Koodaideri Project - Mining NewsPilbara Iron Company (Services) Pty Ltd Level 18, Central Park 152-158 St Georges Tce Perth WA 6000 ACN: 107 210 248 The Proponent is Pilbara Iron Company
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The occupier (the Licensee) of the land subject to this works approval application is:
Pilbara Iron Company (Services) Pty Ltd Level 18, Central Park 152-158 St Georges Tce Perth WA 6000 ACN: 107 210 248 The Proponent is Pilbara Iron Company (Services) Pty Ltd, wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto. The proposed works are being undertaken in the Shire of East Pilbara and Shire of Ashburton. The contact person for the licence amendment is as follows: Sean Savage Superintendent, Government Approvals Rio Tinto Level 18, Central Park 152-158 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 Telephone: (0)8 6213 1254 M: (0)467 776 204 Email: [email protected]
The Project mine site is located on the northern margins of the Hamersley Range and includes
the level plains immediately north of the range. The Hamersley Range escarpment is aligned
in a west-north-west to east-south-east direction and rises to approximately 120 m above the
plain level in the vicinity of the Project mine site. The ground level falls towards the Fortescue
River Basin to the north-east. The portion of the Hamersley Range containing the proposed
prescribed premises location is rugged and rocky, giving rise to an irregular network of
ephemeral streams. The plateau containing the ore resources is incised by a series of gullies
that drain into ephemeral creeks on the plains below.
2.5 Water Resources
The mine processing area lies within the Upper Fortescue River catchment. All of the creek
systems within the Upper Fortescue River catchment are ephemeral. Creekline flows are
generated following significant rainfall events, which generally occur between December and
July. Sub-catchments south of the Fortescue River Valley (including the headwaters of the
Fortescue River, Weeli Wolli Creek, and to a lesser extent Coondiner Creek, Mindy Creek and
other smaller creeks) contribute surface water and sediments into the Fortescue Marsh.
The Fortescue Marsh is a nationally and internationally important wetland, and is located to
the north of the Project development area. At its closest, the premises boundary is
approximately 8 km from the mapped boundary of the Fortescue Marsh.
The Koodaideri deposits are intercepted by deeply incised gullies that characterise the
Hamersley Ranges. Surface water drainage occurs within defined water courses during and
immediately following large, extended duration or high intensity rainfall events. High surface
water infiltration is expected to occur within alluvial creek beds on the lower slopes of the
Hamersley Range and adjacent plains. Surface water runoff in the mine processing area
commences via weakly defined tributaries in shallow bedrock/gravelly soils that then drain into
thicker alluvium/colluvium sequences in the incised valley systems. Water courses in the
incised valleys facilitate ephemeral surface water flows typically after large or intense rainfall
events. Smaller rainfall events are likely to generate sub-surface flow in the loosely
consolidated gravelly stream beds. Stream drainage systems gradually multiply and become
shallower due to flat relief as they continue northwards towards the Fortescue Marsh.
2.6 Hydrogeology
Local groundwater is fresh and is approximately 70 m below ground level in the area of the Processing Plant. Water quality is fresh with electrical conductivity between 412 and 420 µS/cm. There are no nearby users of groundwater in the area.
2.7 Geology
The Project area lies within the Hamersley Range which is principally comprised of rocks of
the Brockman Iron Formation. Further north is the broad expanse of the Fortescue Valley,
which was formed by the preferential erosion of the Wittenoom Formation and includes deep
layers of Cainozoic sediments.
The Koodaideri mine area contains martite-geothite mineralisation predominantly within the
Dales Gorge Member of the Brockman Iron Formation, with lesser mineralisation in the Joffre
consultation process provided stakeholders with details of the works for this Works Approval
application.
Key government agencies actively consulted with during the preparation of the PER include:
• EPA; • Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER); and • Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS). • Local government organisations (Shires of Ashburton and East Pilbara)
Key non-government stakeholders who were consulted during the preparation of the PER include:
Seven double-deck banana screens will provide the required production throughput and
achieve the required product specifications, which will divide the ore into three streams: lump
product, fines product and oversize material.
Oversize material will be conveyed to the secondary crusher surge bin. The secondary crusher
surge bin will have a total live capacity of 860 tonnes and incorporate two outlet hoppers,
isolation gates and belt feeders, each providing feed to a cone secondary crusher. The design
throughput of each secondary crusher is 3,600 tph.
The fines and lump products from the process plant will be conveyed to their respective fines
and lump stockpiles. Representative samples of each ore stream are taken at six minute
increments and sub-sampled prior to conveying directly to a fully automated laboratory cell.
The laboratory cell will provide the metallurgical and analytical / chemical assays for the
process. The laboratory will also manually process the mine and exploration samples with
laboratory rejects conveyed back to the lump stockyard feed conveyor
Final product will be conveyed and stacked separately onto lump and fine product stockpiles for later reclaiming by a bucket wheel reclaimer to a train load-out (TLO) facility.
The process plant features the construction of the following major facilities:
Primary Crusher apron sized for up to 300 tonne class haul trucks;
Dual truck tipping points and ROM dump hopper of 600 tonne live capacity and discharge surge bin of 600 tonne;
Direct-feed crushing facility complete with dump hopper, gyratory crusher, service crane, rock breaker and discharge apron feeder onto the overland conveyor;
Conveyors feeding a coarse ore fixed stacker;
Primary crushed ore stockpile with 25,000 tonne live storage and reclaim with two apron feeders;
7-bay screening plant with shuttle fed, bins, feeders and screens;
Allowance for a future 8th product screening bay in the design;
Two bay secondary crusher facility with bins, belt feeders and MP1250 type secondary crushers;
Sample plants – cutters, conveyors, and equipment for sampling lump and fines;
Stockyard with two slewing and luffing stackers and a rotary reclaimer; and
Volumetric train load-out.
The major facilities are linked by conveyors capable of providing an average 43 Mtpa SOP. More detail on the major facilities is provided in the following sections.
The processing plant is serviced by air, water, and dust suppression and collection systems.
During normal operations the plant will have the capacity to process 43 Mtpa of coarse ore. Table 4-1 summarises the maximum input to the process based on continuous operation for 24 hours.
Table 4-1 Inputs to the process plant
Inputs Rate Unit of Measure
ROM ore 43,000,000 Tonnes / annum
Raw Water 6.15 GL / annum
Table 4.2 summarises the maximum outputs from the process plant.
Table 4-2 Outputs from the process plant
Outputs Rate Unit of Measure
Fines Product 1,600 Tonnes / hour
Lump Product 1,800 Tonnes / hour
4.2.4 Primary Crushing
A dual tip direct-fed primary gyratory crusher will be located on the north-western boundary
of the K58W mine area (Figure 4-2). The primary crushing facility comprises the following
key equipment:
ROM dump hopper;
Maintenance crane;
ROM Bin Rockbreaker;
Primary gyratory crusher assembly;
Primary crusher discharge surge bin
Apron feeder;
Crusher discharge conveyor;
Conveyor weightometer, tramp metal detector and magnet;
Based on the current schedule it is expected that construction of the mine processing plant will begin in Quarter 1, 2019 will be completed in Quarter 4, 2021. The facility is expected to be operational for approximately 30 years. Once construction of the processing plant is completed and prior to commissioning, a compliance document detailing compliance with commitments made in this works approval application will be submitted to DWER as per the works approval conditions. The mobile crushing and screening plants will initially be on site for up to 2 years to support the Project construction activities. At the completion of construction work for the processing plant, the mobile facilities (or similar) may be required for other purposes, for example, to provide stemming for blasting purposes.
4.4 Commissioning and Reporting
4.4.1 Processing Plant
Once construction activities are completed at the mine processing plant, commissioning
activities will begin and are expected to be completed by Quarter 1 2022. In general, the basic
scope of commissioning and handover activities for the processing plant can be designated
by the following six stages:
Stage 1: Construction Verification – verify construction completion to design intent.
Stage 2: Pre-commissioning – functional testing of energised equipment.
Stage 3: No-load Commissioning – dynamic testing of operating systems without process
materials.
Stage 4: Load Commissioning – running the facilities with feedstock and incremental load
tuning. Note during this phase the plant will be running under operational conditions and hence
the risk of emissions and means of mitigation are almost identical.
Stage 5: Care custody and Control – operations and maintenance teams will seek to rectify
any operating issues and aim to achieve stable performance from the new plant.
Stage 6: Performance Verification – ramp up production rate and confirm achievement of
designed through-put.
The licensee seeks to undertake all stages of the commissioning under the works approval,
with Stages 1 to 3, including first fill of all lubricants and running of all process plant equipment
(including conveyors, sizers, feeders, crushers, scrubbers, cyclones, and balanced machines)
undertaken prior to submitting a compliance document and application for a licence.
Upon submission of the compliance document, the licensee will undertake Stages 4 to 6, load
commissioning (i.e. ‘wet commissioning’) and performance verification prior to submitting a
commissioning report and submitting an application to obtain a licence to operate.
Rio Tinto (WA) has a Health, Safety, Environment and Quality Management System (HSEQ) that ensures environmental controls are developed for key environmental aspects, legal compliance is maintained and continuous improvement is achieved through a formal review process.
6.1 Air Emissions (excluding dust)
There is not expected to be significant air emissions, generated during the construction, commissioning and operation of the mine processing plant and mobile crushing and screening plants.
During construction, commissioning and operations the generation of smoke and gaseous emissions will be limited to the operation of construction machinery including earthmoving machinery, minor temporary power generation and the mobile crushing and screening plants. The mine processing plant will be electrically powered via the high voltage power transmission line.
6.2 Dust Emissions
6.2.1 Description of risk event
Construction – Fixed Crushing / Screening Plant Dust emissions during construction are typically associated with clearing, earthworks and vehicle movement on unsealed roads. There are no sensitive land uses in proximity of the construction activities, with Fortescue Marsh 8 km away and no residential premises within 25 km. Other potential environmental receptors that could be impacted by dust emissions during construction include vegetation adjacent to mining areas. This includes potential for vegetation to have a reduced ability for photosynthesis due to smothering. Operation – Fixed Crushing / Screening Plant Potential dust emissions during the operation of the processing plant are typically point source emissions. Dust emissions are typically generated from a range of point sources including:
ROM area during ore loading and unloading;
ore processing (crushing and screening);
conveyors and conveyor transfer points;
stockpiles where dust lift off from the surface may occur in windy conditions;
stockpiling and reclaiming of ore product; and
frequent light and heavy vehicle movement on unsealed roadways.
Construction – Fixed Crushing / Screening Plant The dispersed and temporary nature of dust emissions during construction requires a broad range of controls to be applied including:
Water carts will be used during clearing and construction activities and in areas with
frequent vehicle movement on unsealed roads. The application of water increases the
specific mass of the soil particles and to increase bonding between the soil particles,
minimising the dust generated.
In some transport corridors, dust suppressant additives will be applied through water
carts to assist with dust control.
Site clearing and rehabilitation will be managed to ensure that areas are only cleared
as required and progressive rehabilitation is implemented as construction activities are
completed.
Weather forecasts will be monitored to ensure the availability of adequate water carts
if there is a risk of windy conditions.
Dust emissions during construction will be managed in accordance with the Koodaideri Project Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP). Operation – Fixed Crushing / Screening Plant The controls for managing dust in the processing plant will include:
ROM dump hopper dust suppression through high pressure water fogging combined
with a water spray curtain system at the ROM feed hopper and coarse ore stockpile.
This control will raise the overall moisture content and minimise dust generation in
downstream processing.
Provision has been made for water spray addition points at the discharge from the
apron feeders, transfer points and at the head end of the primary crusher discharge
conveyor.
Dust extraction: Two dust collectors will be installed, one between the coarse ore
stockpile and secondary crusher, and a second at the screening plant. Dust collectors
are ducted to a typical baghouse dust collection system. Where possible, collected
dust will be processed using an agglomerator with product being discharged back onto
the process system.
Conveyors handling material with a low moisture content will be fitted with spray booths
for dust suppression at most transfer points. This includes the primary crushed ore
conveyor, dry screen feed conveyor, lump stacking conveyor, and fines stacking
conveyor.
All conveyors are covered except in the stockyard to reduce dust lift off.
Drop heights at all conveyor transfer points have been minimised where possible
throughout the process plant design.
The stockyard will be serviced by automatic water cannons on either side of the
stockpiles. The water cannons will be linked to the site weather management systems
and will be automatically activated in sequence based on stockpile height, evaporation
Stacker boom conveyors will be fitted with head-end sprays and dust shrouds.
The reclaimer bucket wheel will have dust suppression sprays and conveyor sprays
fitted.
Regular housekeeping will be undertaken to collect and remove material that may
present a potential dust risk from around conveyors and loading/unloading areas.
Water flow rates will be calculated and four hourly moisture samples will be taken from
the product belt to measure moisture content of the ore. This allows adjustments to the
moisture content to minimise dust while not adding too much water to the ore and
creating runoff from the stockpiles.
Monitoring of dust levels will be conducted on a real‐time basis in the processing plant to provide data that can be used to reduce overall dust levels and help adjust moisture management to match feed‐specific requirements. The main focus of this monitoring is to mitigate any potential impact on the health and safety of employees, which has the added benefit of assisting to reduce overall dust generated by the plant. Specific monitoring regarding impact to a specific environmental receptor is not required given the significant distances involved.
All water flows will be recorded in the plant control system. Over time the analytics algorithms will correlate water addition, environmental data, ore properties and dust emission data to arrive at optimal dust suppression strategies.
Mobile Crushing and Screening Plants
Dust emissions from the proposed mobile crushing and screening plants are point source emissions that will be managed through the use of dust suppression sprays. The mobile plant will arrive on site with an installed system of dust suppression sprays that will be plumbed in to a site water supply. Dust from mobile plants shall also be managed by:
Spraying the feed stockpile with water prior to being fed into the screen.
Use of dust suppression on stockpiles as necessary.
Water carts to dampen work areas, access roads and stockpiles to minimise dust lift-
off during storage and handling of borrow and screened material as required.
If fitted, use of hydraulically angle-adjustable stockpiling conveyors to minimise drop
heights.
If fitted, belt sprayers will be employed to dampen crushed material as necessary.
Implementation of the CEMP requires regular documented inspections to be undertaken to ensure the dust suppression system is fully functional during operation.
6.2.3 Residual risk to environment
The licensee believes that with the lack of sensitive receptors in the region and the significant number of proposed controls to be implemented, the risk to the environment from potential dust emissions at Koodaideri is low.
6.3 Noise
Noise emissions during construction will be distributed across the site, predominantly mobile and limited to daylight hours. The main source of noise emissions will be earthmoving and construction machinery and on-site power generation.
During construction noise emissions will be managed under the CEMP. The CEMP controls apply equally to the proposed mobile crushing and screening plant. Controls may include:
• Fitting vehicles and stationary items of equipment with exhaust mufflers;
• Screening or enclosing stationary items of equipment with acoustic enclosures to
reduce operating nose levels.
• Requiring contractors to comply with the Environmental Protection (Noise)
Regulations 1997.
• Construction works must be carried out in accordance with Section 6 of Australian
Standard 2436-1981 “Guide to Noise control on Construction, Maintenance and
Demolition Sites” and the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 (WA)
• A Blast Management Plan must be prepared for all blasting activities and include
an assessment of proximity to sensitive receptors, including nearby communities,
heritage rock shelters and bat cave locations
Once operational the processing plant will operate on a continuous 24 hours per day basis. During mining operations noise sources include:
• Running conveyors – start and stop alarms, rollers, drives and belt interaction
(continuous operation).
• Plant major equipment – primary and secondary crushers, vibrating screens,
stackers, reclaimers and train load out.
• Miscellaneous equipment – air compressors, blowers, transformers (continuous
operation).
• Mobile plant and vehicles – reverse warning alarms and other warning alarms
(irregular).
• ROM Bin Rock Breaker - intermittent use.
There is one sensitive noise receptor being the K75W Adit/Cave system which provides
roosting habitat for a PLNB Colony. The impact on PLNB has been assessed under Part IV
of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and relevant conditions written into MS 999. A
specific PLNB Environmental Management Plan has been developed by Rio Tinto on the
advice of DWER and approved by the Office of the EPA. This plan includes monitoring for
threshold noise and vibration limits at the entrance to the K75W Adit/Cave system that will
trigger further additional responses.
Noise and vibration are not expected to be significant issues during the construction or
operation of the primary crusher, conveyors and processing plant. The risk related to noise
emissions is low (other than as discussed above regarding PLNBs). The noise emission
profile and risk is well understood and as described above there are significant controls applied
to monitoring and managing noise at Koodaideri.
6.4 Odour Emissions
No significant odour emissions are expected to be produced from the construction or operation of the Koodaideri processing plant or mobile crushing and screening plants.
Light emissions during construction of the processing plant are expected to be minimal. Construction activities will not be conducted at night and so night lighting will be limited to the minimum required to maintain site safety and security. Directional lighting will be used to minimise stray light emission.
When constructed and commissioned the processing plant will be operate on a continuous 24 hour basis. Night lighting in and around the processing plant, accommodation areas, offices and workshops is required in accordance with Australian standards for safe work.
The following controls will be implemented to manage light emissions:
• Plant lighting design will comply with Australian standards for safe work.
• Lighting design will be modelled prior to installation to ensure light is directed to
work areas and minimal light spill occurs.
• Walkways and platforms that require permanent lighting at night will have shrouded
lenses and LED’s with optics that direct lighting only onto walkways and platforms
with minimal “spill” to reduce light spill.
All nocturnal native fauna are potentially sensitive receptors to stray light emission. The project impact on Pilbara Leaf Nosed Bats has been assessed under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and relevant conditions written into MS 999. A specific PLNB Environmental Management Plan has been developed by Rio Tinto and approved by the Office of the EPA which includes commitments to limit light spill and to prevent development in PLNB exclusion zones. The risk to the environment related to light emissions (other than as described for the PLNB) at Koodaideri from the processing plant and mobile crushing and screening plant is therefore considered low.
6.6 Discharge to Water
There are no planned discharges to water during construction or operation of the processing plant or the mobile crushing and screening plants.
The closest surface water expression to the processing plant is Koodaideri Spring Gorge, approximately 4 km and up-gradient. The Fortescue Marsh is located approximately 8 km from the premises boundary. Impacts to either Koodaideri Spring Gorge or the Fortescue Marsh are not expected during operation or construction of the processing plant or mobile crushing and screening plants. Controls in addition to those required by MS999 are not considered necessary as the risk to environmental receptors is low.
The potential for contamination of soil and groundwater exists due to the possible presence of
iron, hydrocarbons and chemicals within stormwater, leaks and spills associated with the
construction of the fixed crushing and screening infrastructure.
Local groundwater is fresh and is approximately 70 m below ground level in the area where
the Processing Plant is to be constructed.
Operation – Fixed Crushing / Screening Plant
The potential for contamination of soil and groundwater exists due to the presence of iron,
hydrocarbons and chemicals within stormwater, leaks and spills, associated with the operation
of the fixed crushing and screening infrastructure.
Local groundwater is fresh and is approximately 70 m below ground level in the area of the
Processing Plant.
6.7.2 Proposed environmental controls
Construction – Fixed Crushing / Screening Plant
The environmental controls proposed to mitigate any potential impact on the environment during construction of the fixed crushing and screening infrastructure include:
• Diversion of clean surface water around the work area.
• Secondary containment of all chemical and hydrocarbon storage across the entire
site.
• Approval process prior to mobilising any chemicals to site.
• Drainage sumps to settle out sediments prior to discharge from the plant area.
• No permitted release of any potentially contaminated site water that has not been
checked for hydrocarbon contaminants.
Operation – Fixed Crushing / Screening Plant
The processing area will be constructed to enable the separation of clean stormwater run-off
and potentially sediment laden run-off to the extent achievable by applying Rio Tinto Standard
specification SS-N102 Sediment Control and Separation. The area surrounding the crushing
plant and conveyor transfer points will be compacted structural fill. Stormwater will be collected
in open drains which then discharge to sedimentation ponds. The plant drainage will flow to
an earthen sedimentation / silt pond designed to treat a peak 1:10 year rainfall event. The area
under the primary and secondary crushing plant and conveyor transfer points will be concrete
slab, graded such that washdown water will be collected in concrete sediment/silt traps.
Washdown water from conveyors will be collected in concrete sumps and either removed by
pumping out, or allowed to evaporate depending on climatic conditions and volumes reporting
to sumps. Drive in sumps will be installed around the plant site and all wash down from
concrete slabs placed under the operating plant will be directed into these sumps. The bulk of
solids will settle in the drive in pits of these sumps while the liquid containing particles will be
pumped into silt traps. Fine solids will settle in these silt traps prior to release of the clean
water. Both the drive in sumps and silt traps will be debogged using bobcats and front end
loaders. Sumps will be installed at the Primary Crusher, Transfer Station TF0101, Transfer
Station TF0313, Transfer Station TF0316, COS, Product Screen Area North, Product Screen
Area South, Secondary Crusher, Secondary Sampling Area, Reclaim Conveyor Drive Station
and the Train Loadout. Sumps are designed to be drive-in to allow removal of sediment. These
are depicted in the drawings provided in Attachment B. No other waste water is expected to
be generated in the crusher/conveyor circuit.
The levee and drain structures installed to prevent the ingress of surface water in to the mining
operations will also be used to contain runoff water from around the plant and other
infrastructure. There are no sensitive receptors that could potentially be impacted by
contaminated surface water in the vicinity of the processing plant infrastructure. The Fortescue
Marsh is approximately 8 km from the facilities and the Koodaideri Spring Gorge is 4km away
and upgradient. Regardless, a range of controls will be implemented to ensure any potential
risk to the environment is minimised including:
• Diversion of clean surface water around the work area.
• Secondary containment of all chemical and hydrocarbon storage across the entire
site.
• Approval process prior to mobilising any chemicals to site.
• Drainage sumps to settle out sediments prior to discharge from the plant area.
• Oily water separators (centrifugal type) to separate out hydrocarbons from surface
water.
• No permitted release of any potentially contaminated site water that has not been
checked for hydrocarbon contaminants.
Mobile Crushing and Screening Plants
There are no contaminated discharges to land expected from the construction and operation of the mobile crushing or screening plants. The plant is mobile and will be located within existing cleared borrow pit areas so that any dust laden water is retained within the confines of the borrow pit. Clean surface water will be diverted around the work area by use of bunding where practicable. Mobile plants shall also be situated in a suitable location such that they are located at least 50 meters from any permanent water body.
6.7.3 Residual risk to environment
The risk to the environment from discharges to land from the processing plant and mobile crushing and screening plant is considered low given the distance to any sensitive receptor (see Table 2-2 and Table 2-3), and the significant controls to be implemented.
Hydrocarbons stored on site during the Project construction will be predominantly diesel fuel, lubricants (new and used oil) and hydraulic fluids. There will typically be up to four 110 kL diesel storage tanks and up to six 55kL diesel storage tanks on site at any one time. A range of minor chemical storage facilities will be located on site typically containing a range of packaged chemicals in 50 litre containers and 220L drums. Hydrocarbons will be stored in the contractor laydown work areas. All bulk hydrocarbon storage will comply with DMIRS licensing requirements. All chemicals and hydrocarbons used during construction will be secondarily contained in bunded storage areas, approved chemical cabinets or dual skinned tanks. All chemicals and hydrocarbons will be managed under the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) and will be in accordance with Dangerous Goods Safety (Storage and Handling of non–explosive) Regulations 2007 and AS1940:2004 The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids. Site environmental management requirements include:
• All storage tanks and transfer points will be above ground and secondarily
contained in accordance with AS1940:2004;
• Vehicle refuelling will occur over compacted, lined earthen pad or a concrete
hardstand area (with the exception of field based machinery refuelling where a drip
tray will be used at the transfer point);
• All piping will be above ground where practicable. Where hydrocarbon piping is
below ground it will be secondary contained and have visual inspection pits for any
leaks in accordance with Rio Tinto standard specifications.
• All tanks will be secondarily contained;
• Substances in small volume packages (nominally 20 litres or less) will be stored in
a self bunded chemical cabinet or in a bunded area;
• Containers and drums may be stored temporarily on self bunded pallets or in a
HDPE lined earthen bund. The capacity of the bunding must be at least 100
percent of the volume of the largest container plus 25 percent of the storage
capacity up 10,000 litres as per AS1940:2004 s4.4.3; and
• Spill kits suitable for the stored material being stored will be co-located with all
chemical storage areas.
6.9 Solid/Liquid Waste
There are no liquid waste by-products generated by the Processing plant during construction or operation. Solid industrial and domestic waste will be generated during the construction and operation of the ore processing area. Waste material that is suitable for re-use or recycling will be separated from landfill waste and sent off-site for treatment or recycling as practicable. Non-recyclables will be disposed of in the licensed site landfill.
All Controlled Waste will be removed from site via an appropriately licensed controlled waste carrier and relevant records including tracking notes maintained on site for audit and inspection purposes. All waste handling procedures will be in accordance with the CEMP during construction and the RTIO Health Safety Environment and Quality (HSEQ) Management System during operations.
6.10 Flora and Fauna
New clearing is required for the construction of the Processing Plant, associated infrastructure
and site access. Ministerial Statement 999 approves up to 7911 ha of clearing for the mine
and Processing Plant Area, with all clearing associated with this proposal being covered by
this approval. Of this 7911 hectares approximately 54 ha will be required for the footprint of
the Processing Plant.
Construction and operation of the Processing Plant and related infrastructure has the potential
to impact on certain conservation significant flora and fauna. In particular MS 999 specifies
conditions relating to the management of impacts on the PLNB, Northern Quoll, certain
Troglofauna zones and two flora species Hamersley Lepidium (Lepidium catapycnon) and
Sauropus sp. Koodaideri detritals now known as Synostemon hamersleyensis.
The Rio Tinto Approval Request and Ground Disturbance permitting process will be used to
directly control all land clearing and ground disturbing activities on site. Issuing permits
involves extensive analysis using GIS data acquired through professional botanical and
ecological surveys. The commencement of work under approved permits requires formal
survey, delineation of clearing limits, direct supervision of land clearing activities, mandatory
land disturbance training and extensive reporting including survey pick and assessment via
GIS applications.
Site specific controls relating to the management of impacts to PLNB committed to in the PLNB
management plan include:
• Implementing the approved PLNB management plan;
• Implementing an exclusion zone around the K75W Adit/cave System to minimise
noise and vibration impacts;
• Implementing exclusion zones around the Koodaideri Spring Gorge Foraging
habitat;
• Undertaking monitoring in accordance with the approved PLNB; and
• Ensuring lighting is designed in accordance with Australian Standards
requirements for plant and some infrastructure.
Site specific controls relating to the management of impacts to Northern Quoll required under
MS 999 include:
• Implementing the approved Northern Quoll Management plan;
• Undertaking surveys to identify Northern quoll habitat, presence and abundance
• Having the Northern Quoll management plan prepared and approved prior to the
commencement of ground-disturbing activities within 50 metres of the mapped
Northern quoll foraging and denning habitat; and
• Implementing protocols and procedures to monitor Northern Quoll presence and
abundance adjacent to the mine pit within the Mine/Plant Area Development
Envelope during construction and operation.
Additional general site-wide controls relating to fauna management include:
• General personnel and contractors are prohibited from feeding or handling nay
wildlife in the Project area;
• Trained Fauna Handlers will be on site to manage fauna interaction issues;
• A fauna interaction register will be maintained on site;
• All open pits and trenches are required to include fauna egress facilities or
preferably prevent fauna access to the extent possible;
• Water sources (i.e. turkeys nests) will be fenced so that non-native fauna are not
attracted to the area;
• All waste food material is contained in closed bins onsite; and
• Site communications will periodically feature conservation significant fauna to
assist with educating the workforce on fauna management requirements.
7 Rehabilitation and Closure
After construction works are completed, areas that have been cleared and no longer required for operational use will be rehabilitated. On completion of the required mining operations all structures associated with Koodaideri will be removed from the site and the area rehabilitated. The closure of infrastructure and activities the subject of this works approval will follow the approved mine closure plan for the Koodaideri Mine. The closure plan will evolve over time and will be updated regularly as required under Ministerial Statement 999.
8 Project Costs
Costs associated with the construction of the proposed facilities are detailed below:
Table 8.7-1: Project Costs
Project Description Projected Cost $AUD
Primary Crushing, Transfer Station and Conveyors $ 98,977,302
Crushed Ore Conveyor and Storage $ 62,188,758
Secondary Crushing, Screening, Conveyors and Substations $ 198,946,574
Product Sample Station and Conveyors $ 13,388,483
Stockyard, Stackers, Reclaimer and Conveyors $ 189,289,543
Potential impacts Proposed management Section number
Commitment
Noise emissions Noise / Vibration impacts on fauna habitat, including potential roosting sites for bats
Implement the approved
Pilbara Leaf Nosed Bat
Environmental Management
Plan
6.3
Fitting vehicles and stationary items of equipment with exhaust mufflers;
Screening or enclosing stationary items of equipment with acoustic
enclosures to reduce operating nose levels.
Requiring contractors to comply with the Environmental Protection (Noise)
Regulations 1997.
Construction works must be carried out in accordance with Section 6 of
Australian Standard 2436-1981 “Guide to Noise control on Construction,
Maintenance and Demolition Sites” and the Environmental Protection
(Noise) Regulations 1997 (WA)
Implementation of Blast Management Plans for all blasting activities and
include an assessment of proximity to sensitive receptors, including
nearby communities, heritage rock shelters and bat cave locations
Prevent development in Pilbara Leaf Nosed Bat exclusion zones
Light Emissions Disruption to nocturnal fauna Disruption in PLNB roosting patterns
Implement the approved
Pilbara Leaf Nosed Bat
Environmental Management
Plan
6.5
Plant lighting design will comply with Australian standards for safe work.
Lighting design will ensure light is directed to work areas and minimal light
spill occurs.
Walkways and platforms that require permanent lighting at night will have
shrouded lenses and LED’s with optics that direct lighting only onto
walkways and platforms with minimal “spill” to reduce light spill.
Prevent development in Pilbara Leaf Nosed Bat exclusion zones
Discharge to Land
Potential contamination of soil and groundwater exists due to the possible presence of iron, hydrocarbons and chemicals within stormwater, leaks and spills associated with the construction of the fixed crushing and screening infrastructure.
Secondarily contain storage of
hydrocarbons and other
chemicals.
Separate all clean and
potentially contaminated water
sources.
6.7.2
Diversion of clean surface water around the work area to the extent
achievable by applying Rio Tinto Standard specification SS-N102
Sediment Control and Separation
Secondary containment of all chemical and hydrocarbon storage across
the entire site.
Approval process prior to mobilising any chemicals to site.
Drainage sumps to settle out sediments prior to discharge from the plant
area.
No permitted release of any potentially contaminated site water that has