Environmental Impact Statement

Transcription

1 Environmental Impact Statement for South of Embley Project Section 21 Environmental Management Plan

2

3 a RTA Weipa Pty Ltd Draft Environmental Management Plan ML7024 and ML6024

4 CONTENTS Introduction The Project Location Project Description Project Proponent Mining Leases Real Property Descriptions Structure of the EM Plan Purpose of the EM Plan Relevant Stakeholders 7 2 Project Description Significant Project Project Overview Description of the Mine Exploration Activities Mining Process Rehabilitation Bauxite Processing Port Facility and Shipping Associated Infrastructure Transport Water Supply and Management Sewage Power Generation and Supply Mining-Related Activities 16 3 Environmental Values, Potential Impacts, Commitments, Proposed Draft Conditions And Supporting Information Content of the Section Proposed Environmental Authority Conditions: Schedule A General Conditions Air Quality Value/Background Objectives Commitments Proposed Environmental Authority Conditions: Schedule B Air Greenhouse Gas Emissions Value/Background Objectives Commitments 33 South of Embley

5 3.5 Water Resources Value/Background Objectives Commitments Proposed Environmental Authority Conditions: Schedule C Water Proposed Environmental Authority Conditions: Schedule Dams Proposed Environmental Authority Conditions: Schedule Treatment 3.6 Noise and Vibration Value/Background Objectives Commitments Proposed Environmental Authority Conditions Schedule F Noise 3.7 Land Management Value/Background Objectives Commitments Proposed Environmental Authority Conditions: Schedule G Land 3.8 Nature Conservation Value/Background Objectives Commitments Proposed Environmental Authority Conditions: Schedule H Nature Conservation Waste Management Value/Background Objectives Commitments Proposed Environmental Authority Conditions: Schedule I Waste Management Community Value/Background Objectives Commitments Cultural Heritage Value/Background Objectives Commitments 87 4 Environmental Management Environmental Management System D E Regulated 50 Sewage South of Embley

6 4.2 Monitoring Reporting Studies and Investigations Staff Training Environmental Auditing and Review 91 5 Definitions 92 References 95 South of Embley

7 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Project The name of the Project is the South of Embley (SoE) Project. The project number is RTA701. RTA Weipa Pty Ltd (RTA) is currently mining the East Weipa and Andoom bauxite deposits located on ML 7024 north of the Embley River. A transitional environmental authority (mining activities) is held for the existing operations north of the Embley River. These reserves are gradually depleting and, with continuing demand for bauxite, RTA have identified significant bauxite reserves on the portion of ML 7024 that lies south of the Embley River, which could sustain a mining operation for about 40 years, depending on annual production rates. The Project consists of the construction and operation of a bauxite mine and associated processing facilities, a barge/ferry terminal and a port on mining leases held by RTA. The mine would be capable of producing a maximum of 50 million dry product tonnes per annum (Mdptpa). The initial production capacity is subject to ongoing feasibility studies but is likely to be either 15Mdptpa or 22.5Mdptpa. Actual production rates and the timing and size of capacity expansions would depend on market conditions. In addition, a ferry terminal would be located at Hornibrook Point and a barge terminal at Humbug Point, however these facilities are not on the mining lease. Both locations are on Strategic Port Land within the Port of Weipa and administered by the North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited (NQBP) and are therefore not covered by this Environmental Management (EM) Plan. 1.2 Location The Project is situated on the western side of Cape York on the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Port and Boyd infrastructure area is approximately 40km south-west of Weipa and 40km north of Aurukun, with the closest mining areas being 4km from Napranum, 15km from Aurukun, and 50km from the nearest cattle station homesteads (refer Figure 1). The Project is predominately located on the portion of ML 7024 that is south of the Embley River, and on ML Mining activities would take place on ML A barge/ferry terminal would be located on the western bank of the Hey River on ML The northern end of the Project is bounded by the Embley and Hey Rivers and the southern end by the ML 7024 boundary, north of the Watson River. The Gulf of Carpentaria abuts the western boundary of ML 7024, which extends over submerged land between Thud and Boyd Points. The eastern side of ML 7024 adjoins mineral development licence (MDL) 378 (the proposed Aurukun Bauxite Project). The gross extent of the Project area is approximately 106,000ha. 1.3 Project Description The Project activities covered by this EM Plan consist of construction and operation of the following: a bauxite mine; two bauxite processing (beneficiation) plants and associated tailings storage facilities; product bauxite stockpiles; port and ship-loading facilities, and associated dredging; ancillary infrastructure diesel-fuelled power station, workshops, warehouse, administration facilities, package sewage treatment plants, waste storage and disposal facilities, diesel storage, and access roads; water infrastructure a freshwater storage dam on a freshwater tributary of Norman Creek (Dam C) and a pump station on the lower reaches of the Ward River, plus process water and sediment ponds, pipelines and artesian bores; an infrastructure corridor for a conveyor, electricity transmission and water pipelines; a temporary camp (up to 630 beds) for construction workforce; and a barge/ferry terminal on the Hey River. South of Embley Page 1

8 Weipa Cairns -12 Gulf apoon P9rt Musgrave of Carpentaria BRISBA Wenlock ERM Jantz Point Albatross Bay Weipa ML 7024 Mission River ML 7024 MLA pranurn PeraI Head' ( /Jl ZY \ 7 Boyd 1 Point ---/per. a Road ML 6024e- 13 Thud Point ( South of Embley Project Area River (Aurukun I Wats on L L RTA Mining Lease boundary Area Oresome Australia Pty Ltd Mineral Sands Project Chalco Aurukun Bauxite Project Cape Alumina Pty Ltd's Pisolite Hills Project Township Drainage Road/track 50m Topographic contour A Fig. 1: Locality Map km Datum/Projection: GDA94IMGA Zone 54 Date: 09/06/2011

9 Should ore from neighbouring mines operated by others be shipped through the proposed port, such ore would be conveyed by others across ML7024 to the stockpile area. Allowance has been made in the stockpile layout to enable additional stockpile capacity to be added adjacent to RTA's facilities to accommodate, following agreement on suitable commercial terms, product from third parties producing at a rate of up to 13Mdptpa. The conceptual 40-year mine plan and the main infrastructure components are shown in Figure 2. Mining would commence in the Boyd Point/Pera Head area, and would later be extended to the Norman Creek area. The conceptual mine plan shows two mining phases: years 1-13 (based on a production rate of 15Mdptpa) and years (based on a production rate of 30Mdptpa and above). 1.4 Project Proponent The Project would be developed and operated by RTA Weipa Pty Ltd (RTA), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto Aluminium Limited. These companies are in the Rio Tinto Alcan product group. Rio Tinto Alcan is one of five product groups operated by the global mining group, Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto Alcan supplies bauxite, alumina and primary aluminium to Australia, New Zealand and export markets. About 37% of Australia's total production of bauxite, 36% of its alumina and 40% of its primary aluminium is provided by Rio Tinto Alcan. Rio Tinto Alcan's Australian head office for bauxite and alumina is based in Brisbane. Bauxite and alumina interests in Queensland include the existing Weipa mine, and the Yarwun and Queensland Alumina Limited alumina refineries at Gladstone. Rio Tinto Alcan also operates the Boyne Smelters Limited aluminium smelter in Gladstone. 1.5 Mining Leases RTA is the holder of ML 7024 granted on 1 January 1958 pursuant to the Commonwealth Aluminium Corporation Limited Agreement Act 1957(Comalco Agreement Act), a Queensland 'Special Agreement Act'. ML 6024 (granted 25 July 1985 and affirmed 26 August 2002) was granted pursuant to the Comalco Agreement Act and the Mineral Resources Act 1989 (Qld) for the purposes of providing transport access to ML The current term of ML 7024 and ML 6024 is until 31 December 2041; however, there is a right of renewal until 31 December Following the extended term, the lease of ML 7024 is terminable by either RTA or the State of Queensland giving two years notice of termination. The location of ML 7024 and ML 6024 are shown on Figure 3. The Comalco Agreement Act confers certain rights and obligations relating to the development of bauxite resources, including provisions relating to the taking of water and harbour works. Another company within the Rio Tinto Group, Alcan South Pacific Pty Ltd, is the holder of ML 7031 pursuant to the Alcan Queensland Pty Limited Act 1965 (which is also a 'Special Agreement Act'). While RTA mines ore for Alcan South Pacific Pty Ltd from ML 7031 (known as the Ely mining lease), activities on ML7031 are not the subject of the Project or this EM Plan. The Federal Court of Australia determined on 29 July 2009 (FCA 789) that the Wik and Wik Way people have Native Title over the land covered by the Project area. The Western Cape Communities Coexistence Agreement (WCCCA) is a registered Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) (QIA2001/002) under the Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993 between RTA, the State of Queensland and relevant Aboriginal parties. Where any proposed activities are outside the ILUA area, to the extent Native Title has not been extinguished in relation to those areas, RTA would comply with the applicable process under the Native Title Act. RTA does not expect this to arise. 1.6 Real Property Descriptions The land parcels and tenure within the Project area are summarised in Table 1-1 and shown in Figure 3. ML 7024 lies within the Cook Shire Local Government area and ML 6024 lies within the Napranum Shire. South of Embley Page 3

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11 860_0000 mn 14 SP Kerr Point Weipa WEIPA TOWN AUTHORITY Carpentaria N APRANUM SHIRE Wooldrum Point 10 WP50 COOK SHIRE ML \/ MP41159 >6.0 1,,,> mn 21 Thud Point rproposed Port Pere Head Boyd Infrastructure Area Pera Head Access Road ML Norman Creek Infrastructure Area AWRWKWN Proposed Humbug Terminal SP Proposed Hornibrook Terminal 17 MP41159 COOK SHIRE False Per Head 8 855D000 mn 7024 MP SP WP21 COOK SHIRE ML 7024 COOK SHIRE al ML 7024 ML MP41159 Proposed Hey River Barge/Ferry Terminal WP50 MP D0 mn Jl g3m1112im 1 km COOK I/ SHIRE I/ al URUKUN IRE RTA Mining Lease boundary =I Shire Boundary Weipa Airport Road/track Tenure Freehold Lands Lease State Land Fig. 3: Land Tenure and Local Government Boundaries 5 0 5km Datum/Projection: GDA941MGA Zone 54 Date: 09/06/2011

12 Table 1-1 Land Parcels and Tenure Aspect Mining Tenement Land Parcel Background Tenure Ownership Mine, Port and Infrastructure Hey River Barge/Ferry Terminal ML7024 (RTA) Lot 7024 MP41159 State land The State of Queensland ML6024 (RTA) Lot 121 SP State land The State of Queensland Lot 67 WP50 State land The State of Queensland Humbug Barge Terminal Hornibrook Ferry Terminal Not applicable. Located within Strategic Port Land Not applicable. Located within Strategic Port Land Lot 68 WP50 State land The State of Queensland Lot 29 SP Freehold North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited Lot 14 5P Perpetual Lease North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited Lot 17 SP Freehold North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited Lot 14 5P Perpetual Lease North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited Adjacent Properties MDL378 1 SC211 Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) DOGIT to Aurukun Aboriginal Council Not Applicable. 11 WP50 Freehold Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council 10 WP50 Freehold Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council Lot 15 SP Perpetual Lease North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited 2 SP State Land The State of Queensland 1.7 Structure of the EM Plan The EM Plan is structured in accordance with Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) Guideline 8 "Preparing an environmental management overview strategy (EMOS) for non-standard mining projects" and describes the following: description of mining activity and mining tenements and the land on which the mining activities are carried out (Section 1); all relevant mining activities (Section 2); the environmental values likely to be affected by mining activities and the potential adverse and beneficial impacts the mining activities has on environmental values, as well as the environmental protection objectives, conditions and measurable indicators (Section 3); details of monitoring programs (Section 3); and strategies for reporting, continuous improvement, staff training, and environmental auditing (Section 4). 1.8 Purpose of the EM Plan The purposes of this EM Plan and proposed conditions are to: provide management programs and control strategies to protect and manage environmental values affected by SoE mining and mining-related activities; provide for an amendment of the environmental authority (mining activities) consistent with both (i) the authorities granted under the Commonwealth Aluminium Corporation Pty Limited Agreement Act 1957 (a Special Agreement Act) and (ii) the DERM Guideline Number 8 "Preparing an environmental management overview strategy for non-standard mining projects"; and provide a document setting out the conditions for undertaking environmental activities on ML 7024 and ML 6024 such that DERM may issue the required amended environmental authority (mining activities) under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) (EP Act) for operations on ML 7024 and ML South of Embley Page 6

13 1.9 Relevant Stakeholders An extensive program of community consultation and stakeholder engagement was undertaken prior to the commencement of the Project. A program of consultation would continue to be undertaken by RTA to address community issues throughout all phases of the Project. The objectives of the community consultation and stakeholder engagement are: to identify stakeholders who have an interest in the Project; facilitate two-way engagement with stakeholders, providing accurate, timely and relevant information on the Project; identify any concerns or potential issues stakeholders may have with the Project; explore areas of the Project with the potential to have a positive impact on communities; develop appropriate strategies to mitigate any concerns; and address stakeholder issues and concerns. For the purposes of community consultation, the local community area has been defined as the communities and surrounding areas of the Western Cape region, including Aurukun, Napranum, Weipa and Mapoon. This region encompasses the members of the general public and the organisations (including government, industry, service providers, regional landholders and community groups) likely to be adversely or positively affected by the Project. The relevant stakeholders for the Project have been identified as: Federal, State and Local government agencies and services providers including the Weipa Town Authority (WTA); Community groups and non-government organisations; Traditional Owners and other Aboriginal groups; Industry, local businesses and service providers operating throughout the Western Cape region; Recreational and professional fishing groups; General public and residents of local communities in Aurukun, Napranum, Weipa and Mapoon; Regional pastoral lease holders and managers; and RTA and local contractor employees based on the Western Cape. The ongoing consultation and engagement process will also continue to actively involve Traditional Owners in a range of activities to: increase knowledge and awareness of the mining processes; provide accurate, timely and relevant information on the Project; identify any concerns or potential issues Traditional Owners may have with the Project; explore areas of the Project with the potential to have a positive impact on communities; and develop and pursue appropriate strategies to mitigate any issues and concerns during the environmental approval process, and during the construction and operational phases. The Western Cape Communities Coordinating Committee (WCCCC) and the relevant WCCCC Subcommittee would continue to provide the consultative mechanism for coordination of these activities. South of Embley Page 7

14 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 2.1 Significant Project The relevant mining leases are included in a Project that was declared a "significant project" by the Queensland Coordinator-General on 21 November An EIS under Part 4 of the State Development and Public Works Act 1971 (Qld) (SDPWO Act) has been prepared for the Project (RTA 2011). 2.2 Project Overview The Project involves establishment of a new bauxite mine capable of producing up to 50Mdptpa along an incremental expansion pathway. The environmental impacts of the Project have been assessed at several different levels of production along this pathway: a minimum rate of 15Mdptpa, a maximum rate of 50Mdptpa, and a nominal intermediate rate of 30Mdptpa. However, the actual rates and the timing of production increases are subject to market conditions. The initial production capacity is subject to ongoing feasibility studies but is likely to be either 15Mdptpa or 22.5Mdptpa. The initial phase of mining operations involves production to replace depleted East Weipa production as well as developing third party markets. Production capacity would expand to replace Andoom production once those reserves are depleted. Production capacity will thereafter be expanded to 50Mdptpa when market conditions are suitable. The Project has bauxite reserves capable of sustaining a mine life of approximately 40 years, depending on annual production rate. 2.3 Description of the Mine The term "mining activities" is defined in Section 147 of the EP Act, and this Project will, in summary, involve the following types of mining activities defined in that section: prospecting, exploring and mining under the Mineral Resources Act 1989 (Qld); processing those materials; a number of activities directly associated with, or facilitating or supporting, the mining and processing activities (see Section 2.9 for details); rehabilitation/remediation; and actions taken to prevent environmental harm. Certain changes may occur in the layout of facilities, associated infrastructure, and the mining areas as the mine develops. Should any such change be likely to lead to a significant increase in environmental harm, an amendment to the environmental authority (mining activities) would be required. 2.4 Exploration Activities Exploration activities are conducted throughout ML 7024 from time to time and involve prospecting; the establishment of access tracks; drilling; test pits; use of instruments and equipment for mineral detection; sampling and digging to extract test material; ore samples to determine mineral content; land clearance, and trucking of ore and test samples extracted. The transport corridor within ML 6024 is also required for this purpose, along with associated port and town infrastructure north of the Embley River. 2.5 Mining Process Vegetation is cleared by bulldozers following the wet season when the ground is sufficiently moist to allow tree roots to pull clear of the ground rather than breaking. Consideration is given to the selective extraction of structural grade timber in the Project area prior to mining, where practicable South of Embley Page 8

15 and where the timber can be beneficially used. The cleared vegetation will be pushed into windrows and burnt. Approximately 600mm of soil is salvaged and returned by scraper or haul truck directly to mined-out areas undergoing rehabilitation, where possible, or stockpiled for later re-spreading. The overburden above the bauxite is then removed by front-end loader and returned to mined-out pits by trucks. The top of the bauxite strata is generally less than 1m below the natural ground surface. The average ore thickness across the Project area is approximately 3.4m. A shallow open pit is developed whereby bauxite is mined by front-end loader or excavator. Bauxite is relatively easy to dig and does not require blasting. The ore is loaded into 180t dump trucks and transported via dedicated haul roads to a truck dump station adjacent to the beneficiation plant. 2.6 Rehabilitation Rehabilitation is undertaken progressively during the life of the mine. Mined areas are likely to be rehabilitated to native woodland. However, the final land use options will be developed and discussed with the Traditional Owners, as required under the WCCCA, and relevant Government stakeholders. The overall objective is to return the land to a post-mining land use that is stable, self-sustaining, requires minimal maintenance, and protects downstream water quality. Details of rehabilitation objectives and strategies are described in Section Bauxite Processing The location of the Boyd and Norman Creek beneficiation plants is shown in Figures 4 and 5 respectively. Product grade bauxite is processed by beneficiation, a process where oversized particles are removed by screening and fine particles are removed by washing. No chemicals are used in the beneficiation process. Overall bauxite product recovery from crude ore averages approximately 70%. The initial Boyd and Norman Creek beneficiation plants are similar "low dispersion energy" plants designed to process approximately 3400 wet crude tonnes per hour, and each plant uses approximately one tonne of water to produce one tonne of product bauxite. Each plant would be designed so it can be expanded in the future. Some of the crude ore in the Norman Creek mining area has elevated fines content that requires "high dispersion energy" beneficiation. This ore would be processed through a "high dispersion energy" module that would be added to the Norman Creek plant. This module uses approximately 1.9 tonnes of water to produce one tonne of product bauxite. The beneficiation process generates tailings, which are pumped to tailings storage facilities where water is decanted and recycled back to the plant. The process involves: crude ore is transported to a truck dump station and dumped into a hopper; the ore is sized to <300mm in a primary crusher and then <90mm in a secondary crusher; ore is conveyed to the beneficiation plant; crushed ore and dispersion water is fed to single-deck scalping screens. Water sprays over the screen decks complete the dispersion of the crude ore. The decks of the scalping screens classify and separate oversize rejects (+25mm) from the crude bauxite feed; the oversize rejects are conveyed to a nominal 4000t stockpile adjacent to the plant. A 100,000t stockpile is located between the plant and the tailings storage facility. This material is reprocessed in a tertiary crusher and blended with the product stream, used for construction (e.g. roads, tailings storage facility walls) or returned to mined-out pits; the underflow slurry (-25mm) from each scalping screen flows by gravity onto a dedicated product screen for de-watering of the product (+0.6mm); South of Embley Page 9

16 mn Sediment Pond No 3 Future Northern Stockpile Power Sta on Sewage Treatme t Plant MIA Drainage Slot Sewage Treatmen Plant mn Stockpile (30Mt Production) ication Plant tage 1 & 2 Sedirrient Pond No 1 Tailings Pipeline Light Vehicle Wash 4114 S V/ ',41-in1W I / Fuel Storage Mine Industrial Area ll, I shilir eavy Vehicle Wash Truck Dump Station ray Wash 4:44 1- Construction Camp 40ML Process Water Pond ROM Stockpile Stockpile (15Mt Production) Future Southern Stockpile Sediment Pond No 2 g mn Sediment Pond No 3 Recycle Water Return Pipeline Decant Sump Recovery. Slot LI Decan Water Pipeline Tailings Storage Facility 0 co 71- LL Ui Lu 6 Lu ct Lease boundary Fig. 4: Boyd Infrastructure Area m Datum/Projection: GDA941MGA Zone 54 Date: 16/07/2010

17 CD mN Recovery Slot Decant Slump Recycle Water Pipeline 5-3 C) -o Oo Qo LI, Oo Qr-- LI, c) C) C) mN 0co nu nu ql la co 5. Sewage Treatment Plant Benefication Plant Stage 1 & 2 Light Vehicle Wash Truck bump Station Tray Wash ROM Stockpile 8557_000mN Tailings Storage Facility Tailings Pipeline MIA Drainage Slot Mine Industrial Area Water Supply Pipeline Process Water Pond ID 85_56000 mn A 0 500m Fig 5: Norman Creek Infrastructure Area Datum /Projection: GDA94/MGA Zone 54 Date: 16/07/2010

18 the underflow slurry (<0.6mm) from the secondary screen, made up of water, fine bauxite pisolites, sands and clays, is directed to a tailings storage facility via the tailings pumping system. Approximately 0.4Mt of tailings is produced for every 1Mdpt of bauxite. The Boyd tailings storage facility has a capacity of approximately 182Mt, covers an area up to 580ha, and would be about 22m high upon completion. The Norman Creek tailings storage facility has a capacity of approximately 204Mt, covers an area of approximately 580ha, and would be about 25m high upon completion; the tailings storage facilities are divided into cells to facilitate the cycling of tailings perimeter deposition within a cell and between cells, to enhance formation of a broad tailings beach adjacent to the perimeter walls that dries quickly to a consistent density over its full depth; the dewatered product bauxite is conveyed to a stacking feed conveyor, which supplies a travelling stacker, which deposits bauxite onto a stockpile pad. The stacker operates at a nominal rate of 2500 dry product tonnes per hour (dptph). A bucket wheel reclaimer withdraws stockpile material at a nominal rate of 9000dptph and feeds the bauxite onto a reclaim conveyor which, in turn, feeds a load-out conveyor to the wharf; and the stockpile area will be expanded in stages as production increases. At a production capacity of 15Mdptpa, the stockpile capacity is 680,000dpt and occupies 17ha. At a production capacity of 30Mdptpa, the stockpile capacity would be 1.36Mdpt and would occupy 34ha. At an RTA production capacity of 50Mdptpa, and assuming 13Mdptpa production from third parties as well, the stockpile capacity would be 2.55Mdpt and it would occupy 59ha. 2.8 Port Facility and Shipping RTA proposes to construct and operate a port located between Boyd Point and Pera Head. The port would include an approach jetty, wharf, berths and ship-loader. The berth pockets and departure areas would need to be dredged. The port is capable of shipping 30Mdptpa and is designed to allow expansion to ship up to 63Mdptpa. Capacity may be provided for third parties following agreement on suitable commercial terms. The port includes an approach jetty approximately 568m long and a wharf with two berths. A further two berths will be operated when production is greater than 30Mdptpa. The four-berth wharf would be approximately 696m long. The port is capable of accepting bulk carrier vessels of up to 185,000 deadweight tonnage (dwt) and 18.1m draft. Separate berths are provided for tugs and line boats. The approach jetty supports the product load-out conveyor and a vehicle access roadway from the Boyd infrastructure area. The wharf supports a rail-mounted travelling ship loader capable of loading at a rate of 9,000t per hour. Ships are not refuelled at the SoE port. Initially, approximately 6,500,000m3 of marine sediments will be dredged to establish the berth pockets and departure areas over a period of about three hundred days. For the purposes of evaluation studies, it has conservatively been assumed that vessel departures are unrestricted by tides and hence the depth of dredging required has been matched to this assumption. The dredging will be carried out by a cutter suction dredger re-depositing material on the sea bottom and retrieved by a trailing suction hopper dredge (TSHD). Dredged spoil would be transported by the TSHD to a new offshore spoil disposal ground located approximately 17km west of Boyd Point (refer Figure 2-9 for location). Annual maintenance dredging of approximately 890,000m3 is expected to be required to maintain under keel clearance for ships. When the wharf is extended in a second stage to expand capacity to at least 50Mdptpa, a further 2,400,000m3 of dredged spoil would be generated and disposed of at the same off -shore spoil ground. The port is designed for continuous hours of operation. The estimated shipping frequencies under each production scenario are summarised below: 15Mdptpa 30Mdptpa 50Mdptpa up to 215 ships/annum (4-5 ships/week); up to 430 ships/annum (8-9 ships/week); and up to 700 ships/annum (14 ships/week). South of Embley Page 12

19 2.9 Associated Infrastructure This section describes infrastructure that will be constructed as part of the SoE Project to support the mining, processing and shipping activities Transport During the initial construction period, access to the Project area is from the Peninsula Developmental Road (PDR) via the Aurukun Road, Beagle Camp Access Road, Pera Head Access Road and Amban Access Road (the "access roads") that traverse MDL 378. Once the ferry terminals and Mine Access Road are constructed, workers will be transported from the Hornibrook ferry terminal by high-speed ferry to the Hey River barge/ferry terminal and then by bus to the site at the beginning and end of each roster. The following transport infrastructure is located on the mining lease: The Hey River barge/ferry terminal includes a roll-on roll-off (RORO) barge facility, vehicle parking, covered waiting area and walkway, pontoon and floating ramp for the ferry terminal. Approximately 17,300m3 of material will be dredged during the initial construction phase and disposed of at the Albatross Bay spoil ground, which is currently used by the Port of Weipa. An area of about 4,400m2 will be reclaimed and supported by rock revetment and/or sheet piles. A thin band of mangroves will be cleared. All weather sealed 38km Mine Access Road from the Hey River barge/ferry terminal to the Boyd infrastructure area (see Figure 1) and a 24km spur road from the Mine Access Road to the Norman Creek infrastructure area. Box culvert causeways are used for some watercourse crossing points. Plant, equipment and materials transported by barge from Cairns is offloaded at Humbug Wharf and transferred via RORO barge from the Humbug barge terminal to the Hey River barge/ferry terminal. Barges may also deliver to Evans Landing wharf or direct to the Hey River barge/ferry terminal (depending on the draft of the barge) Water Supply and Management The locations of water management infrastructure are shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5. Schematic diagrams of the proposed water management systems are shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7. The Project's principal water requirements are for process water, haul-road watering, vehicle washdown, dust suppression, and potable supplies. Typically, water would be drawn in order of preference from tailings recycle, recovery slots, surface water dam (Dam C), and artesian bores. Some supplementary surface water will be drawn directly from the Ward River to minimise the risk of inadequate supply from Dam C. The overall water balance for the Project is summarised in Table 2-1. Table 2-1 Average Annual Water Balance Production Scenario Average Annual Demand (GL) Average Annual Supply (GL) Recycle from tailings Artesian Dam Recovery Slots* Total Supply 15Mdptpa (5.2 peak) Mdptpa (10.6 peak) Mdptpa (15 peak) * Trenches dug adjacent to tailings storage facilities to recover water. South of Embley Page 13

20 co C Tailings Storage Facility Truck Water Fill Station Truck Dump Station - Ore Southern Stockpiles Sediment Ponds 2 & 3 Product Bauxite Stockpiles Northern Stockpiles Sediment Pond 4 Wharf 7.7 Wharf Drainage Sump (Sediment Pond 1) co Decant Sump Recovery Slot L Tray Wash - Trucks Heavy Vehicle Wash Light Vehicle Wash Oil/Water Separator Oil/Water Separator Tray Wash Sediment Pond Class A 1 Sewage Effluent Sewage Treatment Plant Mine Industrial Area Potable Water * Beneticiation Plant Raw Water Cooling Tank Water Plant Potable Water Storage Tank Raw Water Mine Industrial Area Drainage Slot EQ - Gravity flow Pipeline Process Water Pond 140 ML Artesian Bore Artesian Bore Artesian Bore Artesian Bore Date: 12/07/2010 Dam C Stage 1: 10.9 GL Stage 2: 29.0 GL Fig. 6: Boyd Water Management System

21 co C Tailings Storage Facility Truck Water Fill Station Truck Dump Station - Ore co Decant Sump Recovery Slot L Tray Wash - Trucks Heavy Vehicle Wash Light Vehicle Wash OilA/Vater Separator OilA/Vater Separator Tray Wash Sediment Pond Class A 1 Sewage Effluent Sewage Treatment Plant Mine Industrial Area Potable Water * Beneticiation Plant 170- Raw Water Cooling Tank Water Plant Potable Water Storage Tank Raw Water Mine Industrial Area Drainage Slot EQ 1 Gravity flow Pipeline Process Water Pond 140 ML Artesian Bores Date: 12/07/2010 Ward River Dam C Stage 1: 10.9 GL Stage 2: 29.0 GL Fig. 7: Norman Creek Water Management System

22 A water supply dam (Dam C) is on a freshwater tributary of Norman Creek and has a catchment area of 259km2. Dam C is a conventional earth-fill dam with a maximum capacity of 29GL, which would be constructed either in two stages or a single stage. If constructed in two stages, the first stage would provide 10.9GL storage capacity and, later, the wall would be raised to provide 29GL storage capacity. The dam would be constructed in a single stage (29GL capacity) should expansion of production above 15Mdptpa be anticipated to occur quickly, or should an initial production capacity of 22.5Mdptpa be adopted. This is the subject of ongoing feasibility studies. In order to maintain the reliability of the overall surface water supply at production levels of 30Mdptpa and above, some water would be pumped directly from the lower reaches of the Ward River to supplement the Dam C supply. A reverse osmosis potable water treatment plant treats raw water from Dam C to a standard that meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC 2004). Stormwater runoff generated within active mine areas is mostly captured within the internally draining mine pits. The post-mining landscape effectively provides internally draining sumps that contain stormwater runoff, which then infiltrates through the pit floor and walls. In the event that the postmining topography is not an internally draining pit, stormwater runoff is directed via a sediment pond. Sediment traps are also included as part of the drainage designs at points where haul roads cross watercourses. No watercourses are diverted as part of the Project Sewage During the initial construction phase, prior to a sewage treatment plant (STP) being commissioned, the construction areas will be serviced by portable ablution facilities. Sewage will be stored in holding tanks and regularly trucked by a licensed regulated waste transporter back to Weipa for treatment in an existing licensed STP. This method would also be utilised if temporary mobile construction camps were used for the Mine Access Road construction or an accommodation barge was used during dredging of the Port. The construction camp, and Boyd and Norman Creek infrastructure areas are serviced by separate gravity-fed package STPs. The effluent is treated to Class A standard (as defined in Schedule 3D of the Public Health Regulation 2005) and recycled for use in the dust suppression, landscape watering or other appropriate uses on-site that are suitable for the quality of water Power Generation and Supply Electricity for the Project is generated by a diesel-fuelled power station located at the Boyd infrastructure area. The power station would be expanded in stages using multiple generating units in the range of 1.4 to 6MW capacity to meet the following demands: 15Mdptpa 30Mdptpa 50Mdptpa 15.4MW; 29MW; and 54MW Transmission lines reticulate power to artesian bores, water-supply pumps and the Norman Creek infrastructure area Mining-Related Activities The mining-related activities that will be carried out on the mining leases include: Access track and road construction; Quarrying of rock and gravel; Dam construction; Clearing of vegetation; Topsoil stripping and stockpiling; Overburden removal by front-end loader and truck; South of Embley Page 16

23 Bauxite mining by front-end loader or excavator, and haulage by truck; Rehabilitation; Bauxite crushing and sizing; Beneficiation plant operation; Transport of bauxite by conveyor; Stacking and reclaiming product bauxite from a stockpile; Loading ships and operating a port; Dredging; Operation of barge and ferry; Disposal of bauxite tailings; Stockpiling of oversize bauxite; Disposal of overburden; Operation of diesel-fuelled power station; Water management system operation; Borefield operation; Haul-road watering; Sewage treatment plant operation; Operation of potable water treatment plant; Operation of construction workforce accommodation; Temporary storage of general and regulated wastes; Heavy equipment workshop and service bay; Fixed-plant workshop; Operation of warehouse; Diesel, oil and other hydrocarbon storage; Lube-truck operation; Chemical storage; Heavy equipment and light vehicle refuelling; Heavy vehicle and light vehicle wash-down areas; Tyre store and change bay; Offices and crib room; and Emergency service centre. The Boyd and Norman Creek infrastructure areas are linked by a 15km infrastructure corridor, approximately 64m wide. The corridor contains an overland conveyor, access road, transmission line, water supply pipeline, and telecommunications. A second, 16km-long, 50m-wide corridor links the Norman Creek infrastructure area with the pumping station on the Ward River and provides space for an access road, transmission line and water supply pipeline (see Figure 1). Notifiable Activities are activities defined in Schedule 3 of the EP Act. The Notifiable Activities that will occur in the Project area are shown in Table 2-2. South of Embley Page 17

24 Table 2-2 Notifiable Activities Notifiable Activity Description Location 14 Engine reconditioning works Boyd infrastructure area Norman Creek infrastructure area 25 Mineral processing Boyd beneficiation plant Norman Creek beneficiation plant 29 Petroleum product or oil storage: b)(iii) petroleum products that are combustible liquids in class Cl or C2 in AS 1940:2004 The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids more than 25,000L capacity Boyd infrastructure area Norman Creek infrastructure area 37 Waste storage, treatment or disposal Temporary storage of regulated waste in mining infrastructure areas and Boyd and Norman Creek infrastructure areas (e.g. batteries, tyres, waste oil). South of Embley Page 18

25 3 ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES, POTENTIAL IMPACTS, COMMITMENTS, PROPOSED DRAFT CONDITIONS AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION 3.1 Content of the Section This document has been designed incorporating the framework for drafting an Environmental Management Overview Strategy (EMOS), as outlined in the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency's "Guideline 8 Preparing an Environmental Overview Strategy (EMOS) for Non-Standard Mining Projects". This document has been prepared in accordance with the following stages: Identify the Environmental Value to be protected. Identify and develop the Objectives in order to minimise impacts on the environmental values. 1 Develop Commitments, including performance criteria, implementation strategies and monitoring, to achieve compliance with the objectives. Develop Proposed Environmental Authority conditions to be included in the Environmental Authority for the Project. The guiding definitions for the terms used throughout this EM Plan are: Environmental values: those qualities or physical characteristics of the environment conducive to ecological health, public amenity or safety. Section 9 of the EP Act describes an "environmental value" as: (a) (b) "a quality or physical characteristic of the environment that is conducive to ecological health or public amenity or safety; or another quality of the environment identified and declared to be an environmental value under an environmental protection policy or regulation." Objectives: Describes the key elements of the environment and the outcomes to be protected in order to minimise impacts on the environmental values. Commitments: Defines the performance criteria and describes the implementation strategies (including technological and design elements together with management plans and strategies), and monitoring proposed to be undertaken to meet the objectives and achieve the performance criteria. Proposed environmental authority conditions: Draft conditions containing measurable indicators and standards proposed to be included in the environmental authority to protect identified environmental values that may be affected by the Project. Indicators: The indicators by which the level of achievement of the environmental protection objectives can be determined, in a measurable and auditable way. Performance criteria: Numerical standards or measurable outcomes for each of the indicators by which adequate levels of achievement of the environmental protection objectives and protection of the environmental values can be determined. South of Embley Page 19