FLINDERS MINES LTD ASSESSMENT ON PROPONENT …

PILBARAIRONOREPROJECT–REVISEDPROPOSALFLINDERSMINESLTD

ASSESSMENTONPROPONENTINFORMATION–ENVIRONMENTALREVIEWDOCUMENT

Date:20March2015

PreparedforFlindersMinesLtdByPrestonConsultingPtyLtd20March2015Rev_0

ASSESSMENTONPROPONENTINFORMATION–ENVIRONMENTALREVIEWDOCUMENTFlindersMinesLtd

P a g e |i

Proponentcontactdetails:

FLINDERSMINESLTDContactPerson: MiroRapaicEmail: [email protected]: 0881327950Address: Level1,135FullartonRoad,RosePark,SouthAustralia,5067Documentdevelopedby:

PRESTONCONSULTINGPTYLTDPhilScott(Director)Email: [email protected]: www.prestonconsulting.com.auPhone: +61892210011Fax: +61892214783StreetAddress: Level3,201AdelaideTerrace,EastPerth,WesternAustralia,6004PostalAddress: POBox3093,EastPerth,WesternAustralia,6892 DisclaimerThisReporthasbeenpreparedonbehalfofandfortheexclusiveuseofFlindersMinesLtdandissubjecttoandissuedinaccordancewiththeagreementbetweenPrestonConsultingPtyLtdandFlindersMinesLtd.PrestonConsultingPtyLtdacceptsnoliabilityorresponsibilitywhatsoeverfororinrespectofanyuseoforrelianceuponthisReportbyanythirdparty.


P a g e |ii

CONTENTS

LISTOFFIGURES .......................................................................................................................... III

LISTOFTABLES ........................................................................................................................... III

LISTOFAPPENDICES ..................................................................................................................IV

1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1

ProjectBackground .................................................................................................................1

KeyTerminology .....................................................................................................................1

PurposeofthisDocument .......................................................................................................3

LevelofAssessmentCriteria‐CategoryAAPI .......................................................................4

2 GENERALDESCRIPTIONOFPROPOSAL ....................................................................... 5

SummaryofPIOPStage1 .......................................................................................................5

ProposalFacilitiesandActivities ............................................................................................5

Location,TenureandLandUse ........................................................................................... 10

ApprovalandDevelopmentTimeframes ............................................................................. 13

3 PROPONENTANDKEYPROPOSALCHARACTERISTICS ............................................ 14

ProponentDetails ................................................................................................................. 14

KeyProposalCharacteristics ............................................................................................... 14

4 STAKEHOLDERCONSULTATION ................................................................................. 16

5 RELEVANTSTUDIES ..................................................................................................... 18

6 ASSESSMENTOFPRELIMINARYKEYENVIRONMENTALFACTORS ......................... 22

DeterminationofPreliminaryKeyEnvironmentalFactors ................................................ 22

DiscussionofEachPreliminaryKeyEnvironmentalFactor ............................................... 22

7 OTHERENVIRONMENTALFACTORS .......................................................................... 35

8 PRINCIPLESOFTHEEPACT ........................................................................................ 41

9 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 42

ProponentConclusions ......................................................................................................... 42

ApplicationoftheSignificanceFramework ........................................................................ 43

10 GLOSSARY ..................................................................................................................... 44

11 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 46

12 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................. 49


P a g e |iii

LISTOFFIGURES

Figure1:RegionallocationofthePilbaraIronOreProject.............................................................................2Figure2:RevisionstothePIOPStage1DevelopmentEnvelopeapprovedunderMS924...............8Figure 3: Final proposed Mine and External Infrastructure Development Envelopes for theRevisedProposal................................................................................................................................................................9Figure4:TenureandlandusewithintheDevelopmentEnvelopes ................................................ 11 Figure5:BoundariesofMillstreamWaterReserve .......................................................................... 12 Figure6:StudyAreaboundaries ....................................................................................................... 30 Figure7:LocationofPriorityFloraidentifiedduringsurveys ....................................................... 31 Figure8:GDEsinproximitytoProposal ........................................................................................... 32 Figure9:Faunahabitatandrecords ................................................................................................. 33 Figure10:LandsystemsthatintersectwiththeStudyArea .......................................................... 34 Figure11:Interpretedextentofinterconnectedaquifers(fromWorleyParsons,2012c) ........... 40 Figure12:Conceptualillustrationoftheapplicationofthesignificanceframework ................... 43

LISTOFTABLES

Table1:CriteriaforCategoryAAPIlevelofassessment..................................................................................4Table2:SummaryofPIOPStage1Elements........................................................................................................5Table3:SummarydescriptionofProposalelements........................................................................................6Table4:Approvalsschedule......................................................................................................................................13Table5:KeycharacteristicsoftheProposal(correspondstoDevelopmentEnvelopeboundariesprovidedinFigure3).....................................................................................................................................................15Table6:Relevantstakeholderconsultationrecords.......................................................................................16Table7:Summaryofrelevantenvironmentalsurveys..................................................................................18Table8:AssessmentTable–PreliminaryKeyEnvironmentalFactors...................................................24Table9:Environmentalassessment–otherenvironmentalfactors.........................................................36Table10:EPActPrinciples........................................................................................................................................41


P a g e |iv

LISTOFAPPENDICES

Appendix1:FloraandVegetationSurveyReportsAppendix2:FaunaSurveyReportsAppendix3:GroundwaterAbstractionModellingReportsAppendix4:TailingsGeochemicalStudiesAppendix5:SummaryofStakeholderConsultationAppendix6:CommunicationwithDecisionMakingAuthoritiesAppendix7:FlindersPilbaraIronOreProject–Stage1API–EnvironmentalReviewDocumentAppendix8:DevelopmentEnvelopeShapefilesAppendix9:PIOPStage1SignificantFaunaSpeciesManagementPlan


P a g e |1

1 INTRODUCTION

PROJECTBACKGROUND

FlindersMinesLtd (FMS)obtainedMinisterialapproval for thedevelopmentofStage1of thePilbaraIronOreProject(PIOP)on11January2013(MinisterialStatement(MS)924).ThePIOPis locatedapproximately70kilometres (km)north‐westofTomPrice in thePilbara regionofWesternAustralia(WA)(Figure1).TheStage1ProposalapprovedunderMS924wasforminingonlyanddidnotincludeanexportoption.

TheBallaBallaJointVenture,whosesponsorsareToddCorporationLtdandRutilaResourcesLtd(Rutila)haveidentifiedthattheproposedBallaBallaInfrastructure(BBI)Port(MS945),locatedapproximately200kmtothenorthofthePIOP,hasadditionalcapacityandsignedanAllianceAgreementwithFMStobecomethe foundationcustomer for theBBIPort. A200kmrailandconveyor corridor is proposed to connect the PIOP with the BBI Port (subject of a separateproposal–currentlyunderassessment).

FMSidentifiedthatStage2ofthePIOPwouldneedtobedevelopedconcurrentlywithStage1toallowthePIOPtomeettheinitialdemandrequiredattheBBIPort.Stage2generallyreferstotheprocessingoforeonsite,andincludesadditionalminingarea,processing,transportandsupportinfrastructure,tailingsstorageandwaterabstractionadditionaltothatapprovedinStage1.TheadditionofStage2tothePIOPisarevisiontotheProposalapprovedunderMS924.Stage2isthereforethesubjectofthisdocumentandformsthescopeofthisProposal.

KEYTERMINOLOGY

Asdiscussedabove,thisAPIDocumentreferstoarevisionofthePIOPStage1Proposalthatwasapproved under MS 924. To ensure consistency throughout this document, the followingterminologywillbeused:

PIOPStage1–TheoriginalProposalapprovedunderMS924; TheProposal–theproposedrevisionstoPIOPStage1asdetailedinthisAssessmenton

ProponentInformation–EnvironmentalReview(API)document;and RevisedProposal – All components of the PIOP, including those currently approved

underMS924,aswellasthechangesproposedinthisAPIDocument.

Cape Preston

Dampier

SinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSinoSino

PannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonicaPannawonica

I N D I A N

O C E A N

KarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarrathaKarratha

Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas Robe Mesas

AnketellPoint

SerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenitySerenity

WestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestWestPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbaraPilbara

Bungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo CkBungaroo Ck PIOPM47/1451

(Blacksmith)

Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4 Brockman 4

Cape Lambert

RoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourneRoebourne

Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price Mt Tom Price

Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo Paraburdoo

ParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdooParaburdoo

Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2 Brockman 2

Tom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom PriceTom Price

CaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwinginaCaliwingina

ChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannarChannar

Balla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla BallaBalla Balla

FiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretailFiretail

Port Hedland

Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C Area C

West AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest AngelesWest Angeles

Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break Cloud Break

Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi Yandi

Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek Christmas Creek

Mt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt GoldsworthyMt Goldsworthy

Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman Newman

East AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast AngelesEast Angeles

Roy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy HillRoy Hill

NullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagineNullagine

Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback Mt Whaleback

JimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebarJimblebar

RobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRobertsonRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRangeRange

-23

°-2

2 °

-21

°-2

0 °

116 ° 117 °

116 ° 117 °

118 ° 119 ° 120 °

118 ° 119 ° 120 ° 121 °-20 °

-21 °-23 °

-22 °

121 °

FMS Mining Lease

Major Iron Ore Deposits

Ports

Ports (Proposed)

Towns

Roads

Railways

50 km0

Author:Drafted:Date:File No:

Projection:Scale:

Datum:Longitude/LatitudeGDA94

1:2,500,000

Location of Flinders Mines'Pilbara Iron Ore Project

G.Edwards (Preston Cons.)

PILBARA IRON OREPROJECT

PILBARA_410.wor

A.Bonner

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Figure 1

17 03 2015

PIOP

WesternAustralia

LEGEND

GEdwards

Text Box

Figure 1: Regional location of the Pilbara Iron Ore Project


P a g e |3

PURPOSEOFTHISDOCUMENT

Thepurposeof thisAPIDocument is toprovide adetaileddescriptionof theProposal and toenableassessmentofthepotentialenvironmentalimpactsthatmayresult,shouldtheProposalbeimplemented.Thisdocumentalsooutlinesthekeyelements(characteristics)requiredfortheconstructionandoperationoftheProposal.TheassessmentwillbecompletedbytheOfficeoftheEnvironmental Protection Authority of WA (OEPA) under the provisions of Part IV of theEnvironmentalProtectionAct1986(EPAct).

ThisAPIDocumenthasbeensubmittedalongwithareferralunderSection38(1)oftheEPAct,ontheassumptionthatanAPIlevelofassessmentisappropriate(refertoSection1.4below).ThisassumptionisbasedonongoingdiscussionswiththeOEPAoverseveralmonths.

The intention is that thisAPIDocumentcontainsall the information that theOEPArequire toassesstheProposal,andthereforethescopingprocesscanbecircumvented.

ThisAPIDocumenthasbeenwritteninaccordancewiththeEnvironmentalProtectionAuthority’s(EPA’s)gazettedEnvironmentalImpactAssessment(EIA)PartIVdivisions1and2AdministrativeProcedures(EPA,2012a),andhasalsotakenintoaccounttheEnvironmentalAssessmentGuideline(EAG)8:forEnvironmentalFactorsandObjectives(EPA2013b).FMSalsoconsideredtherecentlyreleasedEAGforPreparationofanAPICategoryAEnvironmentalReviewDocument(EPA,2015).

ThisAPIDocumentfocusesontheenvironmentalfactorsthataredeemedtobe‘key’factors;thosewith thepotential tobesignificantly impactedandcouldnotbeappropriatelymanagedunderother existing legislation. Potential impacts to these key factors are described in detail andassessed using relevant studies specific to the Proposal. ‘Other’ environmental factors arediscussedbriefly,withafocusondemonstratingthattheycanbeappropriatelymanagedusingacombination of industry‐standard controls and other existing legislation. Therefore, this APIDocumentdescribesthemostrelevantimpactsandcharacteristicsoftheProposalforassessmentand provides all related biological and technical reports and survey results as Appendices(Appendix1‐4).

FMS is also in the process of preparing a referral under the Environment Protection andBiodiversityConservationAct1999(Cth)(EPBCAct)whichistobesubmittedtotheDepartmentof the Environment (DotE) in parallel with this API Document. FMS intends on keeping theapprovalprocessesseparateanddoesnotrequestabilateralassessmentforthisProposal.


P a g e |4

LEVELOFASSESSMENTCRITERIA‐CATEGORYAAPI

In submitting thisdocument, the criteria foraCategoryA levelof assessmentwere reviewed.Table1identifiesthesecriteriaanddescribeshowtheProposalcomplieswitheachcriteria.

Table1:CriteriaforCategoryAAPIlevelofassessment

Criteria Comment

(a) TheProposalraisesalimitednumberofkeyenvironmentalfactorsthatcanreadilybemanagedandforwhichthereisanestablishedcondition‐settingframework.

TheProponent,inconsultationwiththeOEPA,hasconsideredthekeyenvironmentalfactors.Floraandvegetation,terrestrialfaunaandinlandwaterenvironmentqualityareconsideredtobekeyenvironmentalfactorsfortheProposal.

Thereisanestablishedcondition‐settingframeworkforminingproposalsinterrestrialenvironmentsinthePilbara.

(b) TheProposalisconsistentwithestablishedpolicies,guidelinesandstandards.

ThelocationandpurposeofthelanduponwhichtheProposalisbasedisconsistentwithestablishedGovernmentpolicyandlanduse.

Assessmentagainstpolicies,guidelinesandstandardsisprovidedinthisAPIDocumentandtheProposalisconsistentwiththese.

Informationisprovidedwhererelevantinrelationtoguidelinesandstandards.

(c) TheProponentcandemonstratethatithasconductedappropriateandeffectivestakeholderconsultation,inparticularwithdecisionmakingauthorities.

FMShascompletedextensivestakeholderconsultation.AsummaryoftheconsultationisincludedinSection4.

(d) ThereislimitedorlocalconcernonlyaboutthelikelyeffectoftheProposal,implemented,ontheenvironment.

TheProposalisexpectedtoresultinlowlevelsofpublicconcern.Asacomparison,theapprovalprocessforthePIOPStage1didnotleadtosignificantpublicconcerns.


P a g e |5

2 GENERALDESCRIPTIONOFPROPOSAL

SUMMARYOFPIOPSTAGE1

ThePIOPStage1wasapprovedon11January2013underMS924,andthescopeoftheProposalwassummarisedinEPAReport1456.ThekeyelementsofthePIOPStage1areaslistedinTable2below.

Table 2: Summary of PIOP Stage 1 Elements

Element Description

Sizeoforebody Approximately748Mtindicatedandinferred

Miningrate Approximately15Mtperyear

Projectlife 15years

Pitdevelopment

Ajaxpitdisturbancearea‐59haBadgerpitdisturbancearea‐37haBlackjackpitdisturbancearea‐118haChampionpitdisturbancearea‐530haDeltapitdisturbancearea‐470haEaglepitdisturbancearea‐504ha

Totalpitdisturbancearea‐1,718ha

Maximumdepthofpits‐100m

Roadinfrastructure

Widthofoutofpithaulroadcorridor‐40m Totalareaofoutofpithaulroadcorridordisturbancearea‐approximately209ha

Wasterock Stripratio–5:4:1(averagelifeofmine)

Totalwastematerial–approximately1,308Mt

Disposal–outofpitwasterocklandforms(WRLs)andinpitdisposal

AjaxWRLarea–N/ABadgerWRLarea‐3haBlackjackWRLarea‐20haChampionWRLarea‐47haDeltaWRLarea‐49haEagleWRLarea‐89ha

TotalWRLdisturbancearea‐208ha

Totalareaofdisturbance

Approximately2,135ha

Watersupply Averagewaterdemand–approximately4GL/yr

Source–groundwaterfromon‐tenementboresoroff‐tenementbores.Potentialforbothtobeconfirmed

PROPOSALFACILITIESANDACTIVITIES

ThisProposalistorevisethecurrentPIOPStage1asapprovedunderMS924anddescribedinSection2.1.ThesectionsbelowdetailtherevisionsrequiredthatformthescopeofthisProposal.

Table3summarisestheelementsoftheProposalaswellasanykeycharacteristicsrelevanttoEIA.ThePIOPhasbeenseparatedintotwoDevelopmentEnvelopes:


P a g e |6

1. TheMineDevelopmentEnvelope,whichisarevisionofthePIOPStage1DevelopmentEnvelope approved under MS 924, and is contained entirely within the Blacksmithtenement;and

2. TheExternalInfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelope,whichcontainsallinfrastructure(roads,camp,airstripetc.)thatliesoutsideoftheBlacksmithtenement.

TheseDevelopmentEnvelopes are shown inFigure2,with the revisions and additions to theoriginalPIOPStage1DevelopmentEnvelopeshowningreenandbluerespectively.ThemajorityofrevisionstotheoriginalPIOPStage1DevelopmentEnveloperelatetoinfrastructureoutsideoftheBlacksmithtenement,howevertherehavebeensomeadditionalareas includedwithin theBlacksmithtenementtoallowformining,accessroadsandcommunicationstowers.

Upto300haofgrounddisturbancewithintheMineandExternal InfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelopeswillberequiredtoimplementtheProposal.Thisconsistsof70haofdisturbanceforthedevelopmentofminepitsand30haforinfrastructurewithintheMineDevelopmentEnvelope,and200haofdisturbanceforthedevelopmentofexternalinfrastructuresuchasaccessroads,campsandairstripwithintheExternalInfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelope.

Figure 3 shows the boundary of the final Mine and External Infrastructure DevelopmentEnvelopesfortheRevisedProposal,withinwhichallgrounddisturbancewilloccur.

TherelevantshapefilesfortherevisedDevelopmentEnvelopesareincludedinAppendix8.

Table3:SummarydescriptionofProposalelements

ProposalElement Description

Mining 70haofadditionalminingareasformpartoftheProposal.ThesearelimitedtotwonewminepitsattheParagondeposit.

Miningwillbeundertakenusingstandardopencutbenchminingmethodsemployingdrilling,blasting,excavation,andhauling.Overburdenandwastematerialwillbeinitiallystoredinexternalwastedumpsandwillthenbesubsequentlyplacedinmined‐outpitswhenitbecomesoperationallyfeasibletodoso.

Pitlakesarenotanticipatedasthebaseofbothminepitswillnotextendbelowgroundwaterlevel.

WasteRock MuchofthewasterockfromthenewParagonpitwillbeusedforconstructionpurposes.AnadditionalWRLwillbedevelopedtoservicethenewParagonminepits.ThisWRLwillberelativelysmallinsize,coveringanareaofapproximately15ha.

In‐pitwasterockdisposalisnotexpectedtooccurattheParagondepositastheminedoutopenpitsareplannedtobeusedfortailingsdisposal(seebelow).

WaterAbstraction

Upto4GL/yrofgroundwaterwasapprovedtobeabstractedaspartofPIOPStage1(MS924).TheProposalwillrequireanadditional2GL/yr,primarilytooperatetheoreprocessingfacility(OPF).ThiswateristobetakenfromthedewateringboresandwatersupplynetworkapprovedunderMS924.TheexactborestobetargetedwillbesubjecttoapprovalfromtheDepartmentofWater(DoW).

TheParagondepositliesabovethewatertableandthereforedewateringisnotrequired.

OPF

AnOPFwillbedevelopedtoprocessBeddedIronDeposits,ChannelIronDepositsandDetritalIronDepositsfromallsevendeposits.

Run‐of‐mine(ROM)orewillbebroughttoaROMPadwhereitwillbestockpiledforuseattheOPF.TheROMorewillthenbereclaimedanddeliveredtotheOPFprimarycrusherwhereitwillbewet‐processedtoproduce100%sinterfinesproduct.Tailingswillbeproducedasawasteproduct.

TheOPFwillprocessapproximately27.5Mtpa(wet)ROMoreandproduceapproximately25Mtpaofproductand2.5Mtpaoftailings.


P a g e |7

ProposalElement

Description

TailingsStorageFacilities(TSFs)

TheforecastedtailingsproductionfromtheOPFisapproximately2.5Mt(1.25millionm3)perannum.TailingswillbepumpedtodedicatedemptyminepitswithintheMineDevelopmentEnvelopeviaatailingspipeline.InitiallytailingsisproposedtobepumpedtotheParagonminepitsasthesepitswillbeminedfirst,withorestockpileduntiltheOPFisreadyforoperation.AminepitattheDeltadepositmaybeusedfortailingsdisposalforthelaterstagesofmining.

Anembankmentmaybedevelopedatlowpointsintheminepitstoprovideadditionalstoragecapacityifrequired.

TheproposedTSFistoincludethefollowingkeycomponents: Distributionpipelineandspigots; Pontoon‐mountedrecoverypumpandreturnwaterpipeline;and Accessroads.

ThetailingswillbedosedwithaflocculentbeforeleavingtheOPFanduponarrivalattheTSF,thetailingsdensitywillbeapproximately65%solids.

Therewillbeafluctuatingandundeterminedamountofwaterreclaimedfromthepontoon‐mountedpumpinthesupernatantpond.ThereclaimedwaterwillbepumpedviaareturnwaterpipelinetotheOPFforreuse.

AssociatedInfrastructureandServices

PowerStation–ApowerstationwillberequiredtopowertheOPFandothermineinfrastructure.Thepowerstationisexpectedtobediesel‐powered(unlessnaturalgascanbeeconomicallysourced)andwillbesizedatapproximately25MW.Ifdeemedcommerciallysuitable,thepowerstationmayalsosupplypowertotheBBIconveyor.

ExternalAccessRoads–Additionalaccessroadsarerequiredtoconnectminingareaswiththeaccommodationcamp,airportandexistingtransportcorridors.Thedisturbancewidthrequiredfortheseroadswillvarydependingontheirpurpose,howeverwilltypicallybe30m.ThenorthernaccessroadsmayberequiredduetoterrainconstraintswithintheBlacksmithtenement.IfsuitableaccessisabletobedevelopedwithintheBlacksmithtenementthentheseroadsmaynotneedtobedeveloped.

Airport–Anairstripandadministrationbuildingwillbedevelopedtoallowtheworkforcetotraveltosite.ThePIOPisrelativelyisolatedthereforethedevelopmentofanairportwillgreatlyreducetraveltimes.TheAirportwillbedevelopedwithinthelocationshowninError!Referencesourcenotfound.andwillcomplywithallCivilAviationSafetyAuthorityrequirements.

AccommodationCamps–ConstructionandpermanentaccommodationcampswillbeconstructedwithintheDevelopmentEnvelopesforconstructionandoperationalpersonnel.Thesecampswillbeappropriatelysitedinproximitytokeyworkareasandpotablewatersupply.

OtherSupportingInfrastructure–Infrastructuresuchasadministrationbuildings,fuelstorage,workshops,laydownareasandcommunicationsmayberequired.ThesewillbesitedasrequiredwithintheDisturbanceEnvelopes.

Proposed Airstrip L47/728

Northern Road

M47/1451(Blacksmith)

Proposed Mine Village L47/730

AJAXBLACKJACK

CHAMPION

Southern Road L47/734

EAGLE

Proposed MEM Workshop

Proposed Haul Road

Proposed TSF

BADGER

DELTA

L47/731 Waste Rock

Mine Pit

Proposed ROM Pad

Proposed Plant

Proposed Ore Conveyor

Mine Pit PARAGON

Comms Tower Access Road

7,560,000 mN

7,555,000 mN

555,000 mE

7,545,000 mN

7,550,000 mN

555,000 mE

545,000 mE 550,000 mE

545,000 mE 550,000 mE

535,000 mE 540,000 mE

530,000 mE 535,000 mE 540,000 mE

530,000 mE

7,54

5,00

0 m

N7,

550,

000

mN

7,55

5,00

0 m

N7,

560,

000

mN


Projection:Scale:

Datum:MGA Zone 501:75,000 at A3

GDA94

Development Envelopesand

Indicative Infrastructure



PILBARA_414.wor

A.Bonner

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Figure 2

17 03 2015

1 km0

PIOP Mine Development Envelope - MS924

PIOP Mine Development Envelope - Revisions

PIOP External Infrastructure Development Envelope

PIOP Project Area


Mine Pit

Waste Dump

Haul Road

Legend

GEdwards

Text Box

Figure 2: Revisions to the PIOP Stage 1 Development Envelope approved under MS 924


7,560,000 mN

7,555,000 mN

555,000 mE

7,545,000 mN

7,550,000 mN

555,000 mE

545,000 mE 550,000 mE

545,000 mE 550,000 mE

535,000 mE 540,000 mE

530,000 mE 535,000 mE 540,000 mE

530,000 mE

7,54

5,00

0 m

N7,

550,

000

mN

7,55

5,00

0 m

N7,

560,

000

mN


Projection:Scale:

Datum:MGA Zone 501:75,000 at A3

FinalDevelopment Envelopes

GDA94PILBARA_415.wor17 03 2015A.Bonner

WESTERN AUSTRALIA



Figure 3

1 km0

PIOP Mine Development Envelope


PIOP Project Area

Legend

GEdwards

Text Box

Figure 3: Final Proposed Mine and External Infrastructure Development Envelopes for the Revised Proposal


P a g e |10

LOCATION,TENUREANDLANDUSE

TheProposalislocatedinthePilbararegionofWA.AllproposeddisturbanceaddressedinthisAPIDocumentisplannedtobeconstructedentirelywithintheboundaryoftheMineandExternalInfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelopes.

TheMineDevelopmentEnvelopelieswithintheboundariesoftheBlacksmithtenement(MiningLeaseM47/1451).TheExternalInfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelopelieswithinthefollowingtenureasshowninFigure4:

ExplorationLeaseE47/1560(heldbyFlindersIronPtyLtd,asubsidiaryofFMS).AppropriatemiscellaneouslicenceshavebeenappliedforovertheareasoftheDevelopmentEnvelopeonthistenement,howevertheyhavenotyetbeenapproved(L47/734,L47/730andL47/728);and

Afuturemiscellaneouslicence(L47/731)thathasbeenappliedfor,foraccessroadstothenorthandeastofM47/1451.

TheProposalislocatedwithintheMillstreamWaterReserveasshowninFigure5.Thereservewasproclaimed in1969for thepurposeofpublicdrinkingwatersourceprotection. By‐lawscreatedundertheCountryAreasWaterSupplyAct1947enabletheDoWtoconsiderpotentiallycontaminatingactivitiesandlanduses,andtoinspectpremises(DoW,2010).

AsmallportionofbothDevelopmentEnvelopesoverlapswithCoolawanyahStation(Figure4).ThenearestconservationestateisKarijiniNationalPark,located45kmeastoftheProposal.

GEdwards

Text Box

Figure 4: Tenure and land use

GEdwards

Text Box

Figure 5: Boundaries of Millstream Water Reserve


P a g e |13

APPROVALANDDEVELOPMENTTIMEFRAMES

KeyapprovalmilestonetargetsforassessmentunderSection38oftheEPActareshowninTable4. These timeframes are consistent with the EPA’sEAG 6: forTimelines forEIA of Proposals(EPA,2013a). The key development milestone timeframes will be determined after a fullBankableFeasibilityStudyhasbeencompletedinQ32015.

Table4:Approvalsschedule

2015

Stage Mar Apr May Jun Jul

ProposalreferredandacceptedbytheOEPA

Publiccommentperiodonreferralinformation(7days)

OEPAsetlevelofassessmentasAPICategoryA(4weeks)

OEPAassessProposalandtakeanassessmentstrategyandreferralinformationtoEPAmeeting(7weeks)

OEPAconsultswithproponentandDecision‐MakingAuthoritiesondraftrecommendedconditions(2weeks)

OEPApublishreportandsubmitstotheMinister(4weeksfromdateofEPAmeeting)

AppealperiodtotheMinisterontheEPA’sAssessmentReport(2weeks)

Ministerissuesstatementifnoappeals(approximately2weeks)


P a g e |14

3 PROPONENTANDKEYPROPOSALCHARACTERISTICS

PROPONENTDETAILS

The proponent is FMS, an emerging Australian iron ore company with the main focus ofdevelopingthePIOP,situatedinthePilbararegionofWA.ThePIOPis100%ownedbyFMS.TheProponentfortheProposalisthereforedetailedbelow:

FlindersMinesLtdABN:14149783068

Thekeycontactpersoninrelationtothisdocumentis:

FlindersMinesLimited

ContactPerson:MiroRapaic–GeneralManager–ProjectDevelopmentEmail: [email protected]: www.flindersmines.comPhone: +61881327959Mobile: +61437212340 Address: Level1,135FullartonRoad,RosePark,SouthAustralia5067

KEYPROPOSALCHARACTERISTICS

FMShasconsideredEAG1:DefiningtheKeyCharacteristicsofaProposal(EPA,2012b)‐whichfocusesonhowtodefinethekeycharacteristicsofproposalsforthepurposesofassessmentandincorporationintoaMS.TheobjectiveofEAG1istoassistproponentstoidentifyandprovidethekeycharacteristicsthatcaptureallkeyfeaturesoftheProposalrelevanttoPartIVoftheEPAct.

ItisexpectedthatareplacementMinisterialStatementwillbereleasedfortheRevisedProposal,and MS 924 will become invalid. For this reason, the key characteristics definitions in thereplacementMSwillneedtoencompassboththePIOPStage1andthisProposal.TheproposedkeycharacteristicsfortheRevisedProposalaredescribedinTable5.

Figure3 shows theboundaryof theDevelopmentEnvelopes for theRevisedProposal,withinwhichallgrounddisturbancewilloccur.


P a g e |15

Table5:KeycharacteristicsoftheProposal(correspondstoDevelopmentEnvelopeboundariesprovidedinFigure3)

SummaryoftheProposal

ProposalTitle PilbaraIronOreProject–RevisedProposal

ProponentName

FlindersMinesLimited

ShortDescription

TheproposalistodevelopandoperateanironoremineontheBlacksmithtenement(M47/1451)locatedapproximately70kmnorth‐westofTomPriceinthePilbararegionofWesternAustralia.Theproposalalsoincludesadditionalinfrastructuresuchasaccessroads,airport,accommodationcamps,powerstation,oreprocessingfacility,tailingsstoragefacilitiesandothersupportinginfrastructure.

PhysicalElements

Element Location ExtentAuthorisedunderMS924 RevisedProposal

Backfillingofminepits

Figure3 Minepitsaretobebackfilledsothatthefinalsurfacelevelsareatahigherelevationthanthepredictedpostdevelopmentgroundwaterlevelstopreventtheformationofpitlakes.

Nochange.

Minepitsandassociatedinfrastructure

Figure3 Minepits‐Clearingnomorethan1,718hawithinthe7,262haDevelopmentEnvelope.

AssociatedInfrastructure‐Clearingnomorethan417hawithinthe7,262haDevelopmentEnvelope.

Minepits‐Clearingnomorethan1,788hawithinthe7,531haMineDevelopmentEnvelope.

AssociatedInfrastructure‐Clearingnomorethan447hawithinthe7,531haMineDevelopmentEnvelope.

Externalinfrastructure(includingairport,camp,accessroads)

Figure3 ‐ Clearingnomorethan200hawithinthe1,316haExternalInfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelope.

OperationalElements

Element ExtentAuthorised RevisedProposal

OreProcessing(waste)

‐ Disposaloftailingstoin‐pitstorageareas.

Waterabstraction

Netabstractionofnomorethan4gigalitresperannum.

Netabstractionofnomorethan6gigalitresperannum.


P a g e |16

4 STAKEHOLDERCONSULTATION

FMScompletedsignificantstakeholderconsultationforPIOPStage1(Appendix5)andmuchofthecontentofthisconsultationalsoappliestothisProposal. InthetimesincetheapprovalofPIOPStage1FMShasalsoconsultedwithkeystakeholdersaboutthekeyitemsofinterestforthisProposal.

Adate recordsummaryof consultation ismaintainedbyFMSandwillbeused tosupport thegovernment approvals process by demonstrating that key stakeholders have been identified,issueshavebeenraisedandresponsesandoutcomesrecorded.Thekeystakeholderlistwillbeaddedas/ifnewstakeholdersareidentified.Asmuchofthestakeholderconsultationcontentcompleted for PIOP Stage 1 is also relevant to this Proposal, a summary of stakeholderconsultationcompletedforPIOPStage1isprovidedinAppendix5.

Table6detailsthekeystakeholdersandconsultationsincethereleaseofMS924thatarerelevanttothisProposal.

Table6:Relevantstakeholderconsultationrecords

Stakeholder Date Topics/issuesraisedProponentresponse/

outcome

OEPA Ongoingmonthlyandplanningmeetings

Presentationofoutcomesofsurveysandstudies;

Keyfactors; Assessmentrequirements; Submission,formatandcontentofthisAPI

Document;and Projectupdates.

FMSwillcontinuetoinformOEPAofdesignchangesandthestatusofsurveysandapprovalsubmissions.

DepartmentofMinesandPetroleum(DMP)

23Jan2015 TailingscharacterisationinformationsenttoDMPforcomment.DMPstatedthatFMShadadoptedanappropriateapproachtotheissueofmaterialcharacterisation.

FMStoconsultfurtherwithDMPattheMiningProposalstage.

DepartmentofEnvironmentRegulation(DER)

21Nov2014 PresentationoftheProposal; Licensingofvariousinfrastructurethatform

partoftheProposalunderPartVoftheEPAct,including:o OPFandassociatedTSFs;o Campwastewatertreatmentplant;o Minedewateringandrecharge.

FMSwillobtainworksapprovalsandlicencesunderPartVoftheEPActpriortoconstructionandoperationrespectively.

30Jan2015 TailingscharacterisationinformationsenttoDERforcomment.DERstatedthattheTSFswerelikelytorequireaworksapprovalandlicence

FMSwillconsultfurtherwithDERattheWorksApprovalstage.

DoW 14Oct2014 PresentationoftheProposalandinitialdiscussionaboutexpecteddewateringvolumesandrechargeoptionsavailable

FMSwillconsultwithDoWandobtainappropriateapprovalsfordewateringandrechargeactivities.

10Feb2015 TailingscharacterisationandTSFmonitoring; Watersupplyrequirements; Dewateringandrechargeoptions;and CommitmentsproposedfortheAPI

Document.

FMShaveconsideredDoW’scommentsandhaveincludedrelevantcommitmentsinthisAPIDocument.


P a g e |17

Stakeholder Date Topics/issuesraisedProponentresponse/

outcome

DotE 24Sep2014 PresentationoftheProposal; Presentationofoutcomesofbiological

surveys; PresentationofpotentialimpactstoMattersof

NationalEnvironmentalSignificance(MNES); ExpectedsubmissiondatesforEPBCAct

referral;and Cost‐recovery.

FMSwillconsiderDotE’sadvicewhenpreparingtheEPBCReferral.

DepartmentofStateDevelopment

Ongoing DiscussionsandacceptanceoftheProposal. ProposalunderstoodasacomponentthatsupportstheBBIProject.

WintawariGurumaAboriginalCorporation–EasternGuruma

Ongoing NativeTitlenegotiationsforM47/1451 HeritageProtocols Heritagesitesurveysandpotential

disturbance

NativeTitleAgreementreachedinMarch2012.Discussionscontinueregardingheritagesitesurveys.

CoolawanyahPastoralStation

2012 LandAccessAgreement ALandAccessAgreementwasexecutedinMarch2012

Rutila Ongoing PIOPexportrequirements; Timeframetargets; Infrastructureconnections; UseofFlinderscampforbiologicalsurveys;

and Sharingofenvironmentalinformationand

resources.

FMSwillcontinuetoliaisewithRutilathroughoutthelifeoftheProposal.


P a g e |18

5 RELEVANTSTUDIES

FMScommissionedsurveysandstudiesinordertoinformtheEIAforPIOPStage1.Severalofthese surveys and studies remain relevant to this Proposal and have been used in this APIDocument.

FMShavealsoplannedandimplementedaseriesofadditionalstudiestocomplementthePIOPStage 1 studies and allow the assessment of any new potential impacts associated with thisProposal.AllrelevantstudiesarelistedanddescribedinTable7,andprovidedinAppendix1‐4forreference.

Table7:Summaryofrelevantenvironmentalsurveys

Consultant,survey/investigationsname

StudyArea,typeandtimingStudystandard/guidanceand

limitationsAppendix

FloraandVegetation

EcoscapeAustraliaPtyLtd(Ecoscape)(2011a),PIOP–BlacksmithFloraandVegetationSurvey.August2011.

Approximately10,781haStudyArea;and

Level2floraandvegetationassessment,fieldsurveysconductedinMay/JunandAug2010,andMar2011.

EPAGuidanceStatementNo.51; PositionStatementNo.3;and ConsultationwithDepartmentofParksandWildlife(DPaW).

Limitations:Theresourceandaccessareaswereadequatelysurveyed,with50floristicquadratsassessed(approximately0.46quadratsperkm2acrossthetenement,but2.33quadratsperkm2intheunburntarea).Approximately80%ofthetenementwasburntinearly2010andprovidedsignificantconstraintsonvegetationmapping,howeverthereweresufficientunburntareastocharacterisethefloraandvegetation,exceptthemajordrainageline(riparianarea)throughthe‘Ajax’resourceareathatwastheonlyrepresentativeofthislandform/vegetationtype,andthewidevalleyfloorof‘Eagle’thatisanticipatedtohavehaddifferentshrublandvegetationtypes.

1

Ecoscape(2015),DesktopFlora,VegetationandFaunaSurvey(currentlyunderway–documenttitlenotyetverified)

DesktopsurveyofareasofDevelopmentEnvelopesnotpreviouslysurveyed;and

CommencedMarch2015.

ConsultationwiththeOEPAregardingcontent.

Currentlyunderway–tobeprovidedwhencomplete

GHD(2014),FlindersMines:BlacksmithProspectInfrastructureInvestigation.Vegetation,FloraandFaunaAssessment.October2014.

Approximately1,251haStudyArea;

SurveyofproposeddisturbanceareassouthofBlacksmithtenement;and

DesktopassessmentandLevel1floraandvegetationfieldassessmentconductedinJul/Aug2014.

EPAGuidanceStatementNo.51; PositionStatementNo.3;and ConsultationwithDPaW.Limitations:Nosignificantlimitationsnoted.Minorlimitationsinclude: Level1surveyconductedonly,overasingleseason;

Timingattheendofthedryseasonisnotoptimal,howeverthenumberoftaxafoundiscomparablewiththoseundertakenintheareaduringpreferabletimesoftheyear;

1


P a g e |19



limitationsAppendix

Rainfallfortheyeartodatewaslowerthanaverage,howeversuitablerainfallwasexperiencedinthethreemonthspriortothesurvey.ConditionsweredeemedsuitableforaLevel1survey;

Sixfloraspecimenswereunabletobeidentifiedduetoalackoffloweringorfruitingmaterial,howeverthemajorityoffloraspecieswereabletobeidentified;

Someareasofthestudyareahadbeenburntlessthanfiveyearsago,howeverthevegetationhadrecoveredwellandthiswasnotexpectedtoaffectthesurveyresults;and

Accesswasallowedforallbutasmallareatothenorth‐east.Informationforthisareawasextrapolatedfromnearbyaccessibleareas.

TerrestrialFauna

PhoenixEnvironmentalPtyLtd(Phoenix)(2014),Memo:PIOPLevel1VertebrateFaunaSurveyofProposedRoadAlignment.

Approximately6kmlongby200mwideStudyArea;and

DesktopandLevel1faunaandhabitatassessmentconductedin20Oct2014.

EPAGuidanceStatementNo.56;and ConsultationwithDPaW.Limitations: Nolimitationsnoted

2

Ecoscape(2011b),PIOP–BlacksmithVertebrateFaunaandShortRangeEndemic(SRE)Survey.

TheStudyAreaistheBlacksmithtenement(E47/882);

TargetedsearchforconservationsignificantfaunaspeciesincludingadesktopassessmentandaLevel2faunasurvey;

Preliminarysurveys31May–5June2010;

NorthernQuollsurvey13–18July2010;and

Targetedtrapping7‐16Oct2010.

EPAGuidanceStatementNo.56; EPAPositionStatementNo.3; EPAGuidanceStatementNo.20;and ConsultationwithDPaW.Limitations:Nosignificantlimitationsnoted.Minorlimitationsinclude: MuchoftheareahassufferedfromwildfireeventinFeb2010,andlowlevelgrazingformanyyears,whichwillhavehadalong‐termeffectonthefaunaassemblage.Morerecently,explorationactivityhasdegradedsomehabitat;and

TheDPaWPilbararegionalsurveydatawerenotavailableforcomparativepurposes.Thetrappingeffortandperiodofothersurveyswaslimited.

2

GHD(2014),FlindersMines:BlacksmithProspectInfrastructureInvestigation.Vegetation,FloraandFaunaAssessment.

Approximately1,251haStudyArea;

SurveyofproposeddisturbanceareassouthofM47/1451;and

DesktopassessmentandLevel1faunafieldassessmentconductedinJul/Aug2014.

EPAGuidanceStatementNo.51; PositionStatementNo.3;and ConsultationwithDPaW.Limitations:Nosignificantlimitationsnoted.Minorlimitationsinclude: Level1surveyconductedonly,overasingleseason;

Thetimingofthesurveymeantthatsomespecies(particularlyreptiles)mayhavebeenlessactive;and

Accesswasallowedforallbutasmallareatothenorth‐east.Informationforthisareawasextrapolatedfromnearbyaccessibleareas.

1


P a g e |20



limitationsAppendix

SubterraneanFauna

BennelongiaPtyLtd(2011),PIOP:BlacksmithSubterraneanFaunaSurveys.

SubterraneanfaunasurveysoccurredwithintheBlacksmithtenement(E47/882)atAjax,Blackjack,Champion,DeltaandEagleoredeposits;and

Jun2010‐Sep2011.

EPAGuidanceStatementNo.54a;and ConsultationwithDPaW.Limitations:Nosignificantlimitationsnoted.

2

BennelongiaPtyLtd(2012),Addendum:PIOP,BlacksmithSubterraneanFaunaSurveys.

Habitatcharacterisation,taxanomicandbiogeographicreviewofsubterraneanfaunacollectedintheBlacksmithtenementandsurroundingareasandadditionaltroglofaunasampling;and

7‐8Feb2012.

EPAGuidanceStatementNo.54a ConsultationwithDPaWLimitations:Nosignificantlimitationsnoted.

2

HydrologicalProcesses

WorleyParsons(2012c),PIOP–GroundwaterImpactAssessmentReport.

GroundwatermodellingforthePIOPtoassessthedewateringrequirementsattheChampion,DeltaandEagledeposits,andtheassociatedpotentialoff‐tenementdrawdownimpactsonGroundwaterDependantEcosystems(GDEs).

ConsultationwithDoWLimitations:Nosignificantlimitationsnoted.

3

WorleyParsons(2013),PIOP–DewateringModellingReport.AddendumtotheGroundwaterImpactAssessmentReport.

RevisionofWorleyParsons(2012c)modellingtoassesstheupdateddewateringrequirementsattheChampion,DeltaandEagledeposits,andtheassociatedpotentialoff‐tenementdrawdownimpactsonGDEs.

ConsultationwithDoW; AustralianGroundwaterModellingGuidelines.WaterlinesReportSeriesNo82,June2012,NationalWaterCommission,AustralianGovernment;

DHI‐WASYGmbH2012.FEFLOW6.1FiniteElementSubsurfaceFlow&TransportSimulationSystemUserManual.BerlinGermany.

Limitations:Nosignificantlimitationsnoted.

3

InlandWaterQuality

WorleyParsons(2012a),GeochemicalCharacterisationofMineWasteandTailings–ImplicationsforMineWasteManagement.

Geochemicalcharacterisationofwaste(Delta,EagleandChampiondeposits).Testworkoccurredin2012.

Thetestworkmethodsusedwereprovenapproachesto'static‐testing'and'kinetic‐testing'withintheAustralian,andinternationalminingindustries:

Price,W.A.(2009).PredictionManualforDrainageChemistryfromSulphidicGeologicMaterials.MENDReport1.20.1;

AMIRA(2002).AcidRockDrainageTestHandbook:Project387APredictionandKineticControlofAcidMineDrainage;

StewartWA,MillerSDandSmartR.(2006).AdvancesinAcidRockDrainageCharacterisationofMineWastes;and

MorinKAandHuttNM,1997,EnvironmentalGeochemistryofMinesiteDrainage:PracticalTheoryandCaseStudies.

Limitations:

Nosignificantlimitationsnoted.

4


P a g e |21



limitationsAppendix

GraemeCampbell&Associates(GCA)(2011),FlindersPIOP:GeochemicalCharacterisationofProcess–Tailings–SolidsSampleandManagementImplications.

Atestworkprogrammeexclusivelyfocussedonthedetritalirondeposit(DID)(DID2,DID3andDID4composites)andBrockmanbeddedirondeposit(BID)(BIDgandBIDhcomposites)oresoftheDeltadepositfromtheBlacksmithtenements.Testworkoccurredin2011.

Asabove.Limitations:Nolimitationsnoted

4

RGSEnvironmentalPtyLtd(RGS)(2014),IndependentThirdPartyReviewofMineWasteCharacterisationPIOP:ProcessWasteTailings.

AnindependentthirdpartyreviewoftheGCA(2011)report.RGSreviewedtheGCA(2011)reportinNovember2014.

AMIRA(2002).AcidRockDrainageTestHandbook:Project387APredictionandKineticControlofAcidMineDrainage;

DITR(2007).LeadingPracticeSustainableDevelopmentProgramfortheMiningIndustry.ManagingAcidandMetalliferousDrainage;

INAP(2009).GlobalAcidRockDrainageGuide;and

Price,W.A.(2009).PredictionManualforDrainageChemistryfromSulphidicGeologicMaterials.

Limitations:RGSstatedthatitwasnotclearfromtheGCA(2011)reportwhetherthecompositesamplesoforematerialsusedtogeneratethesingletailingssolidssampleprovideareasonablerepresentationofthetailingssolidslikelytobegeneratedbytheProposal.

4

GraemeMcDonald(2015),PIOPDepositHomogeneity.

AnassessmentbyFMSGeologistaboutpredictedhomogeneitybetweendepositsatthePIOP.ReportwasinresponsetothelimitationsidentifiedbyRGS(2014)(seeabove).

AustralasianCodeforReportingofExplorationResults,MineralResourcesandOreReserves(2012).

Limitations:Noneidentified.

4

FMSwillalsobeconductingdetailedassessmentspriortoconstructionsuchas:

Desktopflora,vegetationandfaunasurveyofareaspotentiallydisturbedasaresultofthisProposal(currentlyunderway);

Pre‐disturbancesurveysforthepresenceofconservationsignificantflora,vegetationandfaunawithinproposeddisturbanceareas;

Dewatering/waterabstractionwaterbalancemodelling–updatingcurrentmodellingusing revised mine planning and water balance information to determine accuratedewateringvolumesrequired;

Supplementarytailingsleachatetesting; BaselinemonitoringofgroundwaterqualityupstreamanddownstreamoftheTSFs; Nutrient loading assessments for wastewater disposal (i.e. from sewage treatment

plants);and Flowrateandvolumeassessmentsatwatercoursecrossingstoinformculvertorbridge

design.


P a g e |22

6 ASSESSMENTOFPRELIMINARYKEYENVIRONMENTALFACTORS

DETERMINATION OF PRELIMINARY KEY ENVIRONMENTALFACTORS

ThisAPIDocumenthastakenintoaccounttherecentlyreleasedEAGforPreparationofanAPI–Category A Environmental Review Document (EPA, 2015). This section will focus on theenvironmental factors that are deemed to be ‘key’ factors; those with the potential to besignificantlyimpactedandcouldnotbeappropriatelymanagedunderotherexistinglegislation.Potentialimpactstothesekeyfactorsaredescribedindetailandassessedusingtheinformationprovided from relevant studies specific to the Proposal. ‘Other’ environmental factors arediscussed briefly in Section 7, with a focus on demonstrating that they can be appropriatelymanagedusing a combinationof industry‐standard controls andother existing legislation. Insummary,thissectionwilldescribethemostrelevantimpactsandcharacteristicsoftheProposalfor assessment andprovides all relatedbiological and technical reports and survey results asAppendices(Appendix1‐4).

FMS andPrestonConsultingPty Ltd conducted an assessment of the potential environmentalimpactsof theProposalanddeterminedthat floraandvegetation, terrestrial faunaand inlandwatersenvironmentalqualitywerethethree‘key’environmentalfactorsthatrequireddetailedassessmentinthisAPIDocument.OffsetsandRehabilitationandClosureareIntegratingFactorsthatweredeemedtoberelevanttothisProposalandarealsodiscussedinthissection.

Thesubterraneanfaunaenvironmentalfactorwasoriginallyconsideredtopotentiallybea‘key’environmental factor due to the potential for impacts from groundwater abstraction andadditionalmining.Areviewofthesurveyreportsidentifiedthattherearehighlevelsofhabitatconnectivity between valleys, ridges and deposits, and the proposedmining described in thisProposalalloccursabovethewatertable.GroundwaterabstractionforthisProposalisonlytoprovidewatersupply(i.e.notdewatering),andtheabstractionwasdeemedunlikelytohaveasignificant impact on stygofauna habitat in comparison to the original PIOP Stage 1. It wasthereforedeemedtobeunlikelythattheProposalwouldsignificantlyimpactsubterraneanfaunapopulationsinthearea.Thisfactorwasthereforeclassedasan‘other’environmentalfactorandisdiscussedfurtherinSection7.

Thehydrologicalprocessesenvironmentalfactorwasalsodeemedtobean‘other’environmentalfactorasMS924alreadycontainsapplicableconditionstoaddressthisfactorandDoWisabletomanagegroundwaterabstractionundertheRIWIAct.

DISCUSSION OF EACH PRELIMINARY KEY ENVIRONMENTALFACTOR

Table8providesatabledsummaryofkeyassessmentinformationrelevanttotheProposal.Itprovidesaconciseoverviewofthesignificantenvironmentalimpactsthatarelikelytorequiremitigationandregulation.ThepotentialimpactsthatFMSdeemedtobeminorandeasily


P a g e |23

managedusingindustrybest‐practicemethodswerenotincluded,aspertheguidancelistedinEPA(2015).

FMSproposestoimplementappropriatemanagementmeasurestomitigatethepotentialimpactsoneachfactor.Themanagementmeasureshavebeendividedintotwotypesofcontrols;industrybest‐practicecontrolsandadditionalProposal‐specificcontrolsinTable8.


P a g e |24

Table8:AssessmentTable–PreliminaryKeyEnvironmentalFactors

InherentImpact(withoutmitigation)Environmental

AspectMitigationActionstoaddressresidualimpacts

Proposedregulatorymechanismsfor

ensuringmitigationPredictedOutcomes

FloraandVegetation–Tomaintainrepresentation,diversity,viabilityandecologicalfunctionatthespecies,populationandcommunitylevel.

Context:

Policy

MS924containedspecificconditionsrelatingtovegetation,specificallyGroundwaterDependantEcosystems(GDEs).MS924requiredthatFMSdevelopaGroundwaterDependantVegetationMonitoringandManagementPlan(GDVMMP)toverifythatimpactstoGDEswerekeptwithinthelimitssetinMS924;and

MS924alsorequiredthecontributionoffundsfortheclearingofgoodtoexcellentconditionnativevegetation.

RelevantBaselineInformation

ThefollowinginformationsummarisesthemajorfindingsofthefloraandvegetationsurveysundertakenbyEcoscape(Level2survey,2011a)andGHD(Level1survey,2014)andincludedinAppendix1.TheEcoscapeStudyAreareferstoareaswithintheboundaryofM47/1451,andtheGHDStudyAreareferstoaseparatestudyareaoutsideofM47/1451.TheseboundariesareshowninFigure6,alongwithacomparisonwiththeDevelopmentEnvelopeboundaries.

Itshouldbenotedthat80%oftheEcoscapeStudyAreawasburntatthetimeoftheirsurvey,howeversufficientunburntvegetationremainedtoallowthecharacterisationofthearea(Ecoscape,2011a).

ThereareportionsoftheDevelopmentEnvelopesthatlieoutsidetheecologicalsurveyareas(Figure6)orweresubjecttoLevel1surveysonly(GHDStudyArea).TheseareaswerenotabletobesurveyedtoaLevel2standardduetotimeconstraintsandtheunsuitabletimeofyear(planningcommencedinQ32014).Itwasinsteadpreferabletosurveyproposeddisturbanceareasatasuitabletimeofyear,priortoconstruction,andthereforethishasbeencommittedtointhisdocument(thissection).

AreaspotentiallyimpactedbytheProposalarecurrentlythescopeofadesktopflora,vegetationandfaunasurveybeingconductedbyEcoscape.Thissurveyisfocussedonthepotentialforconservationsignificantspecieshabitat,andtheresultswillbemadeavailabletotheOEPApriortothecompletionoftheirassessment.

Flora

NoplanttaxonrecordedwaslistedasThreatenedunderEPBCActorWildlifeConservationAct1950(WCAct);

TwoThreatenedFlorawereidentifiedwithin50kmofthePIOP,howevertheirhabitatsaretypicallyhighinthelandscapeonupperslopes,whichwillnotbesignificantlyimpactedbytherevisionstotheProposal;

FivePriority3and4PriorityFlora(PF)specieswerefound(Figure7),twoofwhichwerefoundwithintheExternalDevelopmentEnvelope.NonewerefoundinproximitytoproposeddevelopmentwithintheMineDevelopmentEnvelope;

AJosephiniaspecieswaslocatedintheChampiondepositarea.Thiswaseitheranunidentifiedspeciesorarangeextension;and

Sevenintroducedspecieswerelocated,noneofwhichwereDeclaredPestplantsorlistedonanyweedregister.

Vegetation

NoneofthevegetationtypesrecordedareconsideredlikelytorepresentaThreatenedEcologicalCommunity(TEC)orPriorityEcologicalCommunity(PEC);

>98%ofvegetationmappedwithinintheStudyAreawasinVeryGoodorExcellentcondition(excludingburntareas);

Grounddisturbance–clearingofnativevegetation;and

Earthmovingandconstructionactivities.

Implementthefollowingindustrybest‐practicecontrols:

ImplementProjectConstructionandOperationalEnvironmentalManagementPlans(EMPs).TheseEMPswillcontaindetailedmanagementactions,monitoring,reporting,correctiveactionsandresponsibilitiesforfloraandvegetation.KeymanagementactionstobeincludedintheEMPsare;

Managevegetationclearingthroughinternalgrounddisturbanceprocedures;

IdentifytheboundariesofareastobeclearedordisturbedbyGPScoordinatesandprovidemapsofboundariestodozeroperators;

Developthedisturbancefootprinttotheminimumrequiredtoensuresafeandadequateconstructionandoperation;

ManageanyindirectimpactstoriparianvegetationresultingfromerosionorwatercoursecrossingsasperthemitigationactionslistedintheHydrologicalProcessessectioninthistable;

Implementweedhygieneandmanagementmeasures/procedurestopreventspreadofweedsandtheintroductionofnewweedspeciesasaresultofconstructionandoperation.

ImplementthefollowingadditionalProposal‐specificcontrols:

ConducttargetedconservationsignificantfloraandvegetationsurveysofexpecteddisturbanceareaswithintheExternalInfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelope,priortoconstruction.FMSwillensurethateachareaissurveyedtoanappropriatestandardandatasuitabletimeofyear;

DevelopInfrastructurePlanandsubmittoOEPAforapprovalpriortothecommencementofconstruction.ThisProposalisbeingsubmittedpriortothedevelopmentofdetailedinfrastructuredesign,thereforeflexibilityiscriticalatthisearlystage.TheInfrastructurePlanwillbecompletedfollowingdetaileddesignandwillfinalisetherequireddisturbancetokeyenvironmentalfeatures,andwillprovidetherequiredinformationfromthesurveysdiscussedabove;

Provideanoffsetpaymentfortheclearingofupto300haofGoodtoExcellentconditionvegetation;

IncludeknownPFlocationsandvegetationidentifiedashavingthehighestlocalsignificanceinadesignconstraintsmaptobeusedduringdetailedprojectplanning.Theselocationswillbeavoidedifsuitablealternativeoptionsareavailable;and

ApplyappropriatebuffersaroundlocallysignificantvegetationandPF(ifnecessary)basedontheconstructionactivitiestobeundertaken(i.e.tominimiseindirectimpactsfromdust,floodingetc.).

ThereplacementMSisexpectedtoregulateimpactstofloraandvegetation,eithervialimitsinthekeycharacteristicstableorviaconditions,including:o Limitofground

disturbance;o Activitiesto

occurwithindefinedDevelopmentEnvelopes;

o Annualreportingofimpacts;and

o RequirementforoffsetsforthedisturbanceofGoodtoExcellentconditionvegetation.TheconditionisexpectedtosetarateperhectareinlinewithcurrentratesfortheHamersleyIBRAsub‐region.

EPBCActwillregulatepotentialimpactstoMNESfloraorvegetation(howevernonehavebeenfoundsofar).FMSisreferringtheProposaltoDotEforimpactstoMNESfaunainparalleltothisAPIsubmission;

WCActcanaddressimpactstoprotectedfloraiffound;

WeedmanagementwillbeaspertherequirementsoftheAgricultureandRelatedResourcesProtectionAct1976;and

AMiningProposalundertheMiningAct1978(MiningAct)willberequiredwhichwillensuretheProposalcomplies

PredictedOutcomes:

TheProposalwillresultinthedisturbanceofupto300haofnativevegetation.>98%ofthevegetationwithintheStudyAreasisinGoodtoExcellentcondition.Thisdisturbancewillbeoffsetinaccordancewithexpectedoffsetconditions;

SurveystodatehaveshownthatPECs,TECsorThreatenedFloraspecieswillnotbeimpactedbytheProposal.Intheunlikelyeventthatthesearerecordedduringsubsequentsurveystheywillbeavoided;

PFhavebeenrecordedwithintheExternalInfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelope(Figure7)anditpossiblethatthereareotherPFplantsorpopulationswithintheDevelopmentEnvelopesthathavenotyetbeenlocated.Withtheimplementationofmitigationactions,theProposalisnotexpectedtosignificantlyimpactoraffecttheconservationstatusofanyPFspecies,duetothefollowingreasons:o PFlocatedduringthetargetedconservationsignificantfloraand

vegetationsurveywillbeincludedinplanningdatabasesandavoidedwherepracticable;

o Goodenianudamaybecomemoreabundantasthisspeciesisoftenassociatedwithdisturbance;

o AllotherPFspeciesthathavethepotentialtooccurprefergorgesordrainagelinehabitat,whichwillbeavoidedasmuchaspracticable,andwhicharewellrepresentedoutsideoftheDevelopmentEnvelopes;and

o ThefinalPFdisturbancerequirements,anddetailsofavoidancemitigationapplied,willbeconfirmedwiththesubmissionoftheInfrastructurePlanpriortoconstruction;

ThepotentialunidentifiedorrangeextensionJosephiniaspecieswillnotbedisturbedasitliesoutsideoftheDevelopmentEnvelopes;

TheproposeddisturbanceisnotexpectedtoresultinasignificantdeclineintheextentofvegetationwithintheHamersleysub‐regionofthePilbaraIBRAregionasthissub‐regionisalmostcompletelyintact(i.e.>98%ofpre‐Europeanextentremaining);

Anadditional2GL/yrofgroundwaterabstractionwillberequiredtoprovidesufficientwatersupplyfororeprocessing(Section3.1).Thiswaterwillbeprimarilysourcedfromminepitdewatering,andisinadditiontothe4GL/yrofabstractionapprovedunderMS924.ThisadditionalabstractionisnotexpectedtoimpactGDEsasnoadditionalabstractionisproposedfromtheAjaxdeposit(whichhasthegreatestexposuretoGDEs.TheGDEsdownstreamoftheEagledepositareexpectedtobedependentonperchedaquifersratherthanthegroundwaterstoredintheChannelIronDeposit(CID)aquiferthatwillbetargetedforwatersupply.Thisconclusionwasbasedonthesignificantdepthtogroundwaterinthoseareas(>50m),andtheGDEsareonlyfoundalongcreeklines(WorleyParsons,2012b).TheGDVMMPalreadyrequiredbyMS924will,amongothercommitments,proposeadditionalinvestigationworkstoverifytheseassumptions.ImpactstoGDEsarethereforenotexpectedtoexceedthoseapprovedunderMS924,andassuchnonewconditionswouldberequired;and

Indirectimpactsarenotexpectedtobesignificantastheimplementationofbest‐practiceindustrycontrolshassuitablymanagedtheseimpactsinsimilarprojectsacrossthePilbara.

DegreeofUncertainty:

Theuncertaintiesassociatedwiththepredictedoutcomesarenotexpectedtobesignificant.Thekeyuncertaintiesare:

AreasoftheDevelopmentEnvelopesthatlieoutsidetheecologicalfieldsurveyareas(Figure6)orweresubjecttoLevel1surveysonly(GHDStudy


P a g e |25





ProposalislocatedwithintheHamersleyInterimBiogeographicalRegionalisationforAustralia(IBRA)sub‐regionofthePilbarabiogeographicregion(DotE,2011);and

GDEsoccurwithinandadjacenttotheStudyAreas(Figure8).

RelevantDesignConsiderations:

BothDevelopmentEnvelopesexcludethelocationwheretheJosephiniaspecieswasfound.

InherentSignificantImpacts:

DirectlossofprimarilyVeryGoodtoExcellentconditionnativevegetationwithintheDevelopmentEnvelope;

RiskofdirectlossofPFindividualsorpopulations; Riskofdirectlossoflocallysignificantvegetation; RiskofdirectlossofGDEvegetationorareductioninGDEhealth; Indirectimpactstovegetationhealththrougharangeofmechanismssuchasdust,floodingorerosion;and

Transferofexistingweedsortheintroductionofnewweedspeciesduringconstructionand/oroperation.

withrelevantstandards.

Area).Theseareasarecurrentlythescopeofadesktopflora,vegetationandfaunasurveybeingconductedbyEcoscape.Thissurveyisfocussedonthepotentialforconservationsignificantspecieshabitat,andtheresultswillbemadeavailabletotheOEPApriortothecompletionoftheirassessment.AreasintheExternalDevelopmentEnvelopetobedisturbedasdeterminedintheInfrastructurePlanwillbesubjectedtoatargetedLevel2conservationsignificantfloraandvegetationsurveypriortoconstruction.This,incombinationwiththemitigationactionsproposedmeanthatthisinformationwouldbeunlikelytoaffectthepredictedoutcome;

Thesurveyintensityandpresenceofburntareas.FMSconsidersthatsufficientinformationwasgatheredduringtheEcoscapeandGHDsurveystoallowanassessmentofimpactstothisfactor.FurthersurveysmayleadtotheidentificationofadditionalPFspeciesorlocationshowevergivenwide‐ranginghabitatofthemajorityofPF,itisunlikelythatthisinformationwouldalterthepredictedoutcome;and

GroundwatersourceforGDEsdownstreamofEagledeposit‐thereisinsufficientdatatoconfirmtheextentoftheperchedgroundwaterandthedegreeofconnectivitybetweenshallowanddeeperCID/BIDaquifers(WorleyParsons,2012b).Thiswillbeverifiedpriortodewatering,withdetailsincludedintheGDVMMPrequiredbyMS924,thereforethisuncertaintywillnotalterthepredictedoutcome.

AlignmentwithEPAObjective:

Thedisturbanceofupto300haofGoodtoExcellentconditionvegetationwillbeunavoidablydisturbedtoimplementtheProposal.GivetheconditionofthevegetationtheProposalwaspredictedtohavearesidualimpactforthisfactor.Takingintoconsiderationtheapplicationofoffsets(referto“IntegratingFactor(Offsets)”inthistablebelow),FMSexpectsthattheProposalcanbeimplementedtomeettheEPAobjectiveforthisfactor.

Alterationorblockageofsurfacewaterflows.

TheEMPs(discussedabove)willalsoincorporatesurfacewatermanagementanderosionprotectionintoprojectplanninganddesigntominimisedisruptiontowatercoursesandriparianvegetation.

ThereplacementMSwillregulateanyimpactsthatoccuroutsideofthelimitsauthorisedunderPartIVoftheEPAct.

Groundwaterabstraction.

ObtainallrequiredapprovalsundertheRIWIActpriortogroundwaterdrillingandabstraction;

ComplywithCondition6‐1ofMS924toensurethatgroundwaterabstractiondoesnotcausethelossofgroundwaterdependantvegetationbeyondtheboundaryofthe200mwideGDEvegetationimpactzoneshowninFigure4ofMS924;and

DevelopandimplementaGDVMMP.TheGDVMMPwillincludealltherequirementscurrentlylistedinMS924.

ThereplacementMSisexpectedtoincludethesameconditionsasMS924:o Condition

requiringthesubmissionandapprovalofaGDVMMPpriortogroundwaterabstraction;and

o ConditionsplacinglimitsonGDEdisturbance.

26Dand5CLicencesundertheRightsinWaterandIrrigationAct1914(RIWIAct)canensureimpactstoGDEsareminimised.

TerrestrialFauna‐Tomaintainrepresentation,diversity,viabilityandecologicalfunctionatthespecies,populationandassemblagelevel.

Context:

Policy

MS924didnotcontainspecificconditionsrelatingtoterrestrialfauna.TheEPAstatedinEPAReport1456that‘theproposal(Stage1PIOP)isunlikelytohaveasignificantimpactonconservationsignificantfaunaastheareaswithintheBlacksmithtenementthatwillbedevelopedarenotessentialfortheirongoingmaintenancegiventheirwidedistributionintheregionandthepresenceofsimilarsuitablehabitatsinsurroundingareas’.


ThefollowinginformationsummarisesthemajorfindingsoftheterrestrialfaunasurveysundertakenbyEcoscape(Level2survey,2011b),GHD(Level1survey,2014)andPhoenix(Level1survey,2014)(Appendix2):

ThreefaunahabitattypesweremappedwithintheEcoscapeStudyArea‐valleyfloor,hillslopesandgorges.Gorgeshabitatwasthemostrestrictedandofthehighestvalue,howevernonewerefoundinproximitytoproposedworkswithintheMineDevelopmentEnvelope(Figure9);

FourfaunahabitattypeswereidentifiedwithintheGHDStudyAreaasshowninFigure9Error!Referencesourcenotfound.,ofwhichbreakaway/rockyridgelinesanddrainagelinehabitatsweredeemedtohavethehighestsignificance;

OpenandclosedshrublandwastheonlyhabitattyperecordedwithinthePhoenixStudyArea(Figure9;Phoenix,2014),andwasnotdeemedtobesignificant;

Ecoscape(2012)alsodevelopedaregionalhabitatmapbasedoninformationgatheredduringtheirfieldsurveysandananalysisofaerialphotographs.EcoscapealsohighlightedkeyfeaturessuchasrockbreakawaysandsignificantdrainagelinesasbeingpotentialsignificantNorthernQuollandPilbaraOlivePythonhabitat(Figure9;Appendix2);

Grounddisturbance–clearingofpotentialfaunahabitat.

TheProposaldesignhas,andwillcontinueto,avoidandminimiseclearingofhighervaluefaunahabitatwherepracticable.Theproposedlocationsofinfrastructureweredevelopedtooptimiseoperationalcostswhilebeingsensitivetotheneedtoavoidorlimittheimpacttopotentialsignificantfaunavaluesduetoclearinganddisturbanceofhabitat.


Theproposedindustrybest‐practicecontrolsforgrounddisturbance(i.e.suchasminimisingdisturbance,developingaGDPsystem,managingweedsetc.)listedin‘FloraandVegetation’abovewillalsoapplytogeneralfaunahabitatdisturbanceandthereforehavenotbeenrepeated.Additionalindustrybest‐practicemanagementmeasuresspecifictofaunawillbeincludedinEMPsandwillincludeacommitmenttodesignwatercoursecrossingswithculvertswhichwillallowfaunatotraverseunderaccessroads.


ConductadditionaltargetedconservationsignificantfaunasurveysofareaswithintheExternalInfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelopethatareexpectedtobedisturbedduringconstruction;

DevelopInfrastructurePlanandsubmittoOEPAforapprovalpriortothecommencementofconstruction.TheInfrastructurePlanistofinalisetherequireddisturbancetoconservationsignificantfaunahabitat,andwillincludetheresultsofthesurveysdiscussedabove;

ConsiderdrainagelinehabitatidentifiedbyGHD(2014)asakeyconstraint–mineplanningandinfrastructuredesignwillbe

ThereplacementMSisexpectedtoregulateimpactstofauna,eithervialimitsinthekeycharacteristictableorviaconditions,includingthefollowing:o Limitofground

disturbance;o Activitiesto

withindefinedDevelopmentEnvelopes;

o Annualreportingofimpacts;and

o ConditionrequiringthesubmissionandapprovalofanInfrastructurePlanandrevisedSignificantFaunaSpeciesManagementPlanpriortoconstruction.

EPBCActwillregulateanypotentialimpactstoMNES

PredictedOutcomes:

Theproposedmineplansandlocationsofassociatedinfrastructureweredevelopedtooptimiseoperationalcostsandbalancetheneedtoavoidorlimittheimpacttopotentialsignificantfaunavalues.Otheractivemanagementmeasuresarealsoconsistentwithbestpracticeandstewardshipprinciples.

Afterapplicationofthedescribedmanagementandmitigationmeasures,theProposalisexpectedtoresultinthefollowingoutcomesinrelationtoterrestrialfauna:

TheProposalwillresultinthedisturbanceofapproximately300haofterrestrialfaunahabitat.TerrestrialfaunahabitatinthesurroundingarearemainsalmostcompletelyintactandthereforetheProposalisnotexpectedtohaveasignificanteffectontherepresentationofterrestrialfaunahabitatatalocalorregionallevel.ThisisinlinewiththeEPA’soriginalassessmentofthe2,135haofdisturbanceproposedforPIOPStage1,whereitwasconsideredthat‘developmentareaswithintheBlacksmithtenementwerenotessentialfortheon‐goingmaintenanceofanyconservationsignificantfaunaspecies’.NochangetotheaboveassessmentisanticipatedfromtheadditionalproposeddevelopmentareasoutsidetheBlacksmithtenement;

Breakaways/rockyridgelineshabitatasidentifiedbyGHD(2014)willnotbedisturbed(Figure9);

DisturbancewithingorgeshabitatoranypotentialsignificantNorthernQuollorPilbaraOlivePythonhabitatasdefinedbyEcoscape(2011band2012)isnotexpectedasthesehabitatswerenotidentifiedinproximitytoproposeddisturbanceareas(Figure9);

DrainagelinehabitatasdefinedbyGHD(2014)isrelativelywidespread(covers29%oftheGHDStudyArea)andextendsoutsideoftheExternalInfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelopeboundaries.Nevertheless,infrastructurewillgenerallybelocatedsuchthatdisturbancetodrainagelinesisminimised.Thiswilloccurprimarilyforengineeringreasons,as


P a g e |26





Thesehabitatsaregenerallywellconnectedbothlocallyandregionally(GHD,2014;Phoenix,2014);

105and74vertebratefaunaspecieswererecordedduringtheEcoscapeandGHDsurveysrespectively;

Ninespeciesofconservationsignificancewererecordedduringthesurveysfromdirectsightings,secondaryevidence,echolocationrecordingsandcameratraps.BasedonhabitatspresentintheStudyAreas,knowndistributionsandnearbyrecords,afurtherfiveconservationsignificantspeciesmaypotentiallyoccurintheStudyArea;and

Noshort‐rangeendemic(SRE)specieswereidentifiedasoccurringwithinorneartheEcoscapeStudyArea.SREspecieswerenotsurveyedbyGHDorPhoenix.

ThereareportionsoftheExternalInfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelopethatliewithinEcoscape’sdesktopfaunahabitatmapping(Ecoscape,2012;Appendix2)butoutsidetheecologicalfieldsurveyareas(Figure6)orweresubjecttoLevel1surveysonly(GHDStudyArea).TheseareaswerenotabletobesurveyedtoaLevel2standardduetotimeconstraints.Itwasinsteadpreferabletosurveyproposeddisturbanceareasatasuitabletimeofyear,priortoconstruction,andthereforethishasbeencommittedtointhisAPIDocument(thissection).

AreaspotentiallyimpactedbytheProposalarecurrentlythescopeofadesktopflora,vegetationandfaunasurveybeingconductedbyEcoscape.Thissurveyisfocussedonthepotentialforconservationsignificantspecieshabitat,andtheresultswillbemadeavailabletotheOEPApriortothecompletionoftheirassessment.


FMSinvestigatedseveralairportandaccommodationcampoptions,andthefinaltwooptionsweresurveyedbyGHD.Oneoftheoptions(thenorthoption)wasfoundtohavenumerousactiveWesternPebble‐moundMousemounds(Appendix2).Thisoptionwasnotpursued,andthesouthernoptionwaschosen,wherenoconservationsignificantfaunawereidentifiedduringtheGHDsurvey.FMShaveamendedtheiroriginalExternalInfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelopeboundarytoremovethenorthernairportoption.

FMShavereviewedtheirproposedroadalignmentsandcancommittocompleteavoidanceofBreakaways/rockyridgelineshabitatasidentifiedbyGHD(2014),andpotentialsignificantNorthernQuollandPilbaraOlivePythonhabitatasmappedbyEcoscape(2012)(Figure9).


Directdisturbanceofupto300haofgeneralfaunahabitat;and Riskofdirectdisturbanceofpotentialconservationsignificantfaunahabitat,includingpotentialNorthernQuollandPilbaraOlivePythonhabitat.

assessedtoavoidtheseareasofhabitatwherepracticable,orminimisedisturbanceinareasthatcannotbeavoided;

Applyappropriatebuffersifnecessaryaroundanykeyconservationsignificantfaunahabitat(suchasNorthernQuollandPilbaraOlivePythondenning/shelterhabitat)identifiedduringthetargetedconservationsignificantfaunasurveys,basedontheconstructionoroperationalactivitiestobeundertaken(i.e.tominimiseindirectimpactsfromdust,noiseetc.);

ReviewandimplementtheFMSSignificantFaunaSpeciesManagementPlan(Ecoscape2011c;Appendix9)priortoconstruction.ThisplanwillbeupdatedwithinformationfromtheInfrastructurePlanaboutfinalhabitatdisturbancerequirementsaswellasspecificdesignandmanagementcontrolsforconservationsignificantfaunasuchas:o Pre‐clearingsurveystodeterminethelocationofdens/

burrows;o Translocationplans;o Clearingcampaignsandsignificantdevelopmentswithin

criticalconservationsignificantfaunadenning/shelterhabitatwillbescheduledtoavoidthebreedingseasonwherepossible;

o Rehabilitationofhabitat;ando ConductaprogramtomonitortheeffectsoftheRevised

Proposalonconservationsignificantfauna. IntheeventthatmonitoringsuggestssignificantadverseeffectsonlocalconservationsignificantfaunapopulationsasaresultoftheProposal,aframeworkwillbedevelopedinconsultationwithDPaWforfurtherinvestigations,managementandcontingencyactions.

fauna. FMSisreferringtheProposaltoDotEinparalleltothisAPIsubmission;

WCActmanagesunauthorisedimpactstospecieslistedunderthatAct;and

SeveralapprovalsrelatetothedesignoftheProposal,andwillensureitcomplieswithrelevantstandards.TheseincludeaMiningProposalandMineClosurePlan(MCP)tobesubmittedundertheMiningActforallproposedworks,andworksapprovalsandlicencesunderPartVoftheEPActforprescribedactivities.

surfacewatermanagementcontrolswillberequiredforanyinfrastructurelocatedwithinthesedrainagelinesortheirfloodplains;

Thelandsystemscontainingsuitablehabitatarealsowellrepresentedinthesurroundingarea(lessthan1%ofeachlandsystem’sregionalextentoccurswithintheStudyAreas)(Figure10).Itislikelythatconservationsignificantfaunahabitatoccursmorebroadlyintheseareas.Asanexample,alargeamountofpotentialNorthernQuollhabitatwasidentifiedbyGHD(2014)alongtherockyridgelinesandmesasimmediatelyoutsideoftheExternalInfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelope;

Basedontheabove,theProposalisnotexpectedtoaffecttheconservationstatusofanyconservationsignificantspecies;

ImpactstoSREspeciesarenotexpectedasnoSREspecieswerefoundwithinornearbytheEcoscapeStudyArea;and

IndirectimpactstoterrestrialfaunaarenotexpectedtobesignificantandwillbemanagedusingConstructionandOperationsEMPs.


Theuncertaintiesassociatedwiththepredictedoutcomesarenotexpectedtobesignificant.Thekeyuncertaintiesare:

TheProposalincludesareasoftheExternalInfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelopethatlieoutsidethefieldStudyAreas(thenorthernroads),orwerenotsubjecttoaLevel2survey(GHDandPhoenixStudyAreas).TheseareasweremappedusingdesktopinformationbyEcoscape(2012)andarecurrentlythescopeofafurtherdesktopflora,vegetationandfaunasurveybeingconductedbyEcoscape.Thissurveyisfocussedonthepotentialforconservationsignificantspecieshabitat,andtheresultswillbemadeavailabletotheOEPApriortothecompletionoftheirassessment.

AreastobedisturbedwithintheExternalInfrastructureDevelopmentEnvelopewillbesurveyedforthelikelihoodandpresenceofconservationsignificantfaunapriortoconstruction,withproposedclearingareasprovidedbytheInfrastructurePlan.Theproposedmitigationactions,keycharacteristicslimitsandconditionsareexpectedtoensurethatanyuncertaintydoesnotresultinchangestothepredictedimpacts.Thedegreeofuncertaintyforthepredictedoutcomesisthereforelow.


GiventhatminimalimpactstoconservationsignificantfaunahabitatsareexpectedduringtheimplementationoftheProposal,asignificantresidualimpactisunlikelyforthisfactor.FMSexpectsthattheProposalcanbeimplementedtomeettheEPAobjectiveforthisfactor.

InlandWatersEnvironmentalQuality‐Tomaintainthequalityofgroundwaterandsurfacewater,sedimentandbiotasothattheenvironmentalvalues,bothecologicalandsocial,areprotected.

Context:

Policy

ThePIOPissituatedwithintheMillstreamWaterReserve,inaPriority2PDSWA.By‐lawscreatedundertheCountryAreasWaterSupplyAct1947enableDoWtoconsiderpotentiallycontaminatingactivitiesandlanduses,andtoinspectpremises(DoW,2010).

Relevantguidelinesinclude:

NationalWaterQualityManagementStrategy‐AustralianDrinkingWaterGuidelines6(NationalHealthandMedicalResearchCouncil&NaturalResourceManagementMinisterialCouncil(NHMRC&NRMMC),2011);

AustralianandNewZealandGuidelinesforFreshandMarineWaterQuality(ANZECCGuidelines)(AustralianandNewZealandEnvironmentandConservationCouncil,AgricultureandResourceManagementCouncilofAustraliaandNewZealand(ANZECC&ARMCANZ),2000);and

PowerStationandbulkfuelstorage;and

LeachatefromtheproposedTSFs.


TheEMPswillcontaindetailedmanagementactions,monitoring,reporting,correctiveactionsandresponsibilitiesforinlandwatersenvironmentalquality,including:

StoreandmanagedieselinaccordancewithAS1940‐2004andWaterQualityProtectionNotes,andseekfurtheradvicefromDoWregardinghydrocarbonmanagementandstorageareadesign;

Managehydrocarbonspillsoccurringduringfieldoperations,e.g.bursthydraulichose,accordingtomanagementprocedurescoveringthereportingandclean‐upofspills;and

Installsedimentpondsatvariouslocationstocollectrunoffandallowsedimenttosettleout.

ThereplacementMSwillrestricttailingsstoragewithintheMineDevelopmentEnvelope;

DERwillrequireaworksapprovalandlicenceunderPartVoftheEPActfortheTSFs,PowerStationandBulkFuelStorageArea.DERareexpectedtoprimarilyfocusonthequalityoftailingsleachate,thecontainmentoffuel

PredictedOutcomes:

AppropriatemanagementofhydrocarbonsandhazardousmaterialsiswellunderstoodonminesitesandrequirementswillbeincludedintheProposalEMPs.DMPwillgenerallyregulatestorageandmanagementofhydrocarbonsandhazardousmaterialsaspartoftheirpowersundertheMiningActandDGAct.DoWcommentwillbesoughtgiventhelocationoftheProposalwithintheMillstreamWaterReserve;

SedimentanderosioncontrolswillalsobeincludedintheProposalEMPsandregulatedbyDMP.TheMiningProposaltobesubmittedtoDMPwillcontaincommitmentsregardingsedimentanderosioncontrols;

Nopermanentpitlakeswillremainatmineclosure,asallproposedminepitsabovethewatertable;

TheTSFpitvoidoptionminimisestherisksassociatedwithatypicalvalleyfill/embankmentdesign,whereanembankmentfailurecouldhavesignificantimpactsondownstreamsurfacewaterbodies;


P a g e |27





MillstreamWaterReserve–DrinkingWaterSourceProtectionPlanWestPilbaraWaterSupply(DoW,2010).


WorleyParsons(2012)undertookaGroundwaterImpactAssessmentonsamplesthatweretakenfromtheproductionboresatDelta,ChampionandEagledeposits.Thegroundwatertestresultsaresummarisedbelowandindicatethatthegroundwateronsiteisofpotableandfreshquality(WorleyParsons,2012c);and

Staticandkinetictestingwereundertakentodeterminethepotentialforacidand/ormetalliferousminedrainage.Thestatictestingestablishedthatallwasterocksampleswereneutraltoalkaline(i.e.pHof7to8),containednegligiblesulphides,andwereclassifiedasnon‐acid‐forming.Theresultsfromthekinetictestingindicatethatconcentrationsofminorelementsinleachateswereeitherbelow,orcloseto,therespectivedetectionlimits,andthatmetalliferousdrainageisunlikelytobeanissuerequiringmanagement.


UptothreeseparateTSFsareincludedaspartoftheProposal.TheTSFswillinitiallybelocatedwithinmined‐outpitsattheParagondeposit,andamined‐outpitattheDeltadepositmaybeusedifadditionalcapacityisrequired;

Theminepitsproposedfortailingsstoragewillnotbeminedbelowthewatertable;

GCA(2011)completedageochemicalcharacterisationandassessmentprogramforasingleprocesstailingssolidsamplefromthePIOP.ThepurposeoftheGCAprogramwastopredictpotentialenvironmentalrisksposedbythetailingsmaterialsduringminingandpost‐closure.Basedonthetestworkitwasconcludedthattheprocesstailingsshouldbegeochemicallybenign.Inessence,duetothestrongly‐weatheredandleachedstatusoftheoresinsitu,theprocesstailingswouldhave"nothing‐to‐give",hydrogeochemically,astheywouldbesubjectedtoslow'residualweathering'undertheepisodic,pulsedrainfall‐regimeofthePilbara’(RGS,2014);

RGS(2014)undertookanindependentthirdpartyreviewoftheGCA(2011)reportandfoundthatthestaticandkineticgeochemicalcharacterisationandassessmentoftheprocesswastetailingswasgenerally‘fitforpurpose’.RGSwassatisfiedthatthesampling,testingandassessmentoftailingsmaterialsalignedwithAustralianandinternationallyrecognisedpractices(RGS,2014);

RGS(2014)howeverstatedthatitwasnotclearfromtheGCA(2011)reportwhetherthecompositesamplesoforematerialsusedtogeneratethesingletailingssolidssampleprovideareasonablerepresentationofthetailingssolidslikelytobegenerated.Toalleviatetheseconcerns,GraemeMcDonald(FMSGeologist)preparedareport(McDonald,2015;Appendix4)thatdemonstratesthatthereisahighdegreeofhomogeneitybetweenPIOPdeposits.ThefollowingtextistakendirectlyfromMcDonald(2015):o Geochemicaldatafromtheresourcemodelsdemonstratedthatthereare

similaritiesbetweenthedifferentgeologicalunitsfromonedeposittoanotheracrossarangeofmajorelements;

o Metallurgicalresultsshowthatdifferentunitsfromdifferentdepositsbehaveinasimilarfashionduringbeneficiationtrials;and

o AnumberofexamplesfromdifferentsourcesdemonstrateahighdegreeofhomogeneitybetweenPIOPdeposits.Thisconclusioncouldbeappliedtooreandwastelithologiesalike.ThissupportstheassumptionsmadebyGCAinundertakingtogeochemicallycharacterisetheproposedwasterockandtailingsofthePIOP.

Rockcontainingasulphurcontentofmorethan0.3%willnotbeminedasitislocatedbelowthebaseoftheminepits.


Groundwatercontamination(ofparticularinterestgiventhePIOPlieswithintheboundariesofaPriority2PDWSA);and

Contaminationofsurfacewaters.


Design,constructandoperatetheTSFsinaccordancewiththeGuidelinesforSafeDesignandOperatingStandardsforTailingsStorage(DMP,1999),TSFsinWA–CodeofPractice(DMP,2013)andANCOLD(2012)requirements;

Developandimplementagroundwatermonitoringprogram.Baselinegroundwatermonitoringwillbeconductedforaminimumof12monthspriortotailingsdisposalateachTSF(twoyearswillbethetarget).AseriesofgroundwatermonitoringboreswillalsobedevelopedinconsultationwithDoWandDMPtoenableroutinemonitoringofgroundwaterupstreamanddownstreamoftheTSFs.MonitoringresultswillbeassessedtoidentifyiftheTSFhasledtoelevatedcontaminantlevels;

Conductadditionalleachatetestingoftailingssamplespriortotailingsdeposition.FMSiscurrentlyinconsultationwithDoWregardingthenumberofsamplestheywouldliketobetested;

TestsamplesoftailingsreturnwateronaregularbasistoensuretailingswithelevatedcontaminatedlevelsarenotbeingplacedwithintheTSFs;and

Equiptailingspipelineswithpressuresensors(oranequivalentsystem)todetectchangesinpressurethatcouldindicatepipelineleakageorrupture.

andanyassociatedimpacts;

AMiningProposalandMCPwillberequiredtobeapprovedbyDMPundertheMiningActpriortoconstruction.TheMiningProposalwillassessthedesignofTSFs,watercoursecrossingsandsurfacewatersettlementstructures.Thisassessmentwillensurethatsurfacewaterstructuresdonotresultinexcessturbidityorincreasesinflowrates(whichmayleadtoscouring).TheMCPwilldetailmeasurestoreinstategroundwaterandsurfacewaterprocessesatclosure,andwillberevisedandre‐assessedbyDMPatleasteverythreeyears.DMPmayreferthesedocumentstoDoWforcommentifrequired;and

ALicenceundertheDangerousGoodsSafetyAct2004(DGAct)willberequiredforthestorageofanylargevolumesoffuelorotherhazardousmaterials.

Characterisationoftailingsandwasterockhasbeenconducted(describedindetailinAppendix4)whichconcludedthatthetailingsandwasterockdidnotposeacontaminantrisktogroundwaterorsurfacewaters.TestingoftheleachateshowedthatitdidnotcontaincontaminantsatconcentrationsabovetheAustralianDrinkingWaterGuidelines(NHMRC&NRMMC,2011)orANZECCGuidelines(ANZECC&ARMCANZ,2000)(GCA,2011).FMShascommittedtoadditionalleachatetestingtofurtherverifytheseresults.FMShasalsocommittedtomonitoringgroundwaterqualityupstreamanddownstreamoftheTSFs(includingaminimum12monthsofbaselinemonitoring)whichwillallowFMStodetermineifthetailingsisresultinginelevatedcontaminantsdownstreamoftheTSFs.DoW,DMPandDERhaveallbeenconsultedregardingtheproposedTSFsandhaveprovidedthefollowingcomments(providedinAppendix6):o DoW–concernedwiththesinglesample,haverequestedseveral

additionalcommitmentsinthisAPIDocument(includedinthistable);o DMP–agreethatFMShaveadoptedanappropriateapproachtothe

issueofmaterialcharacterisation;ando DER–statedthattheTSFsarelikelytorequireapprovalunderPartV

oftheEPAct,andthetailingswastecharacterisationinformationwouldneedtobeconsideredalongsideotherwastestreamsattheWorksApprovalstage.

Whileunexpected,ifmonitoringshowsthatgroundwaterisbeingcontaminatedasaresultoftheTSFs,severalcontingencyoptionsareavailable.Thesecouldinclude:o AnewlinedTSF;o Reconfiguringoftheoreprocessingmethodstoadryprocess;oro Dewateringoftailingstocreateamaterialthatcanbestackedinto

WRLs. Basedontheabove,itisexpectedthattheTSFswillnotresultinsignificantimpactstothisfactor.


RGS(2014)completedathird‐partyreviewoftheGCAtailingsreport(2011)andstatedthatitwasnotclearwhetherthecompositesamplesoforematerialsusedtogeneratethesingletailingssolidssampleprovideareasonablerepresentationofthetailingssolidslikelytobegeneratedbytheProposal.Toalleviatetheseconcerns,GraemeMcDonald(FMSGeologist)preparedareport(McDonald,2015;Appendix4)thatdemonstratesthatthereisahighdegreeofhomogeneitybetweenthedepositsatthePIOP.ThisassessmenthasbeenacceptedbyDMP,DoWandDER(althoughDoWhaverequestedadditionalsamplebetestedtoconfirmfurther),thereforeitisexpectedthatthereislowuncertaintyassociatedwiththisissue.


GiventhatminimalimpactstoinlandwatersenvironmentalqualityareexpectedduringtheimplementationoftheProposal,theProposalisunlikelytohaveasignificantresidualimpactforthisfactor.FMSexpectsthattheProposalcanbeimplementedtomeettheEPAobjectiveforthisfactor.


P a g e |28





IntegratingFactor(Offsets)‐Tocounterbalanceanysignificantresidualenvironmentalimpactsoruncertaintythroughtheapplicationofoffsets.

Context:

Policy

WAEnvironmentalOffsetsGuidelines(GovernmentofWA,2014); EnvironmentalProtectionBulletinNo.1–EnvironmentalOffsets–Biodiversity(EPA,2014);and

WAEnvironmentalOffsetsPolicy(GovernmentofWA,2011)


Morethan98%ofthevegetationmappedwithinintheStudyAreawasfoundtobeinGoodtoExcellentcondition(burntareaswereexcludedfromthiscalculation).Areasthatweremappedinlesserconditionhadbeenimpactedbycattlegrazing,primarilywithindrainagelines(GHD,2014);

TheProposalislocatedcompletelywithintheHamersleysub‐regionofthePilbarabiogeographicregionasdefinedintheIBRA(DotE,2011);

NoPECs,TECsorTFrecordedwithinorclosetotheDisturbanceEnvelope; ThreeP3andtwoP4PFspeciesfound;and Ninefaunaspeciesofconservationsignificancewererecordedduringthesurveys.


Upto300haofdisturbancewillberequired;and AconservativeestimateisthatalldisturbancewilloccurwithinareasofGoodtoExcellentqualityvegetation.


DirectlossofmostlyGoodtoExcellentconditionvegetation; Directlossofconservationsignificantfaunahabitat; DirectlossofPFspecies;and Potentialindirectimpactsasaresultofnoise,dust,weeds,fire,alterationsofgroundwaterlevelsandsurfacewaterflowcharacteristics.

Grounddisturbance,predominantlyduringtheconstructionphase.

TheProposaldesignhas,andwillcontinueto,avoidandminimiseclearingofhighervalueenvironmentalfeatureswherepracticable;

Developtheproposedminepitsandlocationsofassociatedinfrastructuretooptimiseoperationalcostswhilebeingsensitivetotheneedtoavoidorlimittheimpacttopotentialsignificantenvironmentalvaluesduetodirectandindirectimpacts;

DevelopanInfrastructurePlanandsubmittoOEPAforapprovalpriortothecommencementofconstruction.TheInfrastructurePlanwillfinalisetherequireddisturbancetokeyenvironmentalfeatures,andwillincludetheresultsofpre‐clearingsurveys;

Offsettheclearingofconservationsignificantfaunahabitatandupto300haofGoodtoExcellentconditionvegetation,basedontheresultsoftheInfrastructurePlan;

AnImpactReconciliationProcedureisrequiredbyCondition7‐3ofMS924andasimilarconditionisexpectedtobeincludedinthereplacementMS.TheImpactReconciliationProcedurewill:o Includedetailsofamethodologytoidentifyclearing;o Includeamethodologyforcalculatingtheamountof

clearingundertakenduringeachbiennialtimeperiod;ando Statethatthebiennialtimeperiodcommencesonthefirst

dayofMarchpriortocommencinggrounddisturbanceandthattheduedateforsubmittingtheresultsoftheProcedureforapprovaloftheCEOas31Marchtwoyearsaftercommencementofthebiennialtimeperiod.

ThereplacementMSisexpectedtorequirethatoffsetpaymentsbepaid,basedontheactualclearingwithintheHamersleysubregionofthePilbaraIBRA;and

TheDotEmayalsorequireoffsetsundertheEPBCActhowevertheseareexpectedtoalignwiththoseappliedbytheEPA.

PredictedOutcomes:

OffsetsareproposedtocounterbalancethesignificantresidualenvironmentalimpactsoruncertaintyassociatedwiththeProposal,specificallythedisturbanceof300haofGoodtoExcellentconditionvegetation.


GiventhatanoffsetisproposeditisexpectedthattheProposalwillmeettheEPAObjective.

IntegratingFactor(RehabilitationandClosure)‐Toensurethatpremisesareclosed,decommissionedandrehabilitatedinanecologicallysustainablemanner,consistentwithagreedoutcomesandlanduses,andwithoutunacceptableliabilitytotheState.

Context:

Policy

GuidelinesforPreparingMCPs(DMPandEPA,2011); GuidancefortheAssessmentofEnvironmentalFactorsNo.6–RehabilitationofTerrestrialEcosystems(EPA,2006);

StrategicFrameworkforMineClosure(AustralianandNewZealandMineralsandEnergyCouncilandtheMineralsCouncilofAustralia,2000);

MineClosureGuidelinesforMineralOperationsinWA(ChamberofMineralsandEnergyWAInc.1999);and

PilbaraWaterinMiningGuideline(DoW,2009).


Morethan98%ofthevegetationmappedwithinintheStudyAreawasfoundtobeGoodtoExcellentcondition(burntareaswereexcludedfromthiscalculation);

Areasthatweremappedinlesserconditionhadbeenimpactedbycattlegrazing,primarilywithindrainagelines(GHD,2014);and

TheProposalislocatedcompletelywithintheHamersleysub‐regionofthePilbarabiogeographicregionasdefinedintheIBRA(DotE,2011).


Upto300haofdisturbancewillberequiredduringconstruction.AconservativeestimateisthattheproposeddisturbancewilloccurwithinareasofGoodtoExcellentqualityvegetation;

70haofminingattheParagondepositisproposed,allofwhichwilloccurabovethewatertable;

TheareasoftheProposalthatareofmostrelevancetorehabilitationandclosureareminepits,clearedareas,theWRL,hydrocarbonstorageareasandtheTSFs.

ComplywiththerequirementsoftheContaminatedSitesAct2003(CSAct)ifcontaminationoccurs;

DeveloptheWRLsuchthattheouterslopesareshallowenoughtoallowsuccessfulrehabilitation;

Dismantleallinfrastructureandremovefromsite,orburyitonsite(ifnocontaminationriskexists);

Striptopsoilandstoreitonsiteforrehabilitation.Topsoilistobestoredfortheshortesttimeperiodpossibletomaintainviabilityoftheseedbankandsoilfertility;

Developandimplementmanagementproceduresfortherecovery,storageandutilisationoftopsoil;

Inspectsoilstockpilesregularlyforevidenceoferosionandweedsandremediateaccordingly;

UndertakeprogressiverehabilitationthroughoutthelifeoftheProposal;

CapthefinalsurfaceoftheTSFswithwasterockandallowtosettlepriortorehabilitation;

DevelopaMCPwhichwillcomplywiththeGuidelinesforPreparingMCPs(DMP&EPA,2010)andsubmittoDMPpriortoconstructionoftheProposal.TheMCPwillbeupdatedasnewinformationbecomesavailable,andwillbere‐submittedtoDMPatleasteverythreeyearsforassessment.Post‐closuredrainageplanningwillbeincorporatedintotheMCP;

DevelopaRehabilitationProcedureinaccordancewithEPAGuidanceStatementNo.6RehabilitationofTerrestrialEcosystems(EPA,2006),whichsetsoutthegeneral

ThekeycharacteristicsoftheRevisedProposalareexpectedtoretainthecurrentstatementthatminepitsaretobebackfilledifrequiredsothatthefinalsurfacelevelsofallminepitsareatahigherelevationthanthepredictedpostdevelopmentgroundwaterlevelstopreventtheformationofpitlakes;

TheCSActwillmanageanypotentialcontaminationresultingfromhydrocarbonorchemicalspillswithinstorageareas;and

TheMiningActapprovalprocesseswillrequirethesubmissionofaMCP

PredictedOutcomes:

TheneedtoregulatetherehabilitationandclosureofminingoperationshasledtotherequirementundertheMiningActforproponentstodevelopMCP’sforeachminesite.ThisrequirementhasallowedDMPtotakealeadroleintheregulationofrehabilitationandclosureforminingprojects.TheproponentwillberequiredtosubmitaMCPtoDMPpriortoconstruction,andFMSwillcontinuetoliaisewithDMPoverthelifeoftheProposal;

TheProposalwillnotresultintheformationofpitlakes,tailingswillbecontainedwithinminepitswhichminimisestheriskofbreaches,andonlyasmallWRLisrequiredforthisProposal.Minepitsarealllocatedintheupperreachesofthecatchmentswhichmeansthatimpactstodownstreamwatercourseswillbeminimal.

WiththeexceptionoftheTSFs,theProposaldoesnotraiseanyclosureissuesthataredifferenttothoseassessedforthePIOPStage1approvedunderMS924.Asdiscussedearlierinthistable,testingofthetailingsandleachatedemonstratedthatthematerialisunlikelytobeacontaminationrisk.


Basedontheabove,rehabilitationandclosureisexpectedtobeabletobeappropriatelymanagedandregulatedunderalternativelegislation.TheProposalcanthereforemeettheEPAobjective.


P a g e |29





AnadditionalWRLwillbedevelopedtoservicethenewParagonminepit.AsmostofthewasterockfromParagonwillbeusedforconstruction,thisWRLwillberelativelysmallinsize,coveringanareaofapproximately15ha;and

TSFswillbelocatedinoneormoremined‐outpitsattheParagondeposit,withaninitialpitintheDeltadepositbeingusedifrequired.


Contaminationofsoilsand/orwaters; Surfacewaterandgroundwaterregimesarenotsuitablyreinstated; Disturbedlandmaynotrecovertobecomeaself‐sustainingecosystem; Finallandformslopesandsurfacesmaynotbesuitableforrehabilitation; Contamination(i.e.fromhydrocarbonstorageareas,TSFs,WRLetc.); Lackofreinstatementofpre‐mininggroundwaterregimes; Increasederosionassociatedwithunstablestructures; Introductionand/orspreadofweeds;and Increaseddustemissions.

expectationsaboutre‐establishingbiodiversityvalueswhereasiteistoberehabilitatedbacktonativevegetation;

ConductaMineClosureRiskAssessmenttoensurekeyrisksareidentifiedandmitigatedaspartofthemineplanningandmineclosureplanningprocess.TheriskassessmentwillconsiderrelevantstandardsandguidelinesincludingRiskManagement–PrinciplesandGuidelines(AS/NZSISO31000:2009)andEnvironmentalRiskManagement–PrinciplesandProcess(HB203:2006).KeyareastobeaddressedintheMineClosureRiskAssessmentwillbestakeholderconsultation,managementofpits,designandconstructionoflandforms,managementofsurfaceandgroundwater,acidand/ormetalliferousdrainageandre‐establishmentofvegetation;

FollowingtheMineClosureRiskAssessment,developandincorporateobjectivesandactionsintotheRehabilitationProcedure,MCPandEMPs,asappropriate,toensurekeyrisksaremitigatedthroughtheimplementationofpracticableactionplansforrehabilitationandclosure;

Rehabilitatelandbacktonativevegetation; ConsiderfurthergeneralinformationonminerehabilitationcontainedintheAustralian“leadingpractice”handbookMineRehabilitation:LeadingPracticeSustainableDevelopmentProgramfortheMiningIndustry(DepartmentofResources,EnergyandTourism,2011);and

ConsultwithstakeholdersandengagewithrelevantregulatorsthroughoutthelifeoftheProposaltoidentifyandrefineclosureissues,appropriatecompletionobjectivesandcriteria.

priortoconstructionoftheProposal.TheMCPwilldetailtheclosureplansforallitemsthatwereincludedineachMiningProposal.TheMCPwillbeupdatedandre‐submittedeitherwithanynewMiningProposal,oreverythreeyears,whicheveroccursfirst.


Proposed Airstrip

Proposed Mine Village

Waste Rock Mine Pit

Proposed MEM Workshop

Comms Tower Access Road

Southern Road

Proposed Plant

Mine Pit

Northern Road

Proposed Haul Road

Proposed ROM Pad

Proposed Ore Conveyor

7,560,000 mN

7,540,000 mN

7,550,000 mN

540,000 mE 550,000 mE

550,000 mE540,000 mE

7,56

0,00

0 m

N530,000 mE

7,55

0,00

0 m

N

530,000 mE

7,54

0,00

0 m

N Author:Drafted:Date:File No:

Projection:Scale:

Datum:MGA Zone 50GDA94

Ecoscape, GHD and PhoenixFlora and Fauna Study Areas

1:95,000 at A3

PILBARA_396.wor

Figure 6

A.Bonner

WESTERN AUSTRALIA



19 03 2015

PIOP Mine Development Envelope - MS924

PIOP Mine Development Envelope - Revisions


PIOP Project Area


Mine Pit

Waste Dump

Haul Road

Legend

Flora and Fauna Study AreasEcoscape (flora and fauna)

Ecoscape (Desktop fauna habitat)

GHD (flora and fauna)

Phoenix (fauna only)

1 km0

GEdwards

Text Box

Figure 6: Study Area boundaries

GEdwards

Text Box

Figure 7: Location of Priority Flora identified during surveys

GEdwards

Text Box

Figure 8: GDEs in proximity to Proposal

GEdwards

Text Box

Figure 9: Fauna habitat and records

GEdwards

Text Box

Figure 10: Land systems that intersect with the Study Area


P a g e |35

7 OTHERENVIRONMENTALFACTORS

FMShas assessed the potential impacts of theProposal on the various environmental factorslistedinEAG8:forEnvironmentalFactorsandObjectives(EPA2013).ThisAPIDocumentfocusesontheenvironmentalfactorsthataredeemedtobe‘key’factors,thosewiththepotentialtobesignificantlyimpactedandcouldnotbeappropriatelymanagedunderotherexistinglegislation.Potential impacts to these key factors are described in detail in Section 6 and assessedusingrelevantstudiesspecifictotheProposal.

The‘other’environmentalfactorshavebeenconsideredbyFMSandduetothelowlevelofimpact,applicationofindustrystandardcontrolsandotherregulatorymechanisms,thesefactorsarenotexpectedtoberequiredtobeassessedindetailbytheEPA.Table9providestherelevantEIAinformationfor‘other’environmentalfactorstoensuretheEPAhasahighdegreeofconfidencethat the potential impacts are not significant and are manageable under standard industrycontrolsandotherregulatorymechanisms.FMSunderstandstheimportanceofcompliancewiththerelevantstatutesthatwillbeusedtomanagetheseenvironmentalfactors.

Toensurethattheassessmentsareasconciseaspossible,thefollowingsectionsonlycontainthebaselineenvironmentalinformationthatwasdeemedtoberelevanttoeachfactor.Fordetailedinformationofbroaderexistingenvironmental information(i.e.geology,climateandweather),pleaserefertothebiologicalsurveyreportsattachedinAppendix1and2.


P a g e |36

Table9:Environmentalassessment–otherenvironmentalfactors

Potentialimpact(withoutmitigation) Aspect MitigationActionstoaddressresidualimpacts Proposedmechanismforensuringmitigation

Landforms–Tomaintainthevariety,integrity,ecologicalfunctionsandenvironmentalvaluesoflandformsandsoils.

Context:

TheProposalislocatedinaregionoftallrangesintersectedbydrainagechannelsandistypicaloftheHamersleyRangesingeology(Ecoscape,2011a);

Thesiteelevationsrangebetween500mand900maboveAustralianHeightdatum(AHD)(WorleyParsons,2012a);and

Therangesaredefinedbynearverticalscarps,ranginginelevationfrom650–680mAHD,withthevalleyfloorslocatedat450–550mAHD.


OneWRLisincludedintheProposal(15ha).


Alterationoflandscape,creatingdeepervalleysattheParagondeposit(althoughthiswillbeoffsetbythedepositionoftailings),andanewWRL;

Alterationsoffinalsurfacewaterregimens; Disturbanceofsoilprofilesandlandforms; Erosionresultingfromunstablelandforms;and Poorrehabilitationsuccessonlandformsurfaces.

DevelopmentofWRL;and

Excavationofminepits.

Striptopsoilandstoreitonsiteforrehabilitation.Topsoilistobestoredfortheshortesttimeperiodpossibletomaintainviabilityoftheseedbankandsoilfertility;

CapthefinalsurfaceoftheTSFswithwasterockandallowtosettlepriortorehabilitation; DeveloptheWRLsuchthattheouterslopesareshallowenoughtoallowsuccessfulrehabilitation; Developlandformssotheyhavesimilarcharacteristicstosurroundinglandforms; Developlandformssuchthatnaturalsurfacewaterregimesaremaintainedwherepracticable; Designfinallandformssuchthatarelong‐term,safe,stableandnon‐pollutingwithaself‐sustainingandresilientvegetativecovercomparabletoanaloguesites,followingdecommissioningandclosure,asverifiedbyDMP;

Rehabilitatefinallandformstominimiseerosion;and Implementsurfacewatercontrolsonthelandformsurfacestopromoteinfiltrationandintegrationwithsurroundingflowsystems,inconsultationwithDMP.

TheMiningProposalandMCPapprovalprocessesundertheMiningActwillconsiderdesign,development,rehabilitationandclosureofthemineandlandforms.

SubterraneanFauna–Tomaintainrepresentation,diversity,viabilityandecologicalfunctionatthespecies,populationandassemblagelevel.

Context:

Policy

EAG12–ConsiderationofsubterraneanfaunainEIAinWA;and SurveyswerecompletedinaccordancewiththenowwithdrawnEPAGuidanceStatement54a.FMSconsidersthatthesurveymethodsaresuitabletoallowappropriateEIAtooccur.

RelevantInformation(informationbelowfromBennelongiaPtyLtd,2012;Appendix2):

Largeproportionsofsubterraneanfaunawereonlyfoundwithintheminepitshoweveritispredictedthattherangesofthesespeciesaremuchlarger.Thisisduetothesamplinglocationsbeingwithinpotentialeconomicoreareas.Somespecieswereonlyfoundinlownumbers,whichalsorestrictspredictionsofhabitatrange.TheParagondepositwasnotsampledforsubterraneanfaunaduringtheBennelongiaPtyLtdsurvey.

Troglofauna:

94%oftheBlacksmithtenementisconsideredtobetroglofaunahabitat,includingtheproposedminepitsattheParagondeposit;

66speciesof19ordersrepresentsarichtroglofaunacommunityforthePilbararegion; 22specieswererecordedonlywithintheBlackjack,Champion,DeltaandEagleminepits; Withtheexceptionofdipluransanddipterans,alltroglofaunaspeciesshowedclearpreferenceforvalleyedgesandfootslopesratherthanvalleys.Itisalsopredictedthathabitatextendsontoridgesbetweendeposits;and

TheParagonminepitsdonotrepresentisolatedtroglofaunahabitatsbasedonevidencederivedfromhabitatcharacterisation.ThisisdemonstratedinFigure6ofBennelongiaPtyLtd,2012.

Stygofauna:

2,755ha(25%)oftheBlacksmithtenementissaturatedandconsideredtobesuitablestygofaunahabitat;

34speciesof10higherlevelgroupsrepresentsamoderatelyrichstygofaunacommunity; HabitatcharacterisationprovidesgoodevidencethatunderlyingaquifersandstygofaunahabitatarepartofthewidergroundwatersystemsoftheCaliwinginaandWeelumurraCreeks(Figure11).Thisissupportedbydatathatshowsspeciesarewidelydistributedbetweencatchments;

EightspeciesweresharedbetweentheAjaxandDelta(themostwesternandeastern)deposits,indicatingthatthereisgoodhabitatconnectivitythroughthesurveyarea;

Sevenspecies(21%oftotal)havenotbeenrecordedoutsidetheBlacksmithtenement,howeveritislikelythatmost,ifnotallofthemoccurmorewidelyintheCaliwinginaandWeelumurracatchments;and

MiningoftheParagondeposit(70ha);and

Watersupplyabstraction.Theadditional2GL/yrabstractionisexpectedtoresultinadeeperandsteeperdrawdownaroundthedewateringbores,howevertheextentofthedrawdownislikelytobereducedfromwhatwasapprovedunderMS924,duetothereducedminelife.

Noadditionalmitigationactionsareproposed.Onlyanadditional4%ofpotentialtroglofaunahabitatwillbedisturbedinadditiontothatapprovedunderMS924,andtherevisedgroundwaterabstractionplanswillresultinasmallerareaofimpacttostygofaunahabitatthanwhatwasapprovedunderMS924(althoughtheverticalimpactwillbegreaterclosetothedewateringbores).StudiesalsodeterminedthattherewasgoodevidencethatsubterraneanfaunahabitatpotentiallyimpactedbytheProposaliswellconnectedtosurroundinghabitats(BennelongiaPtyLtd,2012).TheProposalisthereforeunlikelytoresultinsignificantadditionalimpactstothosealreadyapprovedunderMS924.

ExistingMS924conditions(thatwillbetransferredtothereplacementMS)andthemitigationactionsproposedfortheHydrologicalProcessesfactorbelowwillallowresidualimpactstobeminimised.

ThereplacementMSisexpectedtocontainconditionsordetailsinthekeycharacteristicstableregardingwaterabstractionandmininglimits;and

A5CLicenceissuedbyDoWundertheRIWIActwillmanagegroundwaterabstraction.


P a g e |37

Potentialimpact(withoutmitigation) Aspect MitigationActionstoaddressresidualimpactsProposedmechanismforensuringmitigation

StygofaunaspeciesdistributiondisplayedlittlerecognitionofthesurfacewaterboundariesoftheCaliwinginaandWeelumurracatchments,whichsuggeststhatthesecatchmentssharegroundwaterandthereforethereishabitatconnectionbetweentheChampionandDeltadeposits.


TheProposalincludesminingattheParagondepositonly,whichwilloccurabovethewatertableandwillnotrequiredewatering;and

2GL/yrofgroundwaterwillberequiredtobeabstracted.Thisisinadditiontothe4GL/yrapprovedforPIOPStage1underMS924.


Directlossof70haofpotentialtroglofaunahabitat;and Steepeningofwatertabledrawdownarounddewateringboresresultinginalossofstygofaunahabitatinaverticaldirection.Overallhowevertheextentofthelossofhabitatwillbereducedduetotheshorterminelife(drawdownaffectsasmallerportionoftheaquifer).

TerrestrialEnvironmentalQuality‐Tomaintainthequalityoflandandsoilssothattheenvironmentalvalues,bothecologicalandsocial,areprotected.

Context:

ThemajorityofvegetationwithintheDevelopmentEnvelopesremaininGoodtoExcellentcondition,supportingaviewthatthequalityofthelandandsoilsisgood.Therewasevidenceofgrazingtothevalleyfloorsandwasmostobviousthroughthevalleyfloorandriparianareasinthewesternportionofthestudyarea.NoareasofpotentialcontaminationarelocatedinproximitytotheDevelopmentEnvelopes.


Disturbanceofsoilprofilesandlandforms; Localisedcontaminationofsoil,groundwaterand/orsurfacewaterandsubsequentimpactsonsurroundingecosystems.

Generationanddisposalofwasteincluding:

Generaldomesticwastesuchaspaper,cardboards,someplasticsandfoodscraps;

Industrialwastes(e.g.pallets,packaging,scrapmetalsandtyres);

Hazardouswastessuchashydrocarbonsandcontaminatedmaterial;

Sewagefromaccommodationcamps;and

Wasterockandtailingsfromminingactivities.

AdoptthewastemanagementhierarchyasabasicprinciplefortheProposal;avoid,reduce,reuse,recycle,recover,treat,dispose;

Includethefollowingintrainingandawarenessprograms:o Requirementsforapplicationofthewastemanagementhierarchy;o Thelocationandoperation(i.e.wastesegregation)ofwastedisposalreceptacles;ando Requirementswithregardstolitteringandmaintainingatidyworkplace.

Provideadequatewastestoragereceptacleswhichfacilitatetheseparationofmaterials,wherepossible(e.g.recycling,reuse,return,disposal,etc.);

Providesignageonbinsindicatingthespecificmaterialstobedisposedwithinthedifferentbins; Locatewastestoragereceptaclesatsuitablelocationsneartowastegeneratingactivitiesandappropriatelylabelled;

Appropriatelysecurewastestoragereceptaclesinordertopreventtheuncontrolledreleaseofwaste(i.e.windblown,leaks,etc.);

ObtainworksapprovalandlicenceunderPartVoftheEPActforallprescribedactivities,includingTSF,powerstation,bulkfuelstorageandwastewatertreatmentplant;

SegregatewasteandremovefromsiteviaanauthorisedwastecontractoranddisposeofatanoffsitelandfilllicensedunderPartVoftheEPAct;

StorehydrocarbonsandchemicalsinaccordancewithDangerousGoodsSafety(StorageandHandlingforNon‐explosives)Regulations2007andAS1940:StorageandHandlingofFlammableandCombustibleLiquids;

ConstructfuelstoragetanksinaccordancewithAS1940‐2004(StorageandHandlingofFlammableandCombustibleLiquids);

Equipre‐fuellingbaysatbulkfuelstoragefacilitieswithconcreteapronsorequivalentlining; Ensurespillclean‐upmaterialisreadilyavailableatworksitesandonmobileservicetrucksofvehicles,wherehydrocarbonsandchemicalsarestoredand/orused;

Cleanupanyspillorleakagewiththecontaminatedsoilandrecoveryagentbeingdisposedofatalicensedoffsitelandfillfacility;

Developandimplementaspillresponseprocedurepriortoconstruction; IrrigatesewagetolandincompliancewithworksapprovalandlicenceconditionsunderPartVoftheEPAct;and

StockpilewasterockinaWRL,anddeposittailingsindesignatedTSFs.

DERisabletoprosecuteproponentsforabreachoftheLitterAct1979,EnvironmentalProtectionregulations,orpollutionimpactsviathegeneralprovisionsoftheEPAct(i.e.forseriousenvironmentalharm)ortheEnvironmentalProtection(UnauthorisedDischarges)Regulations2004(i.e.forunauthorisedpollution);

DERwillmanagecontaminatedsitesviatheCSActandtheContaminatedSitesRegulations2006;

DERwillmanagethedischargeoftreatedsewagetoland,thestorageofhydrocarbonsattheBulkFuelStorageAreaandPowerStation,andthedisposaloftailingstotheTSFsviaWorksApprovalsandaLicenceissuedunderPartVoftheEPAct;and

DMPmanagesthestorageandhandlingofdangerousgoodsviatheDGActandtheDangerousGoodsSafety(StorageandHandlingforNon‐explosives)Regulations2007.

HydrologicalProcesses–Tomaintainthehydrologicalregimesofgroundwaterandsurfacewatersothatexistingandpotentialuses,includingecosystemmaintenance,areprotected.

Context:

Policy

TheProposalislocatedwithinthePilbaraGroundwaterAreaandwithintheMillstreamPriority2PDWSA,whichisagazettedwaterreserveundertheRIWIAct.DevelopmentandgroundwaterusewithintheMillstreamPDWSAissubjecttotheMillstreamWaterReserveDrinkingWaterSourceProtectionPlan(DoW,2010);

Anabstractionof4GL/yrwasapprovedunderMS924forPIOPStage1;

Groundwaterabstractionactivities.


ProposalEMPswillcontaindetailedmanagementactions,monitoring,reporting,correctiveactionsandresponsibilitiesforhydrologicalprocesses.Keymanagementactionswillinclude:

Integratemineplanninganddewateringactivitieswiththeoverallsitewaterbalancetominimiseimpacts;and

OperategroundwaterabstractionboresinaccordancewithDoWlicenceconditions.


ComplywithexistingconditionsinMS924,whichareexpectedtobetransferredtothereplacementMS; LiaisewithDoWandobtaina5CLicenceforgroundwaterabstractionactivities;

ThereplacementMSisexpectedtoregulateimpactstohydrologicalprocesses,eithervialimitsinthekeycharacteristictableorviaconditions,includingthefollowingrequirements:o 6GL/yrgroundwater

abstractionlimit;and


P a g e |38


A5CLicenceapplicationhasbeensubmittedtoDoWfortheaboveabstractionandFMShasbeennotifiedofDoW’sintentiontograntthe5CLicencependingthereceiptofanapprovedMiningProposal;and

TheEPA’sassessment(EPA,2012c)determinedthat:o ADoWlicencewouldberequiredforgroundwaterabstractionand‘theDoWisbest‐

placedtomanagethedisposalofsurplusdewaterintooff‐tenementaquifersinaccordancewithitspoliciesandlegislativerequirements’;

o Thepotentialforacidand/ormetalliferousdrainagetooccurislow;ando ManagementofsurfacewatercanbeadequatelyregulatedbyDMPviatheMining

Proposalprocess.

RelevantBaselineInformation‐Groundwater

TheProposalissituatedwithintheupperreachesoftheCaliwinginaCreekandWeelumurraCreekcatchments;

Themajorityofgroundwaterwithintheupperreachesofthesecatchments,islocatedwithinthemorepermeableCIDandBIDunits.Localisedgroundwatermayalsobefoundinsomeareaswithinshallowalluvialdepositsassociatedwithwatercourses,andperchedaboveclaylayers.Localaquifersaregenerallyrechargedviarivers,midslopesorvalleyflanks,orrainfall(WorleyParsons,2012b);and

Figure11showstheinterpretedextentoftheaquiferssurroundingtheProposal.

RelevantBaselineInformation‐SurfaceWater

TheProposalislocatedonacatchmentdividebetweentheCaliwinginaCreekandWeelumurraCreekcatchments.TheDeltaandParagoncatchmentsdraineastintotheSerenityareabeforeflowingnorthtotheFortescueRiver.TheentireProposalislocatedwithintheFortescueRiverCatchmentandalsowithintheMillstreamPriority2PDWSA(WorleyParsons,2012c);

ThecombinedareaofthePIOPaccountsforlessthan3%ofthetotalMillstreamcatchmentarea(5,480km2),andthereforeisconsideredtoprovideonlyaminorcontributionofsurfacewaterrunoffandrechargetoMillstream;and

TherearenopermanentwaterwaysorriverswithintheDevelopmentEnvelopes,buttherearenumeroussmallephemeraldrainagechannels.


ThetotalwateruserequirementsfortheRevisedProposalareproposedtobeincreasedby2GL/yr,from4GL/yrforPIOPStage1to6GL/yr.Additionalwatertoprimarilybetakenfromdewater,withadditionalgroundwaterabstractedfromthesamedewateringboresifrequiredtomeetthedemand;

AdditionalgroundwaterabstractionisnotproposedtooccuratAjax;and Alloftheadditional2GL/yrisexpectedtobeconsumedbytheOPF.


Increaseinthesizeand/ordepthsofthegroundwaterdrawdownzones; ReductioninavailablewatersupplywithintheMillstreamPDWSA; Reductioninrechargevolumestotheaquifer; Changestosurfacewaterflows; Changestopre‐mininggroundwaterandsurfacewatercharacteristicsatclosure.

Backfillminepitsifrequired,sothatthefinalsurfacelevelsofallpitsareatahigherelevationthanthepredictedpostdevelopmentgroundwaterlevelstopreventtheformationofpitlakes;

DevelopadetailedMCPpriortoconstruction,whichwilllistthemeasurestobetakentoreinstategroundwaterandsurfacewaterprocessesatclosure.ThisMCPwillbeinformedbytheInfrastructurePlan,andwillcontinuetobeupdatedregularlyoverthelifeofthemine,in‐linewithDMPrequirements.

o Minepitsaretobebackfilledsothatthefinalsurfacelevelsareatahigherelevationthanthepredictedpost‐developmentgroundwaterlevelstopreventtheformationofpitlakes(wordingexpectedtoremainasstatedinMS924).

DoWisexpectedtomanagetheabstractionundertheRIWIAct.A26DLicencewillberequiredforthedrillingofabstractionanddewateringbores.A5CLicencewillberequiredforwatersupply.ABedandBanksPermitmayalsoberequiredforcreekcrossings;and

AMiningProposalandMCPwillberequiredtobeapprovedbyDMPundertheMiningActpriortoconstruction.TheMiningProposalwillassessthedesignofwatercoursecrossingsandsurfacewaterdiversion/drainagestructures.Thisassessmentwillensurethatsurfacewaterstructuresdonotresultinadditionalbarrierstofloworincreasesinflowrates(whichmayleadtoscouring).TheMCPwilllistthemeasurestobetakentoreinstategroundwaterandsurfacewaterprocessesatclosure,andwillberevisedandre‐assessedbyDMPatleasteverythreeyears.

Alterationofsurfacewaterflows.

ConstructionandOperationsEMPswillincludethefollowing:

Installengineeredculvertswherenaturaldrainagefeaturesareinterruptedbyhauloraccessroads; Includeappropriatedrainagerequirementsincivilengineeringdesigns.Catchmentanalysiswillbecarriedoutinordertodetermineculvertanddiversiondraindesignparameters;

Wheretheriskoferosionisidentifiedinspecificareasduringconstruction,erosioncontrolstructuressuchassiltfences,diversionandcollectionbunds,sedimentdamsandholdingsumpswillbeinstalled;and

Undertakeprogressiverehabilitationofdisturbedareasthatarenotrequiredforongoingoperations.


ObtainDMPapprovalviaaMiningProposalpriortoconstruction,whichwillincludedesigndetailsforwatercoursecrossingsanddevelopmentwithinflood‐proneareas.Thedesigndetailswillincluderelevantmodellingofsurfacewaterflowstodemonstratethattheproposeddesignissuitabletoensurethatimpactstodownstreamorupstreamecosystemsareavoidedorminimised.DMPmayseekDoWforcommentpriortoapprovalifrequired.

AirQuality‐Tomaintainairqualityfortheprotectionoftheenvironmentandhumanhealthandamenity.

Context:

TheProposalislocatedinaremoteareawithnosensitivereceptorsincloseproximity(closestis11kmaway).


Increaseddust;and Elevatedpollutantsemittedtotheairshed,particularlyinproximitytothepowerstation.

Dustliftfromstockyards,conveyors,accessroadsandbareground/clearedsurfaces;

Constructionandoperationalactivitiessuchasthemechanicaldisturbanceofrockandsoilmaterialsbyplantoperation,blastinganduseofvehiclesondirtroads;and

Stackemissionsfromthepowerstation.

Keepvegetationclearingandexposedsurfacestotheminimumrequiredforsafeandefficientconstructionandoperation;

Applydustsuppression(waterspraysoranacceptableequivalent)inareasthathavehighpotentialtogeneratedust,suchasareasthatreceiveheavytrafficandmaterialshandlingareas(stockyards,conveyorsetc.);

Restrictvehiclespeeds; Monitortheperformanceofdustsuppressionequipmentduringregularsiteinspections; Usedustsuppressantsifpracticableandcosteffectivetoreducethevolumeofwaterrequiredtoeffectivelyminimisedustgeneration;

Ensurethepowerstationmeetscurrentindustrybest‐practicedesignfordiesel‐fuelledpowerstations; Sitethepowerstationsuchthatairemissionsdonotimpactsensitivereceptors; ObtainaWorksApprovalandLicencefromDERforthepowerstationunderPartVoftheEPAct.PredictedstackemissionswillbepresentedtoDERforassessment.

DMPwillmanageexcessivedustundertheMineSafetyandInspectionRegulations1995,andgeneraldustcontrolwillbemanagedundertheMiningProposalprocess(MiningAct);

FMSwillberequiredtoreportonemissionsundertheEnvironmentalProtection(NEPM‐NPI)Regulations1998;and

DERwillregulatedustemissionsfromprescribedpremisesandstackemissionsfromthepower


P a g e |39


stationunderPartVoftheEPAct(WorksApprovalsandLicences).

Amenity‐Toensurethatimpactstoamenityarereducedaslowasreasonablypracticable.

Context:

TheProposalislocatedinaremoteareawithnosensitivereceptorsincloseproximity(closestis11kmaway).


Changestothevisualamenityofthearea; Noiseandvibration;and Publicaccesswillbelimitedinsomeoperationalareas.

DevelopmentofminepitsandWRL;

Earthmovingactivities; Oreprocessingactivities; Vehiclemovements; Generalconstructionandoperationactivities/traffic;

Useofmachineryandheavyvehicles;and

Preventionofpublicaccessforsafetyreasons.

Developlandformstobedevelopedsotheyhavesimilarcharacteristicstosurroundinglandforms; Maintainequipmentinaccordancewithmanufacturers’specificationsandrelevantstandards; Restrictvehiclespeeds; Wherepracticable,fitmechanicalplantwithnoisesuppressiondevicesmaintainedtomanufacturersspecifications;

Fitinternalcombustionengineswithasuitablemufflerinserviceablecondition; Planblastingactivitiestominimisenoiseprojection; Raiseanynoiseorotheramenitycomplaintsasincidentsandinvestigate;and Clearlysignpostanytrackclosures.

Giventheremotelocation,therearelittletonoexpectedimpactstoamenity.DERisabletomanageanyexcessivenoiseimpactsviatheEnvironmentalProtection(Noise)Regulations1997howeverbreachesoftheseregulationswouldbeunlikely.

Heritage‐Toensurethathistoricalandculturalassociationsarenotadverselyaffected.

Context:

AsearchoftheDepartmentofAboriginalAffairs(DAA)AboriginalHeritageInquirySystemindicatesthattherearenoregisteredsiteswithintheBlacksmithtenement;

SubsequentheritagesurveyshavehoweveridentifiednumeroussitesthatwilllikelyfallunderSection5oftheAboriginalHeritageAct1972(AHAct),oncetheyareassessedbytheAboriginalCulturalMaterialsCommittee;

ThesitefallswithintheEasternGurumanativetitledeterminationarearatifiedbytheFederalCourtinMarch2007;and

ReviewofthefollowingdatabasesindicatesthattherearenolistedEuropeanornaturalheritagesiteswithinoradjacenttotheProposal.


DisturbanceofAboriginalHeritagesites.

Generalgrounddisturbanceactivitiesduringconstructionandoperation.

UndertakeethnographicandarchaeologicalheritagesurveyspriortoanygrounddisturbancetoidentifysitesofAboriginalsignificance;

ComplywithFMS’sCulturalHeritageManagementPlan(CHMP)thatwasbeenpreparedinconsultationwiththeEasternGurumapeopleandwasexecutedon31July2013.TheCHMPidentifiestheresources,responsibilitiesandproceduresrequiredtomanageandpreservetheindigenousculturalvalueswithintheDisturbanceEnvelope;

AvoidindigenousheritagesitesaspertheCHMPthatmaybeidentifiedviapre‐constructioninspections(unlessapprovedbytheMinister/RegistrarresponsibleforAboriginalheritagetodisturbsites);

Whereprojectactivitieswilldisturbaheritagesite,submitSection18applicationstotheDAAforapprovaltodisturbtheheritagesite,asrequiredundertheAHAct;

UndertakeanyapprovedsitedisturbanceinaccordancewiththemanagementandmonitoringconditionsoftheSection18approvalandtheCHMP;

AllpersonnelworkingontheProposalwillberequiredtoundertakeculturalawarenesstrainingwiththeEasternGurumapeopleandtounderstandtheobjectivesandrequirementsoftheAHAct;and

Markinthefieldandisolateexclusionzonesandsitesrecordedsothattheyarenotinadvertentlydisturbed,inlinewithrelevantNativeTitleandHeritageagreements.

EasternGurumaandDAAwillmanagethepotentialdisturbanceofAboriginalHeritagesitesundertheAHActandtheCHMP.

!P

!P

!P

BROOME

KARRATHAPORT HEDLAND

TOM PRICEPARABURDOO

PANNAWONICADRG NO

TITLE

CHKDRN

CLIENT

DATE

FIGURE 6-1 - INTERPRETED EXTENT OFINTERCONNECTED AQUIFERS

MR 25-02-2012 0REVSA

REV REVISION DESCRIPTION

LOCALITY MAPLOCALITY MAP

A FOR INFORMATION ONLY

Prod

uced

by W

orley

Pars

ons,

Geom

atics

WA

NOTES

WORLEYPARSONS PROJECT

DATUM

SCALE

GDA 1994 MGA Z50S

46632552m 23941913m 2

1575252m 2

4310723m 2

7244153m 2

7939973m 2

6847489m 2

CampCampEagleEagle

DeltaDelta

ChampionChampion

550000

550000

7550

000

7550

000

I:\Projects\201012-00322 FMS VIP\10.0 Engineering\Geomatics\03Project\Workspace\_SKT\REV0\201012-00322-GIS-DSK-099.mxd

201012-00322 @ A31:100,000201012-00322-GIS-DSK-099

2 0 2 4 61

Kilometers

±

LEGENDDELTA AQUIFER EXTENTEAGLE AQUIFER EXTENTSERENITY AQUIFER EXTENTBLACKJACK AQUIFER EXTENTAJAX AQUIFER EXTENTCHAMPION OFF-TENEMENT AQUIFER EXTENTCHAMPION ON-TENEMENT AQUIFER EXTENT

#* RELEVES!R POOLS

GDE VEGETATIONPIOP PIT OUTLINES DESIGN OCT10

# EXISTING WATER SUPPLY BORESRESOURCE BOUNDARIES

AJAXBLACKJACKCHAMPIONDELTAEAGLEROADSDRAINAGEFMS TENEMENT E47/882 (JAN 2012)

INFORMATION ONLYNOT TO BE USED

FOR CONSTRUCTION

PILBARA IRON ORE PROJECTGROUNDWATER IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT

MR 29-02-2012SA0 ISSUED TO CLIENT

GEdwards

Text Box

Figure 11: Interpreted extent of interconnected aquifers (from WorleyParsons, 2012c)


P a g e |41

8 PRINCIPLESOFTHEEPACT

TheEPActidentifiesaseriesofprinciplesforenvironmentalmanagement(Section4a,EPAct,asamended). FMS has considered these principles in relation to the development andimplementationoftheProposal.Table10outlineshowtheprinciplesrelatetotheProposal.

Table10:EPActPrinciples

Principle HowitwillbeaddressedbytheProposal

1. Precautionaryprinciple

Wheretherearethreatsofseriousirreversibledamage,lackoffullscientificcertaintyshouldnotbeusedasareasonforpostponingmeasurestopreventenvironmentaldegradation.

Intheapplicationoftheprecautionaryprinciple,decisionsshouldbeguidedby:

a. carefulevaluationtoavoid,wherepracticable,seriousorirreversibledamagetotheenvironment;and

b. anassessmentoftherisk‐weightedconsequencesofvariousoptions.

TheProposalhasutilisedexistingenvironmentaldataduringdesignandhassupplementeditwithaseriesofstudiesthatareidentifiedinSection4.1.Detaileddesignwillutilisespatialdatatoavoidandminimiseimpactsonidentifiedconstraints.

Independentreviewsofgeochemicalassessmentshavebeencompletedtoproviderequiredlevelsofcertainty.

2. Intergenerationalequity

Thepresentgenerationshouldensurethatthehealth,diversityandproductivityoftheenvironmentismaintainedorenhancedforthebenefitoffuturegenerations.

TheProposalcanbedesignedandimplementedwithoutsignificantimpactsonthehealth,diversityandproductivityoftheenvironment.TheProposal,inconjunctionwiththeBBIPortandRailwaywillenableeconomicandsocialbenefitstoflowfromanironoreprojectthathaspreviouslybeen“stranded”andwouldotherwisehavenotransportsolution.

3. Conservationofbiologicaldiversityandecologicalintegrity

Conservationofbiologicaldiversityandecologicalintegrationshouldbeafundamentalconsideration.

SurveyworkhasbeenusedtoconfirmtherangeandstatusofenvironmentalvalueswithintheDevelopmentEnvelopes.TherecordedbaselinedatafromtheDevelopmentEnvelopesandsurroundsindicatethattherearenotlikelytobesignificantbiodiversityorecologicalintegrityimpactsatlocalorregionalscales.

Thisassumptionwillbeverifiedduringpre‐disturbancebiologicalsurveys.

4. Improvedvaluation,pricingandincentivemechanismsa. Environmentalfactorsshouldbeincludedinthe

valuationofassetsandservices.b. Thepolluterpaysprinciple–thosewhogenerate

pollutionandwasteshouldbearthecostofcontainment,avoidanceorabatement.

c. Theusersofgoodsandservicesshouldpaypricesbasedonthefulllifecyclecostsofprovidinggoodsandservices,includingtheuseofnaturalresourcesandassetsandtheultimatedisposalofanywaste.

d. Environmentalgoals,havingbeenestablished,shouldbepursuedinthemostcosteffectiveway,byestablishingincentivestructures,includingmarketmechanisms,whichbenefitand/orminimisecoststodeveloptheirownsolutionsandresponsestoenvironmentalproblems.

EnvironmentalconstraintavoidanceandmanagementcostshavebeenconsideredintheprojectcostingphasesandthiswillcontinuethroughtheBankableFeasibilityStudystage.

5. Wasteminimisation

Allreasonableandpracticablemeasuresshouldbetakentominimisethegenerationofwasteanditsdischargeintotheenvironment

Wastewillbeminimisedbyadoptingthehierarchyofwastecontrols;avoid,minimise,re‐use,recycleandsafedisposal.


P a g e |42

9 CONCLUSION

PROPONENTCONCLUSIONS

TheProposalisexpectedtobeabletobeimplementedwithoutsignificantresidualenvironmentalimpacts.FMSconsiderthepotentialaspectsandimpactsthatrequirethemostconsiderationbytheEPAtobe:

Thedisturbanceof300haofmostlyVeryGoodtoExcellentqualityvegetation; Thedisturbanceofpotentialconservationsignificantfaunahabitatorflora;and TheriskofcontaminationoftheMillstreamPDWSAasaresultoftailingsdisposal.

Section 6 demonstrates that each of these impacts can be appropriately mitigated using acombinationofMinisterialConditionsandotherlegislativecontrols.

The disturbance of 300 ha of mostly Good to Excellent quality vegetation and conservationsignificantfaunahabitatwillbearesidualimpact,andthiswillbeoffsetusingaconditionsimilaroridenticaltotheexistingCondition7inMS924.

The avoidance and minimisation of conservation significant flora disturbance and potentialconservationsignificantfaunahabitatdisturbancewillbedemonstratedviaaninfrastructureplantobedevelopedaftertargetedsurveyshavebeencompleted.

Tailings are unlikely to contaminate theMillstreamPDWSA as testing has confirmed that theleachatedidnot contain contaminants at concentrations above theAustralianDrinkingWaterGuidelines(NHRMC&NRMMC2011). Nevertheless,groundwaterwillberegularlymonitoredthroughoutoperationsandatclosureifrequired.ItisexpectedthatDMPwouldmanagetheTSFsundertheMiningAct,howeverFMSwouldnotobjectifaconditionwastobeaddedtoMS924requiringthatmonitoringinformationbesubmittedtoDoWonaregularbasis.

Theabstractionofanadditional2GL/yrofgroundwatercanbeappropriatelymanagedbyDoWundertheRIWIAct.

FMS has completed extensive stakeholder consultation that will continue to develop as theProposalproceedsintodetaileddesign,constructionandoperationalphases. Thisstakeholderconsultationhasdemonstrated thatmanyenvironmental factors canbemanagedunderotherlegislation.

‘Key’and‘other’environmentalfactorshavebeenassessedagainstEPAObjectivesandrelevantguidelines. The Proposal has been prepared with design, layout and management controlsidentified to avoid, minimise or mitigate the potential environmental impacts. Given themanagementactionsandcontrolstoprotecttheenvironment,theProposalisexpectedtomeettheEPAObjectives.


P a g e |43

APPLICATIONOFTHESIGNIFICANCEFRAMEWORK

Figure12providesaconceptualillustrationofthesignificanceframeworkandhowitappliestothekeyenvironmentalfactorsthatmaybeimpactedbytheProposal.ItillustratesFMS’sviewofthe level of uncertainty remaining after all available information has been considered. It isexpectedthattheapplicationofconditions(i.e.offsets,requirementformanagementplansetc.)willgreatlyreduceanyuncertaintyandensurethattheProposalcanmeettheEPA’sObjectives.

PleasenotethatFigure12isconceptualonlyandisnotintendedtoimplyprecisioninevaluatingthesignificanceofimpacts.

Figure12:Conceptualillustrationoftheapplicationofthesignificanceframework

FloraandVegetation TerrestrialFauna InlandWatersEnvironmental

Quality

Likelysignificanceofimpacts

KeyEnvironmentalFactors

Outcome Condition

MaymeettheEPA'sObjectives

MeetstheEPA'sObjectives

UnlikelytomeettheEPA'sObjective


P a g e |44

10 GLOSSARY

Term Meaning

AHAct AboriginalHeritageAct1972

AHD AustralianHeightDatum

ANZECC&ARMCANZ AustralianandNewZealandEnvironmentandConservationCouncil&AgricultureandResourceManagementCouncilofAustraliaandNewZealand

ANZECCGuidelines AustralianandNewZealandGuidelinesforFreshandMarineWaterQuality

API AssessmentonProponentInformation–thelevelofassessmentrelevanttothisProposal

BBI BallaBallaInfrastructure

BID BeddedIronDeposit

CHMP CulturalHeritageManagementPlan

CID ChannelIronDeposit

DAA DepartmentofAboriginalAffairs

DER DepartmentofEnvironmentRegulation

DevelopmentEnvelopes TheDevelopmentEnvelopesaretheareathatformsthebasisforthisProposalandistheareawithinwhichtheProposalwillbeimplemented.TheDevelopmentEnvelopesareoutlinedinredinFigure3.

DGAct DangerousGoodsSafetyAct2004

DID DetritalIronDeposit

DisturbanceArea TheactualareaofdisturbancerequiredtoimplementtheProposal.TheDisturbanceAreawillbewithintheDevelopmentEnvelopeboundaries.

DMP DepartmentofMinesandPetroleum

DotE DepartmentoftheEnvironment(Commonwealth)

DoW DepartmentofWater

DPaW DepartmentofParksandWildlife

DRMP DewateringandRechargeManagementPlan

DSD DepartmentofStateDevelopment

EAG EnvironmentalAssessmentGuideline

Ecoscape EcoscapeAustraliaPtyLtd

EIA EnvironmentalImpactAssessment

EMPs EnvironmentalManagementPlans

EPA EnvironmentalProtectionAuthority(WA)

EPAct EnvironmentalProtectionAct1986

EPBCAct EnvironmentalProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct1999(Commonwealth)

FMS FlindersMinesLimited

GCA GraemeCampbellandAssociates

GDEs GroundwaterDependentEcosystems

GDVMMP GroundwaterDependentVegetationMonitoringandManagementPlan

GL Gigalitre

ha Hectares


P a g e |45

Term Meaning

IBRA InterimBiogeographicRegionalisationforAustralia

km Kilometres

m Metres

MCP MineClosurePlan

MiningAct MiningAct1978

MNES MattersofNationalEnvironmentalSignificance

MS MinisterialStatement

NHMRC&NRMMC NationalHealthandMedicalResearchCouncil&NaturalResourceManagementMinisterialCouncil

OEPA OfficeoftheEnvironmentalProtectionAuthority

OPF OreProcessingFacility

PDWSA PublicDrinkingWaterSourceArea

PEC PriorityEcologicalCommunities–plantcommunitieslistedasbeingpotentiallythreatenedundertheWildlifeConservationAct1950

PF PriorityFlora

Phoenix PhoenixEnvironmentalPtyLtd

PIOP PilbaraIronOreProject

PIOPStage1 TheoriginalproposalapprovedunderMS924.

Proposal AsdefinedundertheEPAct‐aproject,plan,programme,policy,operation,undertakingordevelopmentorchangeinlanduse,oramendmentofanyoftheforegoing,butdoesnotincludescheme.

TheProposal TheproposedchangestoPIOPStage1asdetailedinthisAPIDocument.TheProposalistoexpandexistingapprovedminingoperationsandtodevelopadditionalinfrastructure.Theproposedworksincludeanincreaseinminingarea,awasterocklandform,accessroads,airport,accommodationcamp,processplant,tailingsstoragefacilitiesandsupportinginfrastructure.

RevisedProposal AllcomponentsofthePIOP,includingthosecurrentlyapprovedunderMS924,aswellasthechangesproposedinthisAPIDocument.

RGS RGSEnvironmentalPtyLtd

ROM Run‐of‐mine

RIWIAct RightsinWaterandIrrigationAct1914

Rutila RutilaResourcesLtd

SRE Short‐rangeEndemic

TEC ThreatenedEcologicalCommunities–plantcommunitieslistedasbeingthreatenedandlegallyprotectedundertheWildlifeConservationAct1950and/ortheEnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservationAct1999

TSF TailingsStorageFacility

WA WesternAustralia

WCAct WildlifeConservationAct1950(WA)

WRL WasteRockLandform


P a g e |46

11 REFERENCES

AustralianandNewZealandEnvironmentandConservationCouncil,AgricultureandResourceManagementCouncilofAustraliaandNewZealand(2000),AustralianandNewZealandGuidelinesforFreshandMarineWaterQuality.Volume1.October2000.AustralianandNewZealandMineralsandEnergyCouncil,MineralsCouncilofAustralia(2000),StrategicFrameworkforMineClosure.AustralianNationalCommitteeonLargeDamsIncorporated(2012),GuidelinesonTailingsDams–Planning,Design,Construction,OperationandClosure.May2012.BennelongiaPtyLtd(2011),FlindersMinesLtd–PilbaraIronOreProject:BlacksmithSubterraneanFaunaSurveys.December2011.BennelongiaPtyLtd(2012),Addendum:PilbaraIronOreProject,BlacksmithSubterraneanFaunaSurveys.March2012.ChamberofMineralsandEnergy(1999),MineClosureGuidelinesforMineralOperationsinWesternAustralia.November1999.DepartmentofMinesandPetroleum(1999),GuidelinesontheSafeDesignandOperatingStandardsforTailingsStorage.May1999.DepartmentofMinesandPetroleum(2013),TailingsStorageFacilitiesinWesternAustralia‐CodeofPractice.DepartmentofMinesandPetroleumandtheEnvironmentalProtectionAuthority(2011),GuidelinesforPreparingMineClosurePlans.June2011.DepartmentofResources,EnergyandTourism(2011),AGuidetoLeadingPracticeSustainableDevelopmentinMining.July2011.DepartmentofWater(2009),PilbaraWaterinMiningGuideline.September2009.DepartmentofWater(2010),MillstreamWaterReserve–DrinkingWaterSourceProtectionPlanWestPilbaraWaterSupply.June2010.EcoscapeAustraliaPtyLtd(2011a),PilbaraIronOreProject–BlacksmithFloraandVegetationSurvey.19August2011.EcoscapeAustraliaPtyLtd(2011b),PilbaraIronOreProject–BlacksmithVertebrateFaunaandShortRangeEndemicSurvey.May2011.EcoscapeAustraliaPtyLtd(2011c),SignificantFaunaSpeciesManagementPlan,FlindersMinesLimited.July2011.EcoscapeAustraliaPtyLtd(2012),BlacksmithPilbaraIronOreProject(EPBC2011/6152,ResponsetoDSEWPaCRequestforAdditionalInformation.June2012.EnvironmentalProtectionAuthority(2006),GuidancefortheAssessmentofEnvironmentalFactors–RehabilitationofTerrestrialEcosystems,No.6.June2006.


P a g e |47

EnvironmentalProtectionAuthority(2012a),EnvironmentalImpactAssessment(PartIVDivisions1and2)AdministrativeProcedures2012.WesternAustralianGovernmentGazette.Perth,December2012.No.223.

EnvironmentalProtectionAuthority(2012b),EnvironmentalAssessmentGuideline1:DefiningtheKeyCharacteristicsofaProposal.EnvironmentalProtectionAct1986.EnvironmentalProtectionAuthority.WesternAustralia.May2012.

EnvironmentalProtectionAuthority(2012c),FlindersPilbaraIronOreProject–Stage1.Report1456,EnvironmentalProtectionAuthority.WesternAustralia.November2012.

EnvironmentalProtectionAuthority(2013a),EnvironmentalAssessmentGuideline6:forTimelinesforenvironmentalimpactassessmentofproposals.EnvironmentalProtectionAuthority.WesternAustralia.RevisedMarch2013.

EnvironmentalProtectionAuthority(2013b),EnvironmentalAssessmentGuideline8:forEnvironmentalFactorsandObjectives.EnvironmentalProtectionAct1986.EnvironmentalProtectionAuthority.WesternAustralia.June2013.

EnvironmentalProtectionAuthority(2014),EnvironmentalProtectionBulletinNo.1–EnvironmentalOffsets.RevisedAugust2014.

EnvironmentalProtectionAuthority(2015),EnvironmentalAssessmentGuideline14forPreparationofanAPI–CategoryAEnvironmentalReviewDocument.WAEnvironmentalProtectionAuthority.January2015.

GovernmentofWesternAustralia(2011),WAEnvironmentalOffsetsPolicy.September2011.

GovernmentofWesternAustralia(2014),WAEnvironmentalOffsetsGuidelines.August2014.

GraemeCampbell&Associates(2011),FlindersPilbaraIron‐OreProject:GeochemicalCharacterisationofProcess–Tailings–SolidsSampleandManagementImplications.15November2011

GraemeMcDonald(2015).PIOPDepositHomogeneity.MemowrittenforFlindersMinesLtd,January2015.

GHD(2014),FlindersMinesLimited.FlindersMines:BlacksmithProspectInfrastructureInvestigation–Vegetation,FloraandFaunaAssessment.October2014.

GolderAssociates(2010),GroundwaterSummaryReport–AreaD.

NationalHealthandMedicalResearchCouncil&NaturalResourceManagementMinisterialCouncil(2011),NationalWaterQualityManagementStrategy–AustralianDrinkingWaterGuidelines6.2011.Version3.0UpdatedDecember2014.PhoenixEnvironmentalPtyLtd(2014),Memo:PilbaraIronOreProjectLevel1VertebrateFaunaSurveyofProposedRoadAlignment.7November2014.RGSEnvironmentalPtyLtd(2014),IndependentThirdPartyReviewofMineWasteCharacterisationPilbaraIronOreProject:ProcessWasteTailings.30November2014.


P a g e |48

WorleyParsons(2012a),GeochemicalCharacterisationofMineWasteandTailings–ImplicationsforMineWasteManagement.July2012.

WorleyParsons(2012b),FlindersPilbaraIronOreProject–Stage1.AssessmentonProponentInformation–EnvironmentalReviewDocument.18October2012.

WorleyParsons(2012c),PilbaraIronOreProject–GroundwaterImpactAssessmentReport.9March2012.WorleyParsons(2013),PilbaraIronOreProject–DewateringModellingReport.AddendumtotheGroundwaterImpactAssessmentReport.29July2013.


P a g e |49

12 APPENDICES

ThefollowingAppendicesareprovidedontheattachedCD:

Appendix1:FloraandVegetaionSurveyReportsAppendix2:FaunaSurveyReportsAppendix3:GroundwaterAbstractionModellingReportsAppendix4:TailingsGeochemicalStudiesAppendix5:SummaryofStakeholderConsultation–PIOPStage1Appendix6:DecisionMakingAuthoritiesCommunicationAppendix7:FlindersPilbaraIronOreProject–Stage1,API–EnvironmentalReviewDocumentAppendix8:DevelopmentEnvelopeShapefilesAppendix9:PIOPStage1SignificantFaunaSpeciesManagementPlan

Documents

FLINDERS MINES LTD ASSESSMENT ON PROPONENT …