shine iron ore project - der.wa.gov.au

Works Approval Application

Shine Iron Ore Project

Processing or beneficiation of metallic or non-metallic ore

Works Approval

Mount Gibson Mining Limited

September 2020

Document No.:


Prepared for

Department of Water & Environmental Regulation

8 Davidson Terrace

JOONDALUP

Western Australia 6027

September 2020


Table of Contents 1.0 Premises Details 6

1.1 Occupier of the Premises 6 1.2 Name and Location Details of the Premises 6 1.3 Legal Land Description 6 1.4 Prescribed Premise Category 6

2.0 Description of Activity 10 2.1 Project Overview 10 2.2 Outline of Prescribed Activities 10 2.3 Crushing and Screening Plant 10

2.3.1 Summary of Environmental Controls within the Prescribed Premises 10 2.3.2 Major Infrastructure 11

2.4 Fuel Farm and Workshops 11 2.4.1 Summary of Environmental Controls within the Prescribed Premises 11

3.0 Other Approvals 17 3.1 Part IV Environmental Protection Act 1986 17 3.2 Part V Environmental Protection Act 1986 17 3.3 Other Decision Making Authorities 17 3.4 Other Legislation and Guidance Material 18

4.0 Existing Environment 19 4.1 Climate 19 4.2 Topography 19 4.3 Soil Quality, Stability and Land Systems 19

4.3.1 Soils 19 4.3.2 Land Systems 20

4.4 Surface Water 20 4.5 Groundwater 20 4.6 Air Quality 20 4.7 Vegetation 21

4.7.1 Vegetation Associations 21 4.7.2 Floristic Community Types 21

4.8 Fauna 22 4.9 Aboriginal Heritage Sites 22 4.10 Potentially Sensitive Receptors 22

5.0 Assessment of Environmental Risks from Emissions and Discharges 25 5.1 Risk Identification 25 5.2 Risk Assessment 25

6.0 Environmental Objectives, Legislative Standards and Measurement Criteria 29 7.0 References 32

List of Tables

Table 1 Abbreviations

Table 2 Prescribed Premises Category from Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection Regulations

1987

Table 3 Environmental Approvals Schedule pertaining to the prescribed premises

Table 4 Vegetation Associations within SIOP (Department of Agriculture and Food Western

Australia, 2007)

Table 5 Summary of Floristic Community Types (FCT’s) impacted by plant (Woodman, 2012)

Table 6 Impacts of operating the crushing and screening plant under normal and abnormal operating

conditions

Table 7 Descriptors for Likelihood

Table 8 Descriptors for Consequence

Table 9 Risk matrix

Table 10 Risk Assessment

Table 11 Environmental Objectives, Legislative Standards and Measurement Criteria


List of Figures

Figure 1 Project Regional Location

Figure 2 Prescribed Premises Footprint

Figure 3 Process Plant Layout

Figure 4 Crushing and Screening Flowchart

Figure 5 ROM and Crushing and Screening Precinct

Figure 6 Fuel Farm Layout

Figure 7 Prescribed Premise Disturbance Footprint on Floristic Community Types


Table 1 Abbreviations

AHD Australian Height Datum

API Assessment on Proponent Information

AWS Automatic Weather Station

AS Australian Standard

BIF Banded iron Formation

BOM Bureau of Meteorology

DRF Declared Rare Flora

DAWE Department Agriculture, Water and the Environment

DBCA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

DWER Department of Water and Environmental Regulation

DMA Decision Making Authority

DMIRS Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety

EP Act Environmental Protection Act 1986

EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

EP Regs Environmental Protection Regulations 1987

EPA Environmental Protection Authority

FCT Floristic Community Type

IBRA Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia

GBG Gindalbie Metals Limited

OES Outback Ecology Services

RIWI Rights in Water Irrigation Act 1914

ROM Run of Mine

SIOP Shine Iron Ore Project

SMU Soil Mapping Units

SWL Standing Water Level

WAA Works Approval Application


Page | 6 MGM Works Approval Submission

1.0 Premises Details

1.1 Occupier of the Premises

Mount Gibson Mining Ltd (MGM)

Level 1, 2 Kings Park Road

West Perth, Western Australia 6005

ABN: 32 074 575 885

1.2 Name and Location Details of the Premises

Name:

Shine Iron Ore Project (SIOP) Crushing and Screening (C&S) Plant

Location:

The SIOP Crushing and Screening plant (‘prescribed premises’) is located within the Mid-West Region of

Western Australia, approximately 60 km south-east of Yalgoo (Figure 1). The SIOP is located within

three mining leases (M59/406, M59/421 and M59/731), of which MGM holds full iron ore rights. Minjar

Gold owns leases.

Description of the premises:

The Crusher will be fed from stockpiles on the ROM via a Front End Loader (FEL). Feed rate for plant will

be capped at seven hundred and fifty wet metric tonnes per hour (750 wmt/h). The primary crusher will be

a single toggle jaw crusher. Screening of primary crushed feed will produce a lump product (+6.4mm/-

32mm) and a fines product (+0mm/-6.3mm). All oversize material will go to a secondary cone crusher

with a Closed Side Setting. Feed from the secondary crusher will go to a final product screen producing a

final lump and fines product. Stockpiles of lump and fines products will be in the order 15,000 wmt each.

Works Approval:

A submission for a Works Approval (Crushing and Screening Plant) has previously been submitted by

MGM and approved by DWER in 2014 (W5670/2014/1). This approval has since lapsed given the project

being undeveloped and the site placed into care and maintenance under Mining Act provisions.

MGM is making the current submission without any substantive changes to the scope originally approved,

nor the environmental management requirements.

1.3 Legal Land Description

The prescribed premises will be located entirely on Mining Lease M59/406 and is depicted in Figure 2.

The prescribed premises is a subset of both the mining tenement and development envelope approved

by Statement 940.

1.4 Prescribed Premise Category

This Works Approval application (WAA) is for a ‘Prescribed Premises’ Category Number 5 and 73 under

Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 (Table 2).



Table 2 Prescribed Premises Categories from Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987

Category

Number

Category Description Category Production or Design

Capacity

Production or design capacity

5 Processing or beneficiation of

metallic or non-metallic ore 50, 000 tonnes or more per year Up to 3,000,000 tonnes per annum

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 standard

temperature and pressure

1,000 m3 in aggregate Up to 200,000 L per annum



Figure 1 Project Regional Location



Figure 2 Prescribed Premises Footprint



2.0 Description of Activity

2.1 Project Overview

The SIOP lies within the Shire of Yalgoo and is located within Badja Station, a pastoral lease owned and managed by Greg and Cindy Payne. The pastoral lease area is subject to mining tenements held by Minjar Gold, with full iron ore rights held by MGM. The mine site area is isolated with the closest town being Yalgoo, approximately 60 km northwest. The nearest residence is Badja Homestead, approximately 30 km to the northwest. SIOP is a project designed to produce at least 8.2 Mtpa of hematite iron ore resource, mined at a rate of up to 3 Mtpa from a surface pit that will result in a land disturbance area of approximately 200 ha. The project will require the mining of three small pits located within the SIOP disturbance footprint. The prescribed premise will be located within this footprint, on the Run of Mine (ROM) pad (Figure 2).

The life of SIOP will depend on the market demand for different grades and types of iron ore products.

The production rate for the operation will be up to 3 Mt of crushed hematite ore per annum. The likely life

of the operations, based on the current resource forecast and with a relatively slow supply rate to the

market, may be up to 6 years. Therefore, this works approval (and ultimately licence) is for the plant to be

operating for a period of up to 6 years, inclusive.

2.2 Outline of Prescribed Activities

This Works Approval Application has been submitted to cover the environmental approval of the following

prescribed premises, as per the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987:

• Processing or beneficiation of metallic or non-metallic ore (Category 5); and

• Bulk Storage of chemicals (Category 73).

The scope of the prescribed activity will include processing or beneficiation related activities that are

undertaken within the prescribed premises. This includes iron ore that is loaded into the plant, processed

through the crushing circuit, conveyed to final product stockpiles and minor supporting infrastructure such

as fuel and water that is required for the operation of the plant (Figure 3 and Figure 4). It does not include

transportation on access roads that are outside of the prescribed premises boundary and resident on

mining tenements and approved by a mining proposal.

2.3 Crushing and Screening Plant

The prescribed premise as described in this application is to crush and screen iron ore (generally hematite material) that will be extracted as part of SIOP. The plant will consist of a primary and secondary crushing circuit, product screening and lump and fines product stockpiles (Figure 3 and Figure 4).

2.3.1 Summary of Environmental Controls within the Prescribed Premises

The prescribed premises will incorporate a range of environmental controls within the processing system, including:

• Bunding of reagents to minimise the potential impacts on soil and groundwater resources;

• Stormwater controls to separate potentially contaminated stormwater from uncontaminated

stormwater;

• Dust suppression sprays on transfer points at conveyors and stockpiles; and

• Minimising light overspill.



The environmental risks and control measures are outlined in more detail in Section 5.

2.3.2 Major Infrastructure

2.3.2.1 Water Supply

Water for the prescribed premises will be sourced from licensed abstraction bores at the SIOP mine site.

MGM has a current licence (GWL179363) which allows up to 950,000 kL of water from abstraction bores

to be utilised for onsite activities as per the following assignments:

• Construction – 225,000 kL

• Operation – 250,000 kL annually

• Dust suppression and contingency – 475, 000 kL annually

As mining below the water table is not yet anticipated and produced water will be consumed on site, a

Works Approval and Licence under Part V of the EP Act Schedule 1, Category 6 (Mine Dewatering) will

not be required. Water from two production bores has been produced at site according to the GWL held

by MGM and in relation to an approved Groundwater Operating Strategy.

2.3.2.2 Power Supply and Requirements

During operation of the prescribed premises, power will be generated by on-site diesel generators. No

gas pipelines are available near site, making the use of diesel generators the most economically viable

option to supply power. Diesel generators will be located within a specified bunded area within the

prescribed premises.

2.4 Fuel Farm and Workshops

MGM propose to move the Fuel Farm (FF) currently licenced (DGS021414) and located at the MGM

Extension Hill site, to the Shine site. The farm is proposed to be located within the crushing and loadout

precinct (Figure 5). The FF comprises 2 tanks for storage of diesel (55, 000 L and 110, 000 L) and will be

fully bunded (Figure 6).

Hydrocarbons and assorted chemicals will also be appropriately stored in the workshop areas and any

potential contamination from spills managed through hydrocarbon collection and separation, bunding and

spill response controls.

2.4.1 Summary of Environmental Controls within the Prescribed Premises

A summary of environmental controls is contained within the Shine Site Work Instruction (SWI) for fuel

storage and includes the following:

• Site induction;

• Surface Water Management Procedure and Site Work Instruction;

• Site emergency procedure;

• Safety Eye Wash station

• Check suction points and hoes for leaks prior to discharge;

• Ignition sources must be at least 50 m away from both tanks;

• Traffic Management Plan;

• Two Way Radio;

• Appropriate PPE at all times (gloves, eye protection etc);

• Fully bunded area around the main fuel storage tanks to limit potential contamination from spills and

leaks

• Tyre bay, HV & LV workshop, wash down pad equipped with an appropriate oil separation system;



• Surface water drainage system designed to culminate in 2 x stormwater storage ponds located on the

southeast corner of the crushing precinct (Figure 5); and

• Appropriate signage within the FF and workshop areas.

The environmental risks and control measures are outlined in more detail in Section 5.


Page | 13 Doc Ref: 12217_4

Figure 3 Process layout for crushing and screening plant


Page | 14 Doc Ref: 12217_4

Figure 4 Project Crushing and Screening Flowchart

ROM PAD

ORE

STOCKPILE

PRIMARY

CRUSHER SCREEN FEED

CONVEYOR PRODUCT

SCREEN

SECONDARY CRUSHER

FEED CONVEYOR

SECONDARY

CRUSHER

LUMP

TRANSFER

CONVEYOR

FINES

TRANSFER

CONVEYORS

FINES

PRODUCT

STOCKPILE

LUMPS

PRODUCT

STOCKPILE

UNCRUSHED

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

SCREEN

LUMPS/FINES

BLEND


Page | 15 Doc Ref:

MGM Works Approval Application

Figure 5 ROM and crushing precinct


Page | 16 Doc Ref:


Figure 6 Fuel farm layout


Page | 17 Doc Ref:


3.0 Other Approvals

3.1 Part IV Environmental Protection Act 1986

The environmental impact assessment for SIOP was assessed at the level of Assessment on Proponent

Information (API) by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), with the report released in May 2013

(Report 1472). Gindalbie Metals Ltd (GML) received ministerial approval for the project on 25 June 2013

(Ministerial Statement No. 940) and MGM acquired the project from Gindalbie Metals Limited in March

2014 and subsequently advised the EPA of the change to proponency.

Since this time, MGM have submitted a s45C amendment (reduction to development area from 646 ha to

595 ha given excision of land for Minjar Gold tailings dam extension) and a new Ministerial Statement

released (MS 1132) which also amended the time authorisation limit until June 2023.

The ministerial statement did not include any conditions directly relating to factor or aspect management

at the prescribed premises.

3.2 Part V Environmental Protection Act 1986

Additional supporting facilities, such as accommodation village and its wastewater treatment plant, will be

provided from existing regional facilities including through commercial arrangements with neighbouring

approved mine site facilities owned by Minjar Gold Pty Ltd or Golden Grove Pty Ltd.

As the prescribed premises will be located entirely within the approved Ministerial Statement envelope, a

Native Vegetation Clearing Permit will not be required.

3.3 Other Decision Making Authorities

Other Decision Making Authorities (DMAs) for the project include the Department of Water and

Environmental Regulation (DWER), Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS),

Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation

and Attractions (DBCA). Table 3 provides a summary of approvals required and delivery schedule.

Table 3 Environmental Approvals Schedule pertaining to the prescribed premises

Agency Approval Required Approval Date

DWER 5C Licence to abstract water Approved GWL 179363 up to 950,000klpa

DAWE Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Approval (Reference Number 2012/6331)

Not controlled

DMIRS Mining Proposal Reg ID 50930 was approved 30 September 2014. An addendum for revised design layout will be made in 2020.

DPLH Section 18 Application (Ref. No. 34-17909) A Section 18 Ministerial consent for registered sites on the SIOP was issued 21 May 2012.

DBCA Licences to Take Fauna;

• Shield-backed Trapdoor Spider (SBTS)

• Western Spiny-tailed Skink (WSTS)

• Malleefowl (MF)

To be obtained as required. Note the known SBTS taxon for the site has been de-listed. WSTS do not occur within the disturbance footprint of the premises. MF mounds are authorised for disturbance according to MS940 and there are none known within the prescribed premises footprint.


Page | 18 Doc Ref:


Other approvals not deemed necessary for the project under Part V of the EP Act (1986) include:

- Dewatering (Category 6) – above water table mining proposed and/or forecast on-site water

consumption;

- Sewage (Category 85) – using a nearby established camp;

- Landfill (Category 64) – expected not to trigger the 100 m3 pa threshold, therefore no works

approval or licence will be applied for. As a comparator, the MGM Extension Hill operation was

significantly larger than what is proposed at Shine and, in 2016, it generated only 69 tonnes of

waste for the year (equivalent to ~55 m3) to be contained within landfill (AACR 2016, Licence

Number L8495/2010/2). MGM will contain any waste generated onsite within landfill cells located

within the waste dump proper. The activity has been addressed in Mining Proposal Reg ID

40384.

3.4 Other Legislation and Guidance Material

The following guidance and legislation material also may apply is specific to this WAA:

• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999;

• Environmental Protection Act 1986;

• Mining Act 1978;

• Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972;

• Biodiversity Conservation Act 2018; and

• Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914.


Page | 19 Doc Ref:


4.0 Existing Environment

4.1 Climate

The climate in the area of SIOP is classed as semi-arid with a mean annual rainfall of approximately

258 mm with monthly average rainfall as recorded at the Yalgoo Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) automatic

weather station (AWS) (BoM, 2012).

This region experiences a hot Mediterranean climate, characterised by a rainfall regime similar to that of

the south-west region of WA, that is, the majority of rainfall received occurs from May – August (BoM,

2012). Annual evaporation far exceeds annual rainfall throughout the region although some minor

subsurface recharge does occur during intense rainfall events (BoM, 2012).

Average daily minimum and maximum temperatures during the warmer months (November – April) are

18 °C and 34 °C respectively, while in the cooler months (May – October) average daily minimum and

maximum temperatures are 8 °C and 22 °C respectively (BoM, 2012).

Extreme rainfall events (i.e. a 1-in-100-year, 72-hour rainfall event) can be expected to generate more

than 160 mm, while a 1-in-20-year, 72-hour rainfall event can generate over 100 mm of rain (BoM, 2012).

The prevailing winds at the minesite are (BoM, 2012):

• Summer - the dominant wind direction is from the south south-east through to the south south-west;

• Autumn - the dominant wind direction is from the east;

• Winter - the dominant wind direction is from the south-east and east south-east; and

• Spring - the dominant wind direction is from the south.

4.2 Topography

The SIOP area covers exposed Banded Iron Formations (BIF) and greenstone ranges that form part of

the Yalgoo-Singleton Greenstone Belt. The BIF at SIOP forms a series of isolated peaks, hills and ranges

in a generally topographically subdued regional landscape (Prodemas, 2008).

The mine site occurs on the Karara formation, which is approximately 440 m Australian Height Datum

(AHD) (Prodemas, 2008). The upper slopes of the side of the SIOP ridge are steep at 20° to 25°. The

foothills and plains are generally of less than 5° slopes (Prodemas, 2008). Surrounding the hills are

relatively level plains (300 m to 350 m AHD). The lowest points in the local landscape are two clay pans

at 300 m AHD (Prodemas, 2008).

4.3 Soil Quality, Stability and Land Systems

4.3.1 Soils

Prior to MGM acquiring the project, Outback Ecology Services (OES) were commissioned by GML in

2009 to conduct a baseline assessment of surface soils within the SIOP area. Soils were re-interpreted

from the OES (2009) study based on review of the evolutionary history of the area and soil morphological

examination of OES (2009) photographs by Soil Water Consultants in their report titled “Shine Deposit

Waste Rock Landform Design and Preliminary Closure Criteria” (Soil Water Consultants, 2013).

At least three distinct Soil Mapping Units (SMUs) were identified within the project area that corresponds

to broad landform features of the typical Tallering land system sequence (Soil Water Consultants, 2013):

1. Gravelly red/brown loams over ironstone of the ridges (SMU 1);


Page | 20 Doc Ref:


2. Deep red / brown clay loams of the slopes (SMU 2), further subdivided into:

a. > 40% gravel (2a – upper slopes);

b. < 40% gravel (2b – lower slopes); and

3. Deep red sands of the plains (SMU 3).

The prescribed premise is located within SMU2.

4.3.2 Land Systems

The SIOP area is located over six land systems, with the Tallering and Tealtoo being the dominant land

systems (OES, 2009). The Tallering land system represents the prominent ridges and hills and includes

the proposed SIOP pit and waste dump footprints (OES, 2009). The Tealtoo land system represents the

gently undulating plains of which the supporting infrastructure resides on (Payne et al, 1998).

4.4 Surface Water

The SIOP area sits within the 41,880 km2 Yarra Yarra Catchment Basin in the Mid-West region of

Western Australia and is noted to lack a defined river system (CRE, 2009). It is characterised by a

continuous range of hills surrounding a series of interconnecting, ephemeral salt lakes. There are no

permanent surface water features, gazetted water courses or wetlands in or near the SIOP area (CRE,

2009).

The following geomorphology and drainage aspects were identified:

• Minor gullies from the SIOP location down to the lowland areas; and

• Minor drainage paths flowing northwest from SIOP.

Existing catchment areas at SIOP and the expected direction of water flows (prior to the construction of

engineered structures including culverts, diversion channels and sediment basins for surface water and

stormwater management purposes) are detailed within the “Desktop Surface Water and Stormwater

Management Study for the Shine Project” by Pritchard Francis Consulting in 2012. In accordance with

the report’s recommendations, appropriately sited stormwater diversion channels will be constructed to

ensure that the prescribed premises footprint, of approximately 0.28 km2, does not contribute to the

potential impact of any downstream receptors.

4.5 Groundwater

The depth of wet samples in exploration holes and production bores indicate that the standing water level

(SWL) is 53 to 60 m below ground level (mbgl) at the SIOP (Rockwater, 2008). There is a low

groundwater mound centred on the BIF ridge indicating that recharge occurs along the ridge and there is

lateral flow of groundwater into adjoining mafic and sedimentary rocks (Rockwater, 2008).

The rate of flow is restricted by the low permeability of the hanging wall rocks (Rockwater, 2008). Given

the large distance to the water table and the low permeability of the groundwater between sedimentary

rocks, it provides a suitable buffer for ingress into groundwater and thus a low risk is posed by the

prescribed premises.

4.6 Air Quality

The SIOP is located within a semi-arid environment, with a mean annual rainfall of approximately

258 mm, as recorded at the Yalgoo Bureau of Meteorology (BoM, 2012). Soils in the area are associated

with that of a rural environment, relatively well covered with vegetation or are of stony composition.


Page | 21 Doc Ref:


There are no existing potential sensitive receptors in the vicinity of the prescribed premises. The nearest

residence is a homestead located on Badja Station (owned and managed by GML with one permanent

GML resident only) and is approximately 30 km northwest of SIOP. There is no site specific or site

representative air quality data for SIOP.

The location of the prescribed premises is within the designated footprint of the SIOP ROM pad, which

has sufficient separation to SIOP active mining areas. Given the remoteness of the premises, there is

low risk of any significant impact to air quality for any persons not involved with the project.

4.7 Vegetation

Vegetation within the prescribed premises (up to 28 ha) will be cleared as required, within the approved

disturbance footprint granted as per Ministerial Statement 940. There are seven broad vegetation

communities identified within SIOP, being;

• Scrub of Acacia aneura/A.ramulosa over Thryptomene decussata,

• Open mallee of Eucalyptus loxophleba over dwarf scrub of Ptilotus obovatus,

• Low woodland of Acacia aneura/A. ramulosa over mixed dwarf scrub,

• Low woodland of mixed Acacias over low scrub of Drummondita fulva (P3) /Stylidium longibracteatum

on BIF,

• Open scrub of Acacia assimilis /A. ramulosa over mixed dwarf scrub on breakaway,

• Low woodland of Acacia effusifolia very open low grassland of Monachather paradoxus and

• Open scrub of Acacia grasbyi over Aluta aspera subsp. Hesperia /Thryptomene costata (Botanica

Consulting, 2012).

4.7.1 Vegetation Associations

The SIOP is located within the Avon Wheatbelt Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA)

region, and there are two Vegetation Associations reported under Beard (1976) Vegetation Association

represented by Yalgoo 202 and Yalgoo 420 at the site. Both of these vegetation associations are well

represented in the region and are detailed in Table 4.

Table 4 Vegetation associations within SIOP (Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, 2007)

Vegetation

Association

Vegetation Description Pre-European Extent

(hectares)

Current Extent

(hectares)

Remaining (%)

Yalgoo 202 Shrublands; mulga and Acacia

quadrimarginea scrub 45,051.15 45,051.15

100

Yalgoo 420 Shrublands; bowgada and jam scrub 457,001.83 457,001.83 100

4.7.2 Floristic Community Types

Woodman Environmental Consulting (WEC, 2012) completed an assessment of Floristic Community

Types (FCTs) located within the regional setting of the SIOP. The FCTs that will be cleared by the

prescribed premises are described in Table 5. It should be noted that these FCT’s are restricted to the

total area permitted for clearing under Ministerial Statement 940.


Page | 22 Doc Ref:


Table 5 Summary of Floristic Community Types (FCT’s) cleared by proposed premise footprint (Category 5)

FCT Description of FCT

FCT 12

(98.3 ha

clearing)

Tall shrubland of mixed Acacia species including Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa, A. sibina and A. effusifolia over

mid open shrubland to mid sparse shrubland of mixed species including Aluta aspera subsp. hesperia,

Philotheca brucei subsp. brucei, Eremophila latrobei subsp. latrobei, E. clarkei, E. forrestii subsp. forrestii over

low isolated clumps of ferns of Cheilanthes sieberi over low isolated clumps of grasses of Monachather

paradoxus on red, brown or red-brown silty clay loam or silty loam on flats to lowerslopes.

FCT 25

(12.5 ha

clearing)

Tall shrubland to tall open shrubland of mixed species including Acacia ramulosa var. ramulosa, A.

tetragonophylla, A. effusifolia and Hakea recurva subsp. recurva with low isolated clumps of trees of Callitris

columellaris and/or Eucalyptus spp. over low sparse shrubland of mixed species including Eremophila georgei

over low isolated clumps of grasses of Monachather paradoxus on red or orange sandy loam or clay loam on

flats to midslope.

Neither of these Floristic Community Types represent components of the Priority Ecological Community

(PEC) as mapped by Woodman Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd (2012) (Figure 7). Clearing of FCTs

forming part of the PEC has been approved un the MS and will occur through the development of the

main mining pit and part of the waste rock dump (Figure 7).

4.8 Fauna

As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process for SIOP, Bamford Consulting Ecologists (BCE)

was commissioned to conduct a desktop review and a detailed fauna assessment of the SIOP area.

Surveys were conducted in 2008, 2011, 2012 and recently in August 2020, including targeted surveys for

the Western Spiny-tailed Skink (Egernia stokesii badia), Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) and what was

identified at the time as Shield-backed Trapdoor Spider (Idiosoma nigrum).

No conservation significance fauna were identified to be located within the prescribed premises footprint

(BCE, 2012). Records of fauna within the development envelope at site have been updated in 2020

(BCE, 2020). However, where MGM records the location of significant fauna and habitats prior to ground

disturbance, these shall be taken into account during construction and operation activities with the

objective of avoiding these areas. This is to be managed through an internal management process,

Ground Disturbance and Approval Procedure.

4.9 Aboriginal Heritage Sites

Section 18 consent (Ref. No. 34-17909) for the project was received on the 21st May 2012 under the

Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 to disturb registered sites for the purpose of this Project.

The prescribed premises footprint does not co-occur nor disturb the ground on any identified heritage site.

Elsewhere, mining domains (main pit) co-occur with sites covered by the S18 consent.

4.10 Potentially Sensitive Receptors

The closest non-mining sensitive receptor to the mine site is approximately 30 km northwest of SIOP,

being Badja Homestead (owned and managed by Greg and Cindy Payne). The Golden Grove mining

operation and village are approximately 7 km from SIOP.


Page | 23 Doc Ref:


No Drinking Water Source Areas, sensitive premises or other industries will be affected by the prescribed

premises. Traffic moving along the Minjar Haul Road are mining fleet operating with approval of the

tenement holders for the purpose of approved mining operations.


Page | 24 Doc Ref:


Figure 7 Prescribed Premise Disturbance Footprint on Floristic Community Types


Page | 25 Doc Ref:


5.0 Assessment of Environmental Risks from Emissions and

Discharges

5.1 Risk Identification

This section details the potential environmental effects from the prescribed premises and its associated

infrastructure.

Table 6 provides a summary of the potential environmental impacts of the prescribed premises outside of

the boundary under normal and abnormal (e.g. where one or more controls fail) operating conditions.

Table 6 Impacts of the operating prescribed premises under normal and abnormal operating conditions

Activity

Possib

le E

mis

sio

ns

Opera

tio

n C

onditio

n

Environmental Factors

Air D

egra

datio

n

Surf

ace W

ate

r

Gro

undw

ate

r

Conta

min

atio

n

Soil

Conta

min

atio

n

Excess N

ois

e

Excess L

ight

Vegeta

tio

n D

egra

dation

Impacts

on F

auna

Com

munity Im

pacts

Clo

sure

Operation of

Crushing and

Screening

Plant

Air Emission Normal N N N N N N N N N N

Abnormal Y N N N N N Y Y N N

Liquid

Emission

Normal N N N N N N N N N N

Abnormal N Y Y Y N N Y Y N N

Noise

Emission


Abnormal N N N N N N N Y N N

Light

Emission


Abnormal N N N N N Y N Y N N

Storage and

Use of

Hydrocarbons

Liquid

Emission


Abnormal N Y Y Y N N Y Y N N

5.2 Risk Assessment

The risk assessment was undertaken using a process based on AS4360:2004 Risk Assessment and

using definitions and descriptors standardised by GBG’s environmental division for all aspects of

construction and operation. Scales of Likelihood and Consequence are provided as Tables 7 and 8

respectively, whilst Table 9 provides the Risk Matrix.


Page | 26 Doc Ref:


Table 7 Descriptors for Likelihood

Abbreviation ID Descriptor

Almost

Certain

A Incident is expected to occur on this project, possibly several times

Likely B Incident may easily occur on this project

Possible C Incident has occurred on a similar project

Unlikely D Incident unlikely to occur during this project

Rare E Incident highly unlikely to occur on this project

Table 8 Descriptors for Consequences

Abbreviation ID Descriptor

Insignificant 1 No Impact on baseline environment. Localised to point source.

Minor 2 Localised within site boundaries. Recovery measurable within 1 month of impact.

Moderate 3 Moderate harm with possible wider effect.

Major 4 Significant harm with local effect.

Catastrophic 5 Significant Impact that is widespread, unconfined impact, requiring long-term recovery,

leaving major residual damage.

Table 9 Risk Matrix

Risk Matrix

Likelihood

Consequences

1 2 3 4 5

Almost certain

(A)

HIGH (11) HIGH (16) EXTREME (20) EXTREME (23) EXTREME (25)

Likely

(B)

MEDIUM (7) HIGH (12) HIGH (17) EXTREME (21) EXTREME (24)

Possible

(C)

LOW (4) MEDIUM (8) HIGH (13) EXTREME (18) EXTREME (22)

Unlikely

(D) LOW (2) LOW (5) MEDIUM (9) HIGH (14) EXTREME (19)

Rare

(E)

LOW (1)

LOW (3) MEDIUM (6) HIGH (10) HIGH (15)


Page | 27 Doc Ref: 12217_4

A risk assessment, as described in Section 5.2, was undertaken to assess the management issues for the environmental factors as described in Table

6. The risk assessment is shown in Table 10 with the correlating management measures that will be implemented to mitigate the operational risks to an

acceptable residual level.

Table 10 Risk Assessment

Item Environmental

Factor

Potential Environmental

Impact

Inherent Risk Risk Management

Residual Risk

L C R L C R

1. Operation of Crushing & Screening Plant

1.1

Air Degradation –

Dust Causing Air

Degradation

Potential for dust produced to

impact air quality B 2 High

▪ No sensitive receptors (accommodation camps, local landholders) within the area.

▪ Dust suppression water at primary crusher dump bin, lump product stockpile and fines product stockpile.

▪ Dust suppression on access roads and ROM area. Dust Management to be in line with SWI.

C 2 Med

1.2

Air Degradation-

Dust Causing

Vegetation

Degradation

Potential for excessive dust to

cause vegetation degradation B 2 High

▪ Dust suppression water at primary crusher dump bin, lump product stockpile and fines product stockpile.

▪ Dust suppression on access roads and ROM area. ▪ Dust Management to be in line with SWI.

C 2 Med

1.3 Excess Light

Light overspill from 24-hour

mining activities, potentially

impacting amenity and native

fauna

C 2 Med

▪ All lighting to be in line with AS4282 – 1997: Control of obtrusive effects of outdoor lighting.

▪ Limit light spill where practicable. ▪ Use of downward-directed lights, shrouded

D 2 Low

1.4 Surface Water

Contamination

Spill of hydraulic oil and

lubricants to the environment,

impacting on vegetation and

downstream and groundwater

environment.

C 2 Med

▪ Surface water management to be in line with Surface Water Management Procedure and Site Work Instruction (SWI)

▪ Appropriate handling and disposal of hydrocarbons as per Storage and Use of Hazardous Substances Procedure.

▪ Appropriate drainage design within crushing precinct terminating in two stormwater detention ponds (southeast corner of the precinct)

D 2 Low

1.5 Noise & Vibration

Noise and vibration from

equipment movement impacting

on the amenity of the

surrounding environment.

B 1 Med ▪ No sensitive receptors within area. D 1 Low

1.6 Surface Water

Degradation

Sediment laden water

discharged to the environment,

impacting on vegetation and

downstream environment.

C 2 Med

▪ Water collected in detention ponds and reused in process. ▪ Sump sized to provide adequate collection of runoff and spray water. ▪ Surface water management to be in line with Surface Water

Management Procedure. ▪ Surface water management to be in line with Surface Water

Management Procedure

D 1 Low

2. Diesel Genset Fuel Storage

2.1 Surface Water

Contamination

Discharge of oily water to

environment. C 3 High

▪ Internal drainage system ▪ Surface water management to be in line with Surface Water

Management Procedure D 2 Low


Page | 28 Doc Ref: 12217_4

Item Environmental

Factor

Potential Environmental

Impact

Inherent Risk Risk Management

Residual Risk

L C R L C R

▪ Appropriate handling and disposal of hydrocarbons as per Storage and Use of Hazardous Substances Procedure

2.2 Soil Contamination Accidental spillage of

hydrocarbons D 3 Med

▪ All hydrocarbons to be stored within bunding that meets Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004.

▪ Appropriate handling and disposal of hydrocarbons as per Storage and Use of Hazardous Substances Procedure and Waste Management Procedure

E 2 Low


Page | 29 Doc

Ref: 12217_4

6.0 Environmental Objectives, Legislative Standards and

Measurement Criteria This section details the legislative standards and measurement criteria to appropriately manage the risks

identified in Section 5. The risk assessment did not identify any discharges from the prescribed premises

and, where appropriate, the risk of emissions and discharges can be managed and regulated through site

management practices.

Table 11 provides a summary of environmental factors, objectives, legislative standards and

measurement criteria.

It is noteworthy that no non-standard conditions were contained in Statement 940, meaning that no

significant factors or aspects were identified during the Part IV assessment, and no management plans

were conditioned into the Statement.


Page | 30 Doc Ref: 12217_4

Table 11 Environmental Objectives, Standards and Measurement Criteria

Risk Factor

Significance of emissions Risk Assessment

Standards (ie legislation, agencies, EMS)

DER Regulation (EP Act – Part V)

Measurement Criteria

Air emissions (point source)

Construction During construction there will be no point source air emissions directly related to the construction of the prescribed premises, with the exception of vehicle exhaust fumes and generators. No offensive odours are expected to be produced as a result of the construction of the prescribed premises. Operations Point source air emissions directly related to the operation of the prescribed premises are from the plant, generators and vehicle exhaust fumes. No offensive odours are expected to be produced as a result of the operation of the prescribed premises.

No regulation required

▪ Site Environmental Management Plan

▪ Dust SWI

WA – No conditions required

N/A

Dust Emissions Construction Dust is likely to be generated from vehicle movement, clearing and construction works. Potential impacts may include visual amenity, deposition on surrounding vegetation, adverse impact and disturbance to fauna and flora, risk to human health. Operation There is the potential that dust will be generated from the handling and processing of ore.

Other management mechanisms

▪ General provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986

▪ National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) for Ambient Air Quality1998

▪ Environmental

Management Plan

▪ Dust SWI

WA – General condition in relation to works being undertaken in accordance with works approval application documentation.

▪ Dust Suppression water at conveyors and screens.

▪ Dust Suppression water at primary crusher dump bin, lump product stockpile and fines product stockpile.

▪ Dust suppression on access roads and ROM area.

Noise Emissions Construction Noise from construction works, including vehicle movement. Operations During operations, there will be noise from pumping equipment and plant equipment that has the potential to impact the amenity of the surrounding environment.


▪ Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997

▪ Site Environmental

Management Plan

WA – No conditions

required

▪ No sensitive receptors within area. ▪ Noise attenuating equipment used, where

practicable.

Light emissions Construction Light overspill from 24-hour construction activities. Operations Light overspill from 24-hour mining activities.


▪ Provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986

WA – No conditions required

▪ Minimise lighting, subject to safety requirements.

▪ Light overspill associated with works will be in accordance with AS4282-1997: Control of the Obtrusive Effects of Outdoor Lighting.

Discharges to Construction Other ▪ Provisions of the WA – No conditions ▪ Water from hardstand areas to be


Page | 31 Doc Ref: 12217_4

Risk Factor

Significance of emissions Risk Assessment

Standards (ie legislation, agencies, EMS)

DER Regulation (EP Act – Part V)

Measurement Criteria

water During construction, there is the potential for sediment laden water to run-off from cleared areas, with the potential to impact on the receiving environment. Vehicle failure and spills could also result in oily water or soil / water contamination to occur. Site development is proposed in the summer-autumn period of 2021 which runoff is unlikely. Operations Runoff and spray drift from the processing facility may potentially enter the receiving environment. Unplanned or accidental spill of hydrocarbons could also result in ground and/or surface water contamination.

management mechanisms

Environmental Protection Act 1986

▪ Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharges) Regulations 2004

▪ Dangerous Goods

Licence administered by DMIRS


Management Plan

required

harvested and reused within premises for dust suppression purposes.

▪ All bunding to meet Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004

▪ Appropriate maintenance on vehicles and machinery to minimise spillage.

▪ Drainage runoff into detention ponds downstream from ROM precinct.

Discharges to land

Construction During construction, vehicle leaks and fuel spills could result in soil contamination. Operations The accidental spill of hydrocarbons or hazardous chemicals could result in soil and/or surface water contamination.


▪ Provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986

▪ Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharges) Regulations 2004

▪ Dangerous Goods

Licence administered by DMIRS


Management Plan

▪ WA – No conditions required

▪ All bunding to meet Dangerous Goods Safety Act 2004

▪ Appropriate maintenance on vehicles and machinery to minimise spillage risks

▪ Conduct or spill response training ▪ Register of incidents and events, and

information of clean-up and disposal actions.


Page | 32

Doc Ref: 12217_4

7.0 References Australian Standard (1997). AS 4282-1997: Control of the Obtrusive Effects of Outdoor Lighting (AS

1997), Standards Australia, Sydney.

Australian Standard (2004). AS4360:2004 Risk Assessment, Standards Australia, Sydney.

Bamford Consulting Ecologists (2012). Shine Project Area Fauna Assessment. A Report Prepared for

Gindalbie Metals Limited. February 2012.

Bamford Consulting Ecologists (2020). Shine Project Area Fauna Assessment. A Report Prepared for

Mount Gibson Iron. August 2020.

Beard JS (1976). Vegetation Survey of Western Australia. Murchison 1: 1 000 000 Vegetation Series.

Map Sheet 6 and Explanatory Notes to Sheet 6. Published by UWA Press, Perth.

Botanica Consulting (2012). Level 2 Flora and Vegetation Survey and Priority Search of the Shine

Project, Tenements: M59/0730, M59/0406, M59/0421 & P59/1800, Prepared For Karara Mining Ltd.

January 2012.

Bureau of Meteorology (2012). Accessed http://www.bom.gov.au/.

CRE (2009). Draft Shine Iron Ore Project Surface Water and Drainage Assessment. March 2009.

Department of Agriculture Food and Western Australia (2007). Pre-European Vegetation - Western

Australia (NVIS Compliant Version GIS file). Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia.

Department of Water (2002). Water Quality Protection Note; Stormwater Management at Industrial

Sites, November 2002

Outback Ecological Services (2009). Gindalbie Metals Limited. Shine Project. Baseline Soil Survey.

March 2009.

Payne AL, Van Vreeswyk AME, Pringle HJR, Leighton KA, and Hennig PH (1998). An inventory and

condition survey of the Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find area, Western Australia. Technical Bulletin

No. 90. Agriculture Western Australia, Government of Western Australia. Perth.

Pritchard Francis Consulting (2012). Desktop Surface Water and Stormwater Management Study for

the Shine Project Shire of Yalgoo Western Australia. March 2012.

Prodemas (2008). Economic Evaluation Study Report. Chapter 3: Geology and Resources.

Unpublished report prepared for Warriedar Joint Venture - Shine Iron Ore Project. Prodemas

International Limited.

Rockwater (2008). Assessment of Groundwater Conditions and Availability, Shine Iron Ore Deposit.

December 2008.

Soil Water Consultants (2013). Shine Deposit Waste Rock Landform Design and Preliminary Closure

Criteria. Report prepared for Gindalbie Metals Limited. June 2013.

Woodman Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd (2012). Regional Flora and Vegetation Survey of the

Karara to Minjar Block, June 2012.

shine iron ore project - der.wa.gov.au

Documents