ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Transcription

1 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PERTH AIRPORT IS COMMITTED TO EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF THE AIRPORT ESTATE. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IS THE JOINT RESPONSIBILITY OF PERTH AIRPORT, AIRLINE OPERATORS, BUSINESS PARTNERS, TENANTS, CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTANTS.

2 1 AIR MANAGEMENT Air management encompasses: dust, particulates, odour, and gaseous emissions. Aircraft emissions are regulated by the Commonwealth Government under the Air Navigation (Aircraft Engine Emissions) Regulations 1995, and aircraft operators are accountable for ensuring that they comply with these regulations. Tenants with the potential to impact local air quality must undertake point-of-source monitoring of stack emissions. They are also required to operate in accordance with the Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 1997 (The Regulations), their Operational Environmental Management Plans (OEMPs) and, if applicable, their Major Development Plan (MDP). Air emissions monitoring reports are submitted to Perth Airport annually to demonstrate compliance with the Commonwealth Regulations and other relevant criteria. AIRSHED AIR QUALITY Perth Airport refers to ambient air quality monitoring undertaken by the Department of Environment Regulation (DER), situated in Caversham, within 10km of the airport estate. Air emissions from non-aeronautical activities, such as the generation of electricity, are monitored and reported as required to the relevant government agencies. The Caversham airshed also comprises heavy industry, commercial activities, major arterial roads and residential areas. It is subject to the inland progression of air pollutants including carbon monoxide, particulate matter and photochemical smog (ozone) that originates from Perth city. This becomes more pronounced in summer under certain weather conditions and is identified as a likely contributor to peaks in air pollutant concentrations. NATIONAL POLLUTANT INVENTORY A number of National Environment Protection Measures (NEPMs), produced by the National Environment Protection Council (NEPC), are directly relevant to Perth Airport. One of these is the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) NEPM. Perth Airport reports annually on emissions as part of the NPI reporting requirements and assesses whether reporting is required under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS). This reporting excludes tenant emissions.

3 2 GROUND-BASED NOISE MANAGEMENT Perth Airport operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is an integral part of the public transport infrastructure network in Western Australia. Perth Airport has direct control only over the management of ground-based aircraft noise. While the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is responsible for the administration and regulation of Australian-administered airspace under the Airspace Act 2007, Airservices Australia is the agency responsible for managing the airspace around Perth. This includes the design of flight paths and the management of noise generated from aircraft during flight, take-off and/or taxiing. AIRCRAFT ENGINE GROUND RUNNING MANAGEMENT PLAN An essential safety measure, following maintenance of aircraft, is to perform engine testing, known as engine ground running. Perth Airport acknowledges that engine ground running can contribute significantly to the overall noise created at an airport and, as a result, has developed an Engine Ground Running Management Plan. The management plan places restrictions on the time, location and maximum power setting for engine ground runs. Aircraft operators must seek approval from Perth Airport if a proposed engine run cannot be conducted in accordance with the endorsed parameters for time, power and location of ground running as outlined in the Engine Ground Running Management Plan.

4 3 WATER MANAGEMENT Perth Airport (including its tenants and other users on the airport estate) is a large consumer of water in the metropolitan area. As a result, Perth Airport and those users located on the airport estate, use scheme water, groundwater abstraction, and more recently, Terminal 2 (T2) uses harvested rainwater to supplement its water supply for its operations. WATER MONITORING PROGRAM The groundwater beneath the airport estate sits at a shallow depth (surface to four metres below ground level) as an unconfined water table within the highly permeable sands of the Bassendean Dunes; and as a semi-confined aquifer in the Guildford Formation. Ground water flows in a north-westerly direction across the airport estate. Surface water features are interspersed across the airport estate in the forms of wetlands the Southern Main Drain (SMD) and the Northern Main Drain (NMD). The main drains generally flow in an east-towest direction, discharging into the Swan River, and have been constructed as extensions and modifications to naturally occurring water bodies. Ground water abstraction and use is monitored across the airport estate in accordance with The Regulations. Perth Airport implemented a comprehensive water monitoring program in 1998, and this continues to provide useful data on surface water and groundwater levels and quality. Monitoring of numerous groundwater and surface water sites across the airport estate is undertaken quarterly. The collection of samples is performed by trained staff in accordance with all legal requirements, and these samples are then analysed by a National Association of Testing Authorities Australia (NATA) registered laboratory. Results are assessed against criteria outlined in Schedule 2 of The Regulations to determine water quality and the extent of any potential contamination. Data collected is reported to the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development (DoIRD) on a quarterly basis and informs project management on the airport estate regarding environmental values, and the development of water quality and storage initiatives on and off the airport estate.

5 4 SOIL MANAGEMENT The Perth Airport estate is located on the Bassendean Dunes and Guildford Formations of the Swan Coastal Plain. The sand of the Bassendean Dunes extends to a depth of approximately five metres and is underlain by clays and clay-like sands of the Guildford Formation. CONTAMINATION Investigations to date indicate that the majority of the soil on the airport estate is uncontaminated, however there have been isolated instances of contamination as a result of landfill, aviation, fuel storage and industrial activities. A number of these sites require active management to ensure impacts are minimised. Measures have been put in place to prevent contamination of soil and may include: auditing and inspections, training in risk identification and Perth Aiport s OSH Management System, compliance with AS1940 in Design, Environmental Management System (EMS), spill response procedures, compliance with Dangerous Goods Storage requirements, the implementation of Standard Work Procedures (SWPs), Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMPs), Operational Environmental Management Plan (OEMPs), and the control of fill relocation and importation on the airport estate. Detailed information on specific sites, management responses and progress is provided in Perth Airport s Annual Environment Report (AER). To ensure compliance with The Regulations Perth Airport: maintains an Environment Site Register, collaborates with the DoIRD, the Airport Environment Officer (AEO) and tenants in investigation, management and remediation of known contaminated sites, and monitors and reports annually on all known and suspected sites of soil contamination. Site environmental management is addressed in sub-leases between Perth Airport and tenants. Site operations must be undertaken in accordance with the sub-lease, The Regulations and Perth Airport s AER. Monitoring data and trends are also presented annually in the AER. ACID SULFATE SOILS As a result of the proximity of the groundwater table to the surface, the presence of wetlands and the number of ground-disturbing developments (both current and upcoming), acid sulphate soils are an inherent risk on the airport estate. Disturbance to acid sulphate soil material can cause acidification of the environment and mobilisation of heavy metals. Prior to any ground-disturbing works being undertaken, Perth Airport uses an acid sulphate soil risk map-produced in association with Bulletin 64 by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) as a tool to assess whether acid sulphate soil is a risk in any proposed work area. WAPC mapping indicates that the airport estate predominantly poses a moderate to low risk of acid sulphate soils occurring, however, small areas of high to moderate risk are located in low-lying wetlands and dune swales. Where there is a likely risk of acid sulphate disturbance, an acid sulphate soil investigation will be conducted by trained staff and, where applicable, an Acid Sulphate Soil Management Plan is implemented.

6 5 BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT The Perth Airport estate is situated on the Swan Coastal Plain at the base of the Darling Escarpment. The airport estate is dissected by drainage channels that are aligned and flow in a north-westerly direction, discharging into the Swan River which, at its closest point, is 500 metres from the boundary of the airport estate. The natural environment of the airport estate has been significantly disturbed by historic uses, however areas of the vegetation remain intact, albeit in variable condition. Perth Airport is situated within the Drummond Botanical Subdistrict, which is located within the Swan Coastal Plain Subregion reflecting the variable geology of the site. Vegetation associations present on the airport estate include the Southern River Complex, Guildford Complex and Bassendean Complex. The airport estate supports a diverse range of vertebrate and invertebrate fauna. Numerous fauna surveys have recorded more than 130 species of fauna comprising fish, frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals. Wetlands present on the airport estate vary from ephemeral to perennial, natural to artificial, and groundwater fed to surface water fed. Munday Swamp, is approximately 20 hectares, and is the largest of the wetlands located on the airport estate. This wetland provides a permanent water source for an array of fauna. Wetlands to the west of Munday Swamp are classified as sumplands and experience seasonal inundation. Other wetlands on the airport estate include Runway Swamp and the Kwenda Marlark Wetland, which is located to the south. Perth Airport undertakes land management activities such as weed control, dieback treatment, feral animal control and revegetation to maintain environmental values present on the airport estate. Any proposed development on the airport estate that has the potential to impact environmental values will be subject to statutory approvals processes, including the Commonwealth Government s offset policy, to ensure net environmental benefit to the State of Western Australia.

7 6 AIRPORT ESTATE MANAGEMENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT Perth Airport assesses projects for potential environmental impact. Following assessment, conditions may be placed on a particular project to manage the potential environmental impact. A typical condition of approval may require the submission of a project specific Construction Environmental Management Plan, subject to an audit. Specific projects may also require additional plans and investigations relating to acid sulfate soil contamination, noise and/or dewatering. TENANT ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT The Airports Act 1996 and Airport Environmental Protection Regulations 1997 require that Perth Airport protects the environmental values of the airport estate. As Perth Airport subleases land to tenants, processes exist to ensure that Perth Airport s environmental obligations are upheld by tenants. Tenants whose operations pose a risk to the environment are required to submit an Operational Environmental Management Plan (OEMP) to Perth Airport prior to commencing operations. In some cases, environmental monitoring, such as groundwater monitoring, may need to be undertaken as a component of the tenant s environmental management. Tenants report annually on their environmental performance, and audits of tenant environmental performance against OEMPs are conducted by Perth Airport at pre-determined intervals in response to any identified environmental risk(s). Where tenant operations pose a risk of emitting noise in excess of criteria outlined in The Regulations, the incorporation of noise minimisation strategies within an OEMP is required. Detailed noise modelling is undertaken to assess potential noise impacts, where necessary. OEMPs are subject to assessment by Perth Airport and are regularly reviewed by operators to maintain their currency.

8 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT Perth Airport operations require the storage, handling and use of a variety of hazardous materials and chemicals. The most significant hazardous material stored and used on the airport estate is aviation fuel. Two fuel distribution depots are located on the estate: The Joint Oil Supply Facility (JOSF), located in proximity to Terminal 3, Terminal 4 and the General Aviation areas, and The Joint User Hydrant Installation (JUHI), which is located in the International precinct near Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Other activities undertaken on the airport estate involving the use of hazardous materials include: maintenance of tenant facilities, fire-fighting, construction activities, and storage and use of fuels (other than aviation fuels), oils and other materials such as solvents, paints, pesticides and herbicides. Incorrect use, handling or transport of hazardous materials and chemicals can have a negative impact on the environment and human health. Regulatory tools, such as The Regulations, Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004, and other requirements are in place to assist with the management of hazardous materials and other chemicals on the airport estate. PERTH AIRPORT PTY LTD Level 2, 2 George Wiencke Drive, Perth Airport, Western Australia 6105 PO Box 6, Cloverdale, Western Australia 6985 Telephone Fax perthairport.com.au WAC /12/14