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION The object of the EP Act is to protect the environment of the Western Australia having regard to the principles described in Table An evaluation of the Proposal in the context of these principles is also provided in Table TABLE 15-1: PRINCIPLES OF THE EP ACT 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; and b) an assessment of the risk-weighted consequences of various options. The environment within which the Proposal is situated is well understood as a result of investigations by MRL and others over many years. Scoping of relevant preliminary key environmental factors was undertaken by the EPA following referral of the Proposal and, in particular, as part of the ESD prepared by the EPA. MRL has undertaken the necessary environmental studies and has prepared the PER in accordance with the requirements of the ESD. MRL has carefully evaluated mine and infrastructure layout to avoid, where practicable, serious or irreversible damage to the environment. It has also assessed the alternatives to the Proposal (refer to Section 2 for details). A precautionary approach has been adopted by MRL to the identification of management measures and controls that will be applied to mitigate potential environmental degradation associated with the Proposal. The level of information in this PER document is therefore sufficient to assess the significance of the impacts of the Proposal on the environment. Accordingly, the Proposal is consistent with this principle of the EP Act. 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. MRL s environment and community policy recognises that its operations have the potential to impact on environmental and community values. The potential impacts of the Proposal on the key conservation and recreation values associated with the Helena-Aurora Range are assessed in the PER document with respect to the preliminary key environmental factors flora and vegetation and Issue Date: 31/8/2016 MRL-ENV-TS-RP-0047-Rev2 Page 15-1

3 amenity. MRL s application of the mitigation hierarchy can effectively reduce the predicted residual impacts to the extent that environmental health, diversity and productivity will not be compromised between this generation and the next. In other words, the conservation and recreation values associated with the HAR will remain for the benefit of future generations, even if the Proposal is implemented. The Proposal is therefore consistent with this principle of the EP Act. 3. Conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity Conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration. Biological diversity and ecological integrity are fundamental considerations for mining proposals in the BIF ranges. MRL has undertaken numerous flora, vegetation and fauna surveys over multiple seasons across its tenements. These investigations provide sitespecific information on threatened and priority flora and ecological communities, the significance of which is adequately understood based on the broader regional context. MRL has quantified the direct and indirect loss of vegetation and habitat as a result of the Proposal, as well as the number of individual plants with regard to conservation significant species. MRL has minimised the impact by locating infrastructure to avoid threatened and priority species and ecological communities wherever possible. Partial backfilling of the southern pit at Bungalbin East will also reduce the impact. The Proposal includes progressive rehabilitation of disturbed areas, as set out in the Rehabilitation and Mine Closure Plan, as well as offset proposals where there are significant residual impacts on threatened flora. The conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity has therefore been a fundamental consideration throughout the development of the Proposal, which is consistent with this principle of the EP Act. Issue Date: 31/8/2016 MRL-ENV-TS-RP-0047-Rev2 Page 15-2

4 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; and d) Environmental goals, having been established, should be pursued in the most cost effective way, by establishing incentive structures, including market mechanisms, which enable those best placed to maximise benefits and/or minimise costs to develop their own solutions and response to environmental problems MRL takes responsibility for all costs and the potential for pollution and waste associated with the Proposal. These principles are also addressed by government processes broader than Part IV EP Act assessment and approval. The Proposal is designed to minimise the impact of pollution from aspects of the Proposal such as waste disposal as well as storage and handling of dangerous goods. Waste will be minimised through a combination of on-site treatment as well as off-site treatment of more hazardous waste streams. Refer also Principle Waste minimisation All reasonable and practicable measures should be taken to minimise the generation of waste and its discharge into the environment. Waste generated by the Proposal will be managed in accordance with applicable regulatory standards and internal operating procedures. The Proposal also includes measures to minimise waste generation by encouraging reuse, recycling and reduction of products, where possible. As part of the EMS development for the Proposal, all reasonable and practicable measures to minimise the generation of waste and its discharge into the environment will be taken. Therefore, the Proposal is consistent with this principle of the EP Act. Issue Date: 31/8/2016 MRL-ENV-TS-RP-0047-Rev2 Page 15-3

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