amendment notice 1 - der.wa.gov.au · licence: l9000/2016/1 2 definitions and interpretation...
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Licence: L9000/2016/1 1
Licence Number L9000/2016/1
Licence Holder Gruyere Management Pty Limited
ACN 615728795
File Number: DER2016/001956
Premises Gruyere Gold Project Wastewater Treatment Plant LAVERTON WA 6440
Mining Tenements L38/254, L38/255 and M38/1267
As shown in Schedule 1
Date of Amendment 19 October 2017
Amendment
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) has amended the above Licence in accordance with section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 as set out in this Amendment Notice. This Amendment Notice constitutes written notice of the amendment in accordance with section 59B(9) of the EP Act.
Date signed: 19 October 2017
Stephen Checker MANAGER LICENSING (WASTE INDUSTRIES)
an officer delegated under section 20 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA)
Amendment Notice 1
Licence: L9000/2016/1 2
Definitions and interpretation
Definitions
In this Amendment Notice, the terms in Table 1 have the meanings defined.
Table 1: Definitions
Term Definition
AACR Annual Audit Compliance Report
ABN Australian Business Number
AER Annual Environment Report
Category/ Categories/ Cat.
categories of Prescribed Premises as set out in Schedule 1 of the EP Regulations
CEO means Chief Executive Officer.
CEO for the purposes of notification means:
Director General Department Administering the Environmental Protection Act 1986 Locked Bag 33 Cloisters Square PERTH WA 6850 [email protected]
CS Act Contaminated Sites Act 2003 (WA)
Decision Report refers to this document
Delegated Officer an officer under section 20 of the EP Act
Department means the department established under section 35 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 and designated as responsible for the administration of Part V, Division 3 of the EP Act.
DWER Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
EPA Environmental Protection Authority
EP Act Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA)
EP Regulations Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 (WA)
Existing Licence The Licence issued under Part V, Division 3 of the EP Act and in force prior to the commencement of and during this Review
Licence Holder refers to the occupier of the premises being the person to whom this Licence has been granted, as specified at the front of this Licence.
mᶟ cubic metres
Licence: L9000/2016/1 3
Minister the Minister responsible for the EP Act and associated regulations
Occupier has the same meaning given to that term under the EP Act.
Prescribed Premises has the same meaning given to that term under the EP Act.
Premises refers to the premises to which this Decision Report applies, as specified at the front of this Decision Report.
Risk Event as described in Guidance Statement: Risk Assessment
UDR Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharges) Regulations 2004 (WA)
Licence: L9000/2016/1 4
Amendment Notice
This amendment is made pursuant to section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) to amend the Licence issued under the EP Act for a prescribed premises as set out below. This notice of amendment is given under section 59B (9) of the EP Act.
This notice is limited only to an amendment for the inclusion of Category 64 activity to allow for the acceptance of Class II Putrescible waste. No changes to the aspects of the original Licence relating to Category 54 have been requested by the Licence Holder.
The following guidance statements have informed the decision made on this amendment:
Guidance Statement: Regulatory Principles (July 2015)
Guidance Statement: Setting Conditions (October 2015)
Guidance Statement: Land Use Planning (February 2017)
Guidance Statement: Licence Duration (August 2016)
Guidance Statement: Decision Making (November 2016)
Guidance Statement: Risk Assessment (November 2016)
Guidance Statement: Environmental Siting (November 2016)
Amendment description
L9000/2016/1 was issued on 4 August 2017 for the operation of a sewage treatment facility (Category 54) with a design capacity of 200 m3/day to service an accommodation village of 300 rooms. The Accommodation Village is directly associated with the implementation of the Gruyere Gold Project proposal and is located within mining lease L38/254 and L38/255.
The Gruyere Gold Project is greenfields gold deposit in the Yamarna greenstone belt of Western Australia and is owned by Gold Management Pty Ltd (Gold Road). The Yamarna greenstone belt is a newly discovered gold region covering approximately 5,000 km2 on the eastern side of the Yilgarn Craton. The Gruyere Gold Project is located approximately 200 km northeast of Laverton in Western Australia. Gold Road aims to develop an open pit mining operation to extract and process gold from the Gruyere deposit, with ore being processed on site. Construction of support infrastructure will be necessary to allow development and operation of the Gruyere Gold Project.
Mining activities for the Gruyere Gold Project are located on mining lease M38/1267. Works Approval W6002/2016/1 was issued on 14 February 2017 for the following Prescribed Premises Categories:
Category 5- Processing or beneficiation of metallic or non-metallic ore: premises on which —
(a) metallic or non-metallic ore is crushed, ground, milled or otherwise processed; or
(b) tailings from metallic or non-metallic ore are reprocessed; or
(c) tailings or residue from metallic or non-metallic ore are discharged into a containment cell or dam
Category 52- Electric power generation: premises (other than premises within category 53 or an emergency or standby power generating plant) on which electrical power is generated using a fuel
Category 64- Class II putrescible landfill site: premises on which waste (as determined by reference to the waste type set out in the document entitled “Landfill Waste
Licence: L9000/2016/1 5
Classification and Waste Definitions 1996” published by the Chief Executive Officer and as amended from time to time) is accepted for burial
Category 73- Bulk storage of chemicals etc.: premises on which acids, alkalis or chemicals that-
(a) contain at least one carbon to carbon bond; and
(b) are liquid at STP (standard temperature and pressure),
are stored
Category 85- Sewage facility: premises –
(a) on which sewage is treated (excluding septic tanks); or
(b) from which treated sewage is discharged onto land or into waters
A licence amendment application was submitted to the Department of Environment Regulation (DWER) on 4 September 2017 requesting for the inclusion of the Category 64, Class II putrescible and inert waste landfill, constructed and commissioned in accordance with Works Approval W6002/2016/1 to the Licence (L9000/2016/1).
Category 64 – Class II putrescible landfill site
Information provided with the application details that all putrescible and inert waste type 1 (bricks and concrete) will be disposed at the landfill in accordance with the Landfill Waste Classification and Waste Definitions, 1996. The maximum throughput of the landfill is 1,400 tonnes per annum.
The trench designed unlined landfill, consisting of multiple cells (each cell approximately 30m long by 10m wide by 4m deep) created within a larger landfill area (250 X 150m). The trench also incorporates a ramp down where waste will be deposited and then compacted prior to more waste being deposited. Each cell is surrounded by an earthen bund of approximately 1m in height to prevent surface water runoff entering the cell. A firebreak of at least 3m will be maintained around the perimeter of the facility as per the Rural Landfill Regulations 2002.
The Licence Holder has also provided a boundary map showing mining lease L38/254, L38/255 and M38/1267 within the same boundary.
The proposed amendment of the Licence L9000/2016/1 is made by the Delegated Officer pursuant to section 59(1) (a) of the EP Act.
Table 2 below outlines the proposed changes to the Licence.
Table 2: Proposed changes
Category Current throughput capacity Proposed throughput capacity
Description of proposed amendment
64 NA Less than 1400 tonnes per year
Addition of category 64 onto the Licence (L9000/2016/1)
The schedule 1 premises map has been updated to reflect the new premises boundary.
Other approvals
Gruyere Management Pty Ltd advised DWER on 10 October 2017 no other approval for the proposed amendment is not required.
Licence: L9000/2016/1 6
Amendment history
Table 4 provides the amendment history for L9000/2016/1.
Table 4: Licence amendments
Instrument Issued Amendment
L9000/2016/1 19/10/2017 Amendment Notice 1- inclusion of category 64 to the Licence
Location and receptors
Table 5 below lists the relevant sensitive land uses in the vicinity of the Prescribed Premises which may be receptors relevant to the proposed amendment.
Table 5: Residential receptors and distance from activity boundary
Residential and sensitive premises Distance from Prescribed Premises
The closest community is Cosmo Newberry Aboriginal Community
Located approximately 80 km northwest from the Gruyere Gold Project site
The town site of Laverton Is located approximately 160 km southwest of the Gruyere Gold Project site
Table 6 below lists the relevant environmental receptors in the vicinity of the Prescribed Premises which may be receptors relevant to the proposed amendment.
Table 6: Environmental receptors and distance from activity boundary
Environmental receptors Distance from Prescribed Premises
The nearest aquifer of significance is the Yeo Palaeochannel
Located approximately 25 km to the west of Gruyere Gold Project site
Risk assessment
Table 7 below describes the Risk Events associated with the amendment consistent with the Guidance Statement: Risk Assessments. The table identifies whether the emissions present a material risk to public health or the environment, requiring regulatory controls.
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Table 7: Risk assessment for proposed amendments during operation
Risk Event
Consequence rating
Likelihood rating
Risk Reasoning Source/Activities
Potential emissions
Potential receptors
Potential pathway
Potential adverse impacts
Category 64 – Class II putrescible landfill site
Active Trench/Cell -Acceptance and disposal of all putrescible and inert waste type 1 (bricks and concrete)
Dust: from moving vehicles associated to the acceptance and disposal of liquid waste
Residential sensitive receptors: The closest sensitive residential receptor is Cosmo Newberry Aboriginal Community located approximately 80km from the site.
None Elevated particulates (PM10 and PM2.5) can impact health and amenity of sensitive receptors
NA NA NA Fugitive dust emissions from vehicle movement on site when disposing waste into the trench are not expected to reach sensitive premises. The nearest sensitive residential receptor is situated approximately 80 km from the site. The Delegated Officer also considers that the provisions of Section 49 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 are sufficient to regulate dust emissions during operation; therefore the risk is considered low and does not require any further regulatory controls.
Odour: from waste accepted and disposed onsite
Residential sensitive receptors: The closest sensitive residential receptor is Cosmo Newberry Aboriginal Community located approximately 80km from the site.
None Amenity Impacts
NA NA NA The Delegated Officer considers that the risk of odour impacting sensitive receptors is not foreseeable. Provisions of Section 49 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 are sufficient to regulate odour emissions during operation;
Leachate: Unlined trench
Sensitive receptors Depth to groundwater is approximately 60m below ground,
Overland flow and seepage through soil
Contamination of groundwater and contamination of soil.
Slight Unlikely Low The Delegated Officer considers that Groundwater is located at an average depth of 65 m below ground level and storm water on site will be adequately managed (each cell is surrounded by an earthen bund of approximately 1m in height to prevent surface water runoff entering the cell)
Licence: L9000/2016/1 8
so that it is diverted from the disposal area, therefore the risk is considered low and does not require any further regulatory controls.
Nosie: associated with acceptance and disposal of waste
Residential sensitive receptors: The closest sensitive residential receptor is Cosmo Newberry Aboriginal Community located approximately 80km from the site.
None Amenity to nearby noise sensitive receptors
NA NA NA Noise emissions from vehicle movement on site when disposing waste into the trench are not expected to reach sensitive premises. The nearest sensitive residential receptor is situated approximately 80 km from the site. The Delegated Officer also considers that the Licence Holder has an ongoing requirement to comply with the Prescribed standard for noise emissions, as set out in the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulation 1997.
Licence: L9000/2016/1 9
Decision
The Delegated Officer has determined that an amendment be made to the Licence conditions to allow for the inclusion of Category 64 activity with a production design capacity of 1,400 tonnes per annual period. This is to allow for the disposal of putrescible and inert waste type 1 delivered to the premises for burial. The inert material will comprise of bricks and concrete waste only.
The notice incorporates the following amendments:
Prescribed premises details and address on the licence cover page updated to include Category 64 activity and mining lease M38/1267;
Including Class II waste in the authorised Emissions Table 2;
Updating Table 3 relating to Infrastructure and equipment controls to include operational and cover requirements for the Class II landfill;
Updating table 4 which relates to type and volumes of waste that can be accepted on site;
Updating Table 5 to include monitoring of incoming putrescible and inert waste type 1;
The schedule 1 premises map has been updated to reflect the new premises boundary for the site. The premises address has changed also and now includes mining lease L38/254, L38/255 and M38/1267.
No other changes are required on the licence. The Delegated Officer considers the amended condition as appropriate and in line with other premises as assessed across the State, and in accordance with DWER’s regulatory approach. The Delegated Officer does not consider that this amendment will impact the risk profile of the premises, which is currently considered as Moderate.
Licence Holder’s comments
The Licence Holder was provided with the draft Amendment Notice on 13 October 2017. The Licence Holder responded on 17 October 2017 waiving the remaining comment period.
Licence: L9000/2016/1 10
Amendment
1. The Prescribed premises and address on the cover page of the Licence has been amended by the insertion of the red text shown in underline below:
Prescribed Premises: Category 54- Sewage facility;
Category 64: Class II putrescible landfill site
Premises:
Gruyere Gold Project Wastewater Treatment Plant
LAVERTON WA 6440
Mining Tenements L38/254, L38/255 and M38/1267
As shown in Schedule 1
2. Licence condition 1 (Table 2) is amended by the insertion of the red text in underline below:
“1. The Licence Holder must not cause any Emissions from the Primary Activities on the Premises except for specified Emissions and general Emissions described in Column 1 of Table 2 subject to the exclusions, limitations or requirements specified in Column 2 of Table 2”.
Column 1 Column 2
Emission type Exclusions/Limitations/Requirements
Specified Emissions
Treated wastewater from the Premises discharged to the L1-Spray Field (as shown in Schedule 1)
Subject to compliance with Conditions 2 to 11
Class II waste (putrescible and inert waste type 1)
To be disposed to the fenced landfill as shown in Schedule 1 map.
General Emissions (excluding Specified Emissions)
Emissions which arise from the Primary Activities set out in Schedule 2
Emissions excluded from General Emissions are:
Unreasonable Emissions; or
Emissions that result in, or are likely to result in, Pollution, Material Environmental Harm or Serious Environmental Harm; or
Discharges of Waste in circumstances likely to cause Pollution; or
Emissions that result, or are likely to result in, the Discharge or abandonment of Waste in water to
Licence: L9000/2016/1 11
Column 1 Column 2
Emission type Exclusions/Limitations/Requirements
which the public has access; or
Emissions or Discharges which do not comply with an Approved Policy; or
Emissions or Discharges which do not comply with a prescribed standard; or
Emissions or Discharges which do not comply with the conditions in an Implementation Agreement or Decision; or
Emissions or Discharges the subject of offences under regulations prescribed under the EP Act, including materials discharged under the Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharges) Regulations 2004.
1. Licence condition 2 (Table 3) is amended by the insertion of the red text in underline
below:
Column 1 Column 2
Site infrastructure and equipment
Operational requirements
1) All The following operational requirements apply: (a) All sewage and treated wastewater storage and
treatment tanks, transfer pipelines and conveyance infrastructure must be impermeable and free of leaks or defects; and
(b) Storm-water conveyance infrastructure must not direct storm-water into any sewage and treated wastewater storage and treatment tanks, transfer pipelines and conveyance infrastructure.
2) Sewage treatment system
The sewage treatment system must operate to the following specifications:
(a) all above ground infrastructure located on a hardstand;
(b) have the capacity to determine if seepage or containment failure from below ground infrastructure is occurring;
(c) be able to receive and treat a sewage inflow of up to 200 m3/ day;
(d) direct all treated wastewater to the treated effluent
Licence: L9000/2016/1 12
Column 1 Column 2
Site infrastructure and equipment
Operational requirements
storage tank;
(e) be capable of treating sewage to the following standards:
(i) treated wastewater outflow ≤200 m3/ day;
(ii) biochemical oxygen demand<20 mg/L;
(iii) Escherichia coli <10 cfu/ 100 mL (iv) pH ≥6.5 - ≤8.5 (range) (v) total nitrogen <40 mg/L; (vi) total phosphorus <5 mg/L; (vii) total suspended solids <30 mg/L; and (viii) free chlorine 0.2 – 2 mg/L
(f) have a sewage flow balance tank that has:
(i) a storage capacity of 200 m3; and (ii) two transfer pumps (duty and standby)
(g) have a clarification tank, residual chlorination system capable of handling a sewage inflow of 200 m3/day;
(h) ensure all chemicals used in the wastewater treatment process including MAK-SAL wastewater coagulant, MAK-SCR external carbon source and sodium hypochlorite are stored separately within an above ground vessel enclosed by bunds with a holding capacity of 110% of the total vessel contents;
(i) ensure chemicals are stored in accordance with Australian Standard AS3780;
(j) have a waste activated sludge storage tank enclosed by bunds with a holding capacity of 110% of the total tank contents; and
(k) return leachate back to the balance tank.
3) Irrigation system and irrigation area
The irrigation system and irrigation area must operate to meet the following specification: (a) consist of not less than 2 hectare irrigation area; (b) be enclosed by a contiguous secure fence which
includes an internal 50 meter buffer to the irrigation area; (c) the surface level of the irrigation area must be at least
0.7 m above the highest seasonal groundwater level. (d) bunding surrounding the irrigation area preventing
surface run off leaving the boundary of the fenced irrigation area;
(e) have monitoring devices that provide representative data on the whole wastewater application area for: (i) soil moisture levels at a depth of 40-50 cm BGL; (ii) groundwater separation distances; and (iii) irrigation application rates.
(f) have an automated weather station capable of
Licence: L9000/2016/1 13
Column 1 Column 2
Site infrastructure and equipment
Operational requirements
monitoring wind direction, wind speed, temperature, humidity and rainfall;
(g) be able to automatically control and cease irrigation based on the following parameters: (i) wind speed (m/sec); (ii) relative humidity (%); (iii) rainfall (mm/ hour); and (iv) soil moisture levels (%v/v) at a depth of 40-50 cm
BG.
Landfill fence, signage To be maintained. Sign to be legible.
Landfill trench 250m x 150m landfill area;
Each cell will be approximately 30m long x 10m wide x 4m deep, surrounded by an earthen bund of 1m in height at surface level;
Tip face to not exceed 30m in length and incorporates a ramp down where waste will be deposited;
Firebreak of at least 3m in width around the boundary of the facility.
Waste to be covered at least weekly with 300mm of soil or clean fill.
2. Licence condition 3 (Table 4) is amended by the insertion of the red text in underline
below:
“3. The Licence Holder shall only accept waste on to the premises if:
(a) it is of a type listed in Table 4; (b) it meets any specification listed in Table 4.”
Table 4: Waste acceptance
Waste type Waste Code Quantity Specification1
Sewage- waste from the reticulated sewerage system and other minor volumes transported by truck as an infrequent contingency
K130 200 m3/day cumulative volume
Limited to waste generated onsite. Accepted through sewer inflow(s) and liquid waste trucks
Putrescible Waste
NA 1400 tonnes per annual period
Must meet the acceptance criteria for Class II landfills
Inert Waste Type 1 NA Bricks and concrete
3. Licence condition 6 (Table 5) is amended by the insertion of the red text in underline
Licence: L9000/2016/1 14
below:
6. The Licence Holder must monitor and record the volumes of incoming and outgoing Waste and outgoing Products at the Premises for the parameter stipulated in column 1 of Table 1, using the units specified in column 2 of Table 5 at the frequency specified in column 3 of Table 5.
Table 5: Monitoring of inputs
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
Parameter Units Frequency
Waste Inputs –
Sewage
m3 Continuous
Putrescible waste Tonnes Incoming load
Inert Waste Type 1 Tonnes Incoming load
4. The Licence is amended by replacing the Premises map in Schedule 1 with the Premises
map shown below:
Schedule 1: Maps Premises map The Premises is shown in the map below. The black line depicts the Premises boundary.
Licence: L9000/2016/1 16
Appendix 1: Key documents
Document title In text ref Availability
1 Licence L9000/2016/1 – Gruyere Gold
Project L9000/2016/1
accessed at www.dwer.wa.gov.au
2 Licence amendment application L9000/2016/1 DWER records (A1517368)
5 DER, July 2015. Guidance Statement:
Regulatory principles. Department of
Environment Regulation, Perth.
DER 2015a
accessed at www.dwer.wa.gov.au
6 DER, October 2015. Guidance Statement: Setting conditions. Department of Environment Regulation, Perth.
DER 2015b
7 DER, August 2016. Guidance
Statement: Licence duration.
Department of Environment
Regulation, Perth.
DER 2016a
8 DER, November 2016. Guidance
Statement: Risk Assessments.
Department of Environment
Regulation, Perth.
DER 2016b
9 DER, November 2016. Guidance Statement: Decision Making. Department of Environment Regulation, Perth.
DER 2016c