Ravensthorpe Nickel Operations Tamarine Quarry Dust

Uncontrolled Document When Printed 1 of 18

Ravensthorpe Nickel Operations

Tamarine Quarry Dust Management Plan

RNO-ENV-PLN-0021

January 2014


APPROVAL RECORD

FQM Document Number: RNO-ENV-PLN-0020 Document Owner: Environment Manager

Date of

issue

Revision Description Prepared

by

Checked

by

Approved

by

A Issued for internal review DL LC TP

B Issued for internal update and review

0 Issued for use

10/02/2014 1.0 Update to formating TP TP TP


Contents

Page Number

1. Dust Management Plan 5

1.1 Background 5

2. Objectives of the Management Plan 8

3. Sources and Impacts 8

3.1 Dust Sources 8

3.2 Potential Impacts 9

4. Obligations and Statutory Requirements 9

5. Standards and Performance Criteria 10

6. Development Rationale 10

6.1 Operational Controls 11

7. Mitigation Tasks 11

7.1 Contingency Plan 11

7.2 Monitoring 11

7.3 Reporting 11

7.4 Dust Complaint Management Procedure 12

7.1 Community Consultation 12

8. Commitments Table 12

9. References 14

Tables in Text


Table 1 DDG Results June 2008 – December 2013 ........................................................................ 8

Figures

Figure 1 - 12 month Wind Rose from RNO weather Station ............................................................ 6

Figure 2 Tamarine Quarry Dust Monitor Locations .......................................................................... 7

Figure 3 Dust Management Contingency Plan ............................................................................... 13

Appendices

Appendix A Commitments Table ................................................................................................... 15


1. Dust Management Plan

1.1 Background

In September 2013, Operating Licence L8660/2012/1 was issued for Tamarine Quarry; as a

prescribed premises (Category 12, Screening), under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA).

This Management Plan has been developed to guide operations at Tamarine Quarry in regard to

dust.

Tamarine Quarry is located 12km to the south west of the processing plant for Ravensthorpe Nickel

Operation (RNO). The surrounding area has been heavily cleared for agriculture, and is therefore

subject to elevated ambient dust levels (SKM, 2003). These elevated levels result from agricultural

activities during dry and windy periods when groundcovers have been reduced (e.g. harvesting of

crops) as well as travel on unsealed roads.

Ravensthorpe Nickel Operation (RNO) has been conducting dust sampling using four Dust

Deposition Gauges (DDG’s) located near Tamarine Quarry since April 2008.

The standard of 4mg/m²/month for particulate matter was adopted as appropriate for the RNO site

following a study (SKM, 2003) and is contained in the Operating Licence for RNO (L8008).

Table 1 graphically represents DDG results from monitoring since commencement in July 2008

until December 2013.

All exceedances of the 4mg/m²/month limit have correlated with agricultural activities (such as

spraying, seeding and cropping) from surrounding farm lands, and have not been attributed to

quarry operations.

Figure 1 shows the yearly wind rose from RNO’s weather station, and is indicative of past yearly

wind roses. Seasonal winds are quite distinct, with

summer winds being predominately easterly,

Autumn winds from the North West, through north to south easterly,

Winter winds north westerly and

Spring winds are westerly and south easterly. (SKM, 2003).


Since commencement of operations at Tamarine Quarry, no complaints regarding dust from have

been received.

Figure 1 - 12 month Wind Rose from RNO weather Station 1

1

The strong wind (40-50m/s) reading from the South East was recorded in October 2012, and was due to

calibrations after a 15 day outage of the wind sensor.


Figure 2 Tamarine Quarry Dust Monitor Locations


2. Objectives of the Management Plan

The objective of the Tamarine Quarry Dust Management Plan is:

‘To ensure that dust levels generated by the operations at Tamarine Quarry meet all statutory

requirements and do not adversely impact on ecological function or the health and amenity of the

community’

3. Sources and Impacts

3.1 Dust Sources

Monitoring by dust deposition gauges will detect dust from adjacent regional sources as well as

dust from quarry operations. Sources of dust identified are:

The seasonal movement of agricultural equipment during dry soil conditions on land where ground cover is greatly reduced,

Blasting,

Extraction and handling of limestone, and

Truck and vehicle movements on unsealed roads.

It was noted in an earlier study (SKM, 2003).that both the NSW limit of 4mg/m²/month (NSW EPA,

August 2001) and the National limit of 50 µg/m³ (NEPC, 2003) are exceeded within the district.

Table 1 DDG Results June 2008 – December 2013

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Jun

e 2

00

7

Oct

ob

er

20

07

Feb

ruar

y 2

00

8

Jun

e 2

00

8

Oct

ob

er

20

08

Feb

ruar

y 2

00

9

Jun

e 2

00

9

Oct

ob

er

20

09

Feb

ruar

y 2

01

0

Jun

e 2

01

0

Oct

ob

er

20

10

Feb

ruar

y 2

01

1

Jun

e 2

01

1

Oct

ob

er

20

11

Feb

ruar

y 2

01

2

Jun

e 2

01

2

Oct

ob

er

20

12

Feb

ruar

y 2

01

3

Jun

e 2

01

3

Oct

ob

er

20

13

Limit g/m2/month

DDG13 g/m2/month

DDG14 g/m2/month

DDG15 g/m2/month

DDG16 g/m2/month


3.2 Potential Impacts

Potential impacts of elevated dust emissions include:

Nuisance to nearby Sensitive Receptors (farm residences),

Smothering of Flora,

Reduction of visual amenity, and

Risk to human health.

The nearest receptors for dust are shown in Figure 2. No complaints of dust generated from

Tamarine Quarry have been received by RNO since the commencement of operations.

There have been limited studies on the impact of particulates on vegetation health, particularly the

impact on vegetation in the South West of Western Australia; however noted impacts include the

smothering of foliage, changes to soil chemistry and blocking of stomata. Particulates of

calcareous origin (i.e. limestone) are known to cause extensive problems for vegetation by altering

the pH of the soil/substrate conditions and water that may occur on leaves (SKM, 2003)(section

4.5.3). However, due to the limited amount of remnant vegetation, and the fact that such

vegetation is established upon a calcareous substrate, the likely impact of limestone on such

vegetation is seen as insignificant.

Generation of dust from pit operations is mitigated by the use of a water cart for dust suppression.

The water cart pre-wets areas prior to blasting; irrigates the pit, stockpile and unsealed haul roads

on the property. A small stockpile of limestone product is kept at Tamarine, with the bulk of

material stored at RNO.

4. Obligations and Statutory Requirements

The following obligations and statutory requirements are relevant:

Occupational Health and Safety Act 1984, (WA Government, 1984),

Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994, (WA Government, 1994)

Mining Act 1978, (WA Government, 1978)

Environmental Protection Act 1986, (WA Government, 1986)

Mining Proposal 5642, (Golder Associates, 2007)

Operating License L8660/2012/1, (Department of Environmental Regulation, September 2013)


5. Standards and Performance Criteria

The following standards and performance criteria are relevant:

Guideline for managing the impacts of dust and associated contaminants from land development sites, contaminated sites remediation and other related activities, (Department of Environment and Conservation, March 2011)

Land development sites and impacts on air quality: A guideline for the prevention of dust and smoke pollution from land development sites in Western Australia (Department of Environmental Protection, November 1996)

No complaints logged in InControl (Site Incident Reporting Register)

Minimal visible dust crossing the site boundary as a result of quarrying activities, and

Compliance to dust control strategies.

AS/NZS 3580.1.1:2007 Methods for sampling and analysis of ambient air Part 1.1:guide to siting air monitoring equipment,

AS4323.1:1995 Stationary source emissions, Method 1: selection of sampling positions,

AS/NZS3580.10.1:2003 Methods for sampling and analysis of ambient air, Method 10.1 Determination of particulate matter – Deposited matter – Gravimetric method.

AS/NZS358.9.9 Determination of suspended particulate matter –PM10 low volume sampler - gravimetric method

RNO will report internally to the Environmental Manager any exceedance of 4g/mg²/month during

monthly Dust Deposition Gauge monitoring. This report will include the results of the

investigation(s) and, where practicable, the cause of the exceedance. Investigations will consider

wind speed and direction for the month, and local activities (both quarrying and agricultural) that

may have contributed to the exceedance.

6. Development Rationale

The on-going development of the Tamarine Quarry Limestone Deposit will be staged to reduce

undue clearing to minimise any environmental impacts as far as practicable. Development of the

Limestone Quarry is governed by:

RNO’s Mine Closure Plan, (FQM Australia Nickel, October 2012)

Rehabilitation and Preliminary Closure Plan, (BHPBilliton, 2006)

Land Disturbance Procedures

Due to the soil and vegetation of Tamarine Quarry not supporting Dieback (Phytopthora

cinnamomii) and transport to and from site being on sealed roads, the risk of Dieback is considered

negligible (Glevan Consulting, 2013)

Water for dust suppression via water cart will use bore water sourced from RNO, due to the


restricted water resource at Tamarine Quarry.

6.1 Operational Controls

This Tamarine Quarry Dust Management Plan is an overall guideline document that sets the

objectives and criteria on how dust should be managed on site. A number of operation controls

have been developed to provide personnel with directives for the effective implementation of the

mitigation tasks provided in this plan. Mitigation of risk will be in the form of Engineering Design,

Standard Operating Procedures and Standards.

Procedures and Standards will describe the processes in which certain activities must be

undertaken to achieve the management objectives of this Plan.

7. Mitigation Tasks

7.1 Contingency Plan

A Dust Contingency Plan is provided Figure 3 as a reference guide for managing dust and potential

exceedance during operation of the quarry.

7.2 Monitoring

During Operations, several monitoring Tasks will be implemented to verify the performance of Dust

Suppression measures and to quantify any potential impacts. Proposed monitoring tasks are listed

in the commitments table, in section D.

Four (4) Dust Deposition Gauges are installed on the boundary of Tamarine Quarry (Figure 2) and

will be monitored monthly. Dust Deposition Gauge Monitoring will be in accordance with the

standards outlined in Section 5. Samples will be sent to an independent NATA accredited

laboratory. Results will be analysed and referred against performance criteria developed in section

5, and reported in internal monthly Corporate Reporting and Annual Environmental Reports (AER)

to regulators.

7.3 Reporting

Non-compliance against objectives will be investigated and reported as described in section 5.


Evaluation of the Dust Management Plan will be included in internal reporting and summarised

annually for reporting to regulatory authorities in the AER.

7.4 Dust Complaint Management Procedure

Compliant Management commitments are outlined in the commitments table (Appendix A).

Reporting of complaints is entered into RNO’s InControl Incident Reporting System. Complaints

will be investigated and a report provided to the Environmental Manager. This report will include

the results of the investigation and, where practicable, the cause of the complaint. Investigations

will consider wind speed and direction, and activities (both quarrying and agricultural) that may

have contributed to the complaint.

Complaints will also be included in reporting to regulatory authorities in the AER.

7.1 Community Consultation

RNO liaises regularly with community groups, stakeholders and neighbours. The Jerdacuttup RNO

Working Group (JRWG) is comprised of neighbouring landholders, stakeholders and RNO

management, and meets quarterly. The JRWG is a commitment undertaken as part of Ministerial

Statement 633, and includes an independent Environmental Consultant to advise the JRWG

members of technical data provided.

8. Commitments Table

The commitments table is attached as Appendix A


Figure 3 Dust Management Contingency Plan

Dust Suppression

Vegetation

Clearing

Earthworks,

Blasting and

Drilling

Material

handling Traffic Wind Action

Temporarily stop dust generating activity and engage water

cart or other water application method to reduce dust

generation

Adhere to site speed

limits

Determine source of wind-blown dust.

Engage water cart or alternative water

application method to dampen area.

Problem

Rectified?

?

Problem

Rectified?

?

Problem

Rectified?

?

Continue with activity when visible dust has been suppressed.

Engage water cart or

alternative water application

method to dampen area Apply alternative dust

suppression measures e.g.

soil stabiliser, mulch, erect

dust control fence, employ

road sweeper to remove

spilled debris from roads,

minimise exposed surfaces

with the use of covers etc.

Apply alternative dust suppression

measures. E.g. soil stabiliser, mulch,

erect dust control fence, employ road

sweeper to removed debris from roads

etc.

Problem

Rectified?

?

YES

YES

YES No

No

No No


9. References

BHPBilliton. (2006). Rehabilitation and Preliminary Closure Management Plan. Ravensthorpe:

BHPBIlliton.

Department of Environment and Conservation. (March 2011). A guideline for managing the impacts

of dust and associated contaminants from land development sites, contaminated sites

remediation and other related activities. Perth: WA Government.

Department of Environmental Protection. (November 1996). Land development sites and impacts

on air qulity: a guideline for the prevention of dust and smoke pollution from land

development sites in Western Australia. Perth: WA Government.

Department of Environmental Regulation. (September 2013). Operating Licence L8660/2012/1.

Perth: WA Government.

FQM Australia Nickel. (October 2012). Mineral Field 74 Mine Closure Plan. Ravensthorpe: FQM

Australia Nickel.

Glevan Consulting. (2013). First Quantum Minerals RNO Phytopthora Dieback Occurrence

Assessment. Glevan Consulting.

Golder Associates. (2007). Mining Proposal Tamarine Limestone Quarry M74/220. Perth: Golder

Associates.

NEPC. (2003). National Environmnent Portection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure. Canberra: Office

of Legislative Drafting, Attorney Generals department.

NSW EPA. (August 2001). Approved Methods and Guidance - For the Modelling and Assessment

of Air Pollutants in New South Wales. Sydney: NSW EPA.

SKM. (2003). Ravensthorpe Nickel Operations Air Quality Assessment. Perth: Sinclair Knight Merz.

WA DER. (1986). Environmental Protection Act 1986. Perth: WA Government.

WA Government. (1978). Mining Act. Perth: State law Publisher.

WA Government. (1984). Occupation Safety and Health Act . Perth: WA Government.

WA Government. (1986). Environmental Protection Act. Perth: State Law Publisher.

WA Government. (1994). Mines Safety and Inspection Act. Perth: WA Government.


Appendix A Commitments Table

Commitments Register – Dust Management Plan Name Description Responsibility Reference

Operations

TQdu001 Develop and provide operation procedures and standards for relevant site personnel. For example, develop standard operating procedures for water cart operators, including aspects of over-watering or over-spray

Quarry Contractor

TQdu002 Regular watering of unsealed roads and exposed surfaces will be undertaken by water

tankers/carts Quarry Contractor

TQdu003 Minimise drop distances when loading and handling limestone to reduce dust generation Quarry Contractor

TQdu004 Assess the potential for use of a soil-binding water additive to minimise water use for dust suppression

Quarry Contractor

TQdu005 Assess the requirement for dust suppression measures for disturbed areas and implement identified measures

Quarry Contractor

TQdu006 Stabilise temporarily disturbed land as soon as practicable (i.e. spreading of aggregate, hydro mulching or other material)

Quarry Contractor

TQdu007 Adhere to site speed limits to minimise dust emissions Quarry Contractor



TQdu008 Site traffic will be restricted to designated internal access ways to prevent disturbance of vegetated or natural areas

Quarry Contractor

TQdu009 Rip and re-vegetate obsolete roads to minimise the exposure of unpaved surfaces Quarry Contractor

TQdu010 Restrict access to cleared areas during and after clearing of vegetation to minimise unnecessary disturbance and generation of dust

Quarry Contractor

TQdu011 Topsoil that is recovered from cleared areas (pits, waste dumps) will be stored in designated storage areas and where practicable will be abutted adjacent to vegetation stockpiles

Environmental Department

TQdu012 Stockpile top soils from infrastructure area and undertake seeding to stabilise for storage until required reapplication in the future to support closure objectives


TQdu013 General housekeeping practices will be undertaken to ensure there is no accumulation of waste materials, within the lease area, that may generate dust

Quarry Contractor

TQdu014 Implement the Dust Contingency Plan if unacceptable dust levels arise Quarry Contractor

TQd015 Mark Haul Road edges with marker posts or equivalent to minimise unnecessary disturbance and generation of dust

Quarry Contractor



TQdu016 Undertake blasting in accordance with the blasting management plan which will include specific measures to minimise dust

Quarry Contractor

TQdu017 Application of water to haul roads through the use of spray bars, or other suitable means, is to reduce the potential for overspray

Quarry Contractor

TQdu018 Maintain an acceptable moisture content for ore stockpiles that minimised wind erodibility where practicable

Quarry Contractor

TQdu019 Apply dust aprons and dust extraction cyclones during drilling, if required Quarry Contractor

TQdu020 Undertake progressive rehabilitation of mined landforms as soon as practicable Environmental Department

TQdu021 Areas with the potential to generate dust should be minimised as much as practicable Mining Department

Monitoring and Consultation

TQdu022 The performance of the dust control strategies will be monitored and maintained through visual inspections and monitoring equipment




TQdu023 Maintain the operation of the current Dust Deposition Gauge Monitoring Program Environmental Department

TQdu024 Analyse data from dust monitoring, and investigate and report to the Environmental Manager/Mining Manager any exceedance within 28 days. Any required actions are to be entered into InControl.

Environmental Department / Mining Manager

TQdu025 Visually monitor dust emanating from the quarry operations Quarry Contractor

TQdu026 Evaluate corrective actions and implement actions where practicable Quarry Contractor

TQdu027 Refer dust complaints to the Environmental Manager as soon as practicable Quarry Contractor

TQdu028 Investigate any complaints and report to the Environmental Manager within 28 days. Any required actions are to be entered into InControl.


TQdu029 Provide feedback and response to complainant as soon as practicable Environmental Department

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