Alcan Gove Alumina Refinery Expansion Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Appendix K Community Consultation

Alcan Gove Alumina Refinery Expansion Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Appendix K.1 Newsletters & Feedback Form

Alcan Gove Refinery Stage 3 Expansion

EIS NEWSLETTER1

Welcome to this first

newsletter about the Environmental

Impact Study (EIS) for the Alcan

Gove Stage 3 Expansion Project.

This newsletter aims to inform

the community about the

environmental assessment process

that is being undertaken for the

proposed Stage 3 expansion of the

existing alumina refinery located on

the Gove Peninsula in the Northern

Territory.

This is the first of three newsletters

to be produced during the project’s

EIS process to update stakeholders

and the community on progress of

the project.

The newsletter tells you how you

can become involved in the EIS

process. If you have questions about

the proposal, we want to hear from

you.

ALCANAlcan Gove is the operator of the bauxite mine and alumina refinery at Gove.Alcan Gove is wholly owned by Alcan Inc (Alcan). Alcan is the parent company ofan international group operating in many aspects of the aluminium and packagingindustries. Alcan has 48,000 employees in 38 countries where it successfullyoperates bauxite mines, alumina refineries, aluminium smelters, and aluminiumsemi-fabrication and packaging plants.

Alcan operates under a policy which requires excellent environmental performanceat all of its operations through continual improvement of awareness,understanding and performance. This policy applies to Alcan Gove and it isexpected the environmental performance of the expanded refinery will be animprovement on the current performance.

The existing Alcan Gove operations consist of a bauxite mine and refinery whichconverts the bauxite into alumina. Alumina is an intermediate product in themanufacture of aluminium. The alumina from Gove is exported from the refineryto aluminium smelters around the world.

A P R I L 2 0 0 3

PROPOSED EXPANSIONThe Gove refinery needs to expand in order to maintain its position in thecompetitive world alumina refining industry and to ensure its long term survival.Alcan is undertaking a feasibility study into the expansion and a decision onwhether to proceed with it will be made in mid 2004. The EIS is being prepared inparallel with the feasibility study.

If the expansion proceeds it will add a third stage to the existing two-stageoperation. This will increase the refinery’s capacity from 2.0 million tonnes perannum (mt/a) to 3.5 mt/a. All new plant and equipment to be installed as part ofthe expansion will be located within the footprint of the existing refinery. There isno requirement to use any land outside of the existing lease area.

Areas Required for Expansion

Existing OperationsThe existing operations consist of thefollowing main components:

◗ Mine – Bauxite is mined from alaterite deposit where it is crushedand conveyed to the refinery

◗ Refinery – The bauxite is processedto produce alumina.

◗ Residue Disposal – Refinery wasteconsisting mainly of alkaline bauxiteresidue is disposed of in a dedicateddisposal area.

◗ Port – A port from which bauxiteand alumina are exported and avariety of bulk materials areimported.

A P R I L 2 0 0 3

Increased refinery production will be achieved by installing new process equipmentwhich will integrate into the existing refinery process. As well as the new processequipment, an additional power station boiler will be installed to supply additionalsteam and electricity. Consideration is also being given to the installation of aliquor purification process designed to reduce the organic impurities in the residueto enable maximum recycling of caustic liquor. This will not go ahead unless allappropriate environmental and health guidelines can be met.

The alkaline residue from the refinery is currently being disposed of incontainment ponds at the residue disposal area. Even with the expansion theexisting containment ponds have enough capacity until 2015. In the meantime,alternatives for future disposal will be examined. Once a future site is decided, itwill be subject to separate studies and Government approvals and there will befurther opportunities for the community to comment.

The expansion design will incorporate sufficient flexibility for the refinery to burneither fuel oil or natural gas. Negotiations are currently underway to secure anatural gas supply. Fuel oil will continue to be burned until natural gas becomesavailable, with appropriate controls to achieve acceptable air quality.

The construction phase will extend for 33 months. At its peak there will be anestimated 1,220 construction workers on-site. These workers will beaccommodated in a self-serviced construction camp to be developed in Nhulunbuynear the site of the previous construction camp. If the expansion is approved,construction should begin during the second half of 2004 and first production willcommence in 2007.

A process flow diagram of theexisting operations.

BENEFITS OF THEEXPANSIONA number of environmental andeconomic benefits will occur as a resultof the expansion including:

◗ Improved competitiveness in thealumina refining industry and longterm survival of the Gove Refinery.

◗ Installation of the Alcan doubledigestion process will ensure theoptimum amount of alumina isextracted from the bauxite and thatlower grade bauxite can beprocessed. This will result in a 10%improvement in alumina extractionper tonne of bauxite mined.

◗ The improved digestion will alsoresult in a 25% reduction in residueproduced per tonne of product.

◗ With liquor purification there willbe 25% less caustic sodaconsumption and a 75% reductionin soluble alkaline waste per tonneof alumina produced.

◗ There will be a 5% reduction inenergy consumption and areduction in greenhouse gasemissions per tonne of product.

◗ Once the natural gas supplybecomes available, there will be asubstantial reduction in sulphurdioxide emissions and combustionparticulates as well as a furtherreduction in greenhouse gasemissions.

◗ There will be significant economicstimulus from increasedemployment and production.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTPROCESSThe Northern Territory Government requires the environmental impacts of theproject to be assessed before the necessary approvals can be issued. Theenvironmental impact assessment process will be managed in accordance with theEnvironmental Assessment Act 1982 and Environmental AssessmentAdministrative Procedures. The authority responsible for managing the project’senvironmental impact assessment process is the Office of Environment andHeritage within the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment(DIPE).

The project has also been referred to the Commonwealth Government fordetermination as to whether it is a “controlled activity” under the EnvironmentalProtection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

To initiate the impact assessment process, Alcan Gove has submitted a Notice ofIntent to the NT Government. This document summarises the proposed projectand its potential environmental impacts. Part A of the draft Guideline contains asummary of the Notice of Intent submitted to the DIPE. This can be viewed on theAlcan Gove website: www.alcangove.com.au.

Draft Guidelines which outline the issues that the project’s EIS must address havebeen prepared by the NT Government and are available on both the Alcan Govewebsite and the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Environment website:www.lpe.nt.gov.au/eia. All members of the public are invited to comment on thedraft Guidelines. Written comments on the draft Guidelines can be submitted tothe DIPE Office of Environment and Heritage at the following address:

Project Officer – Alcan Gove EIS,Department of Infrastructure, Planning and EnvironmentOffice of Environment and HeritageGPO Box 1680Darwin NT 0801

Details of the final date that DIPE will accept written submissions on the draftGuidelines, is available on their website. Once the Guidelines for the project arefinalised, the environmental studies associated with the preparation of the EIS willbe undertaken. During this time there will be further opportunities for communityconsultation.

The findings of the environmental studies will be summarised in the EIS whichwill address all the issues listed in the Guidelines. These issues will include:– air quality – water quality– marine biology – noise– waste management – land use– socio-economics – infrastructure– flora and fauna – aesthetics

The current schedule is to have the EIS prepared by the end of September 2003.A period of government and public review and comment will then follow.

The Study Team

The EIS is being prepared by a team of experts led by environmental andengineering consultants, URS. URS together with specialist subconsultants willwork with Alcan to ensure that all relevant environmental issues have beenaddressed.

A L C A N G O V E R E F I N E R Y S T A G E 3 E X P A N S I O N • E I S N E W S L E T T E R

COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONThe community is invited to become involved in the impact assessment process viaa number of means including registering on the stakeholder database, by callingthe free call number provided and leaving your contact details, or by returning theenclosed feedback form to the study team. All registered stakeholders will be keptup to date and will be involved in the community consultation process throughoutthe study.

This first newsletter and the feedback form are also available for viewing on theAlcan Gove website: www.alcangove.com.au.

Meetings will be held with government agencies and special interest groups,including the Regional and Nhulunbuy Community Reference Groups during theEIS process. Please advise the study team if you represent a special interest group,and/or would like to be involved in the meetings. Please provide details of thegroup you represent including any specific environment and/or social areas ofinterest relevant to the project.

A second newsletter will be available in July and will provide an update on the EISprogress. It will be distributed to everyone registered on the stakeholder database.The second newsletter will also be available on the Alcan Gove website.

FEEDBACK The enclosed feedback form is provided if you would like to comment, askquestions or be kept informed of the study process. Please complete the form andsend it reply paid to the study team at the following address:

Alcan Gove Expansion EISCommunity Affairs DepartmentReply Paid 21Nhulunbuy NT 0881

Alternatively you can contact the study team at:

FREECALL 1800 199 283

WEBSITE www.alcangove.com.au

MAIL Alcan Gove Expansion EISCommunity Affairs DepartmentPO Box 21Nhulunbuy NT 0881

EMAIL communityaffairs@alcangove.com.au

How

you can be involved

environmental and engineering professional services

Comments:

Alcan Gove Refinery Stage 3 ExpansionPROJECT FEEDBACK

This feedback form is designed to give interested people a chance to comment, ask questions or be keptinformed on the Alcan Gove Expansion project.

Please take a moment to complete this form, then fold and staple or tape it closed, and drop it into thenearest mailbox.

Postage is free. Please add extra pages if you need more space.

What interest do you have in the Alcan Gove Expansion project? (tick all that apply)

I am a resident.

Which street do you live in?

I represent a group or organisation.

Which organisation?

I am a business owner.

What is your type of business and its location?

Another interest.

Please identify:

Please keep me informed of the progress of the EIS process.

environmental and engineering professional services

Fold here first

Fold here second

TAPE O

R STAPLE H

ERE

Thank you for your time and input.

Your comments will help the Study Team and Alcan ensure that all relevant

environmental issues are addressed.

Please provide your contact details below if you would like to receive more information.

Full Name:

Postal Address:

Phone: Fax:

Email:

Alcan Gove Refinery Third Stage Expansion

EIS NEWSLETTER2

Welcome to this second

newsletter about the Environmental

Impact Study (EIS) for the Alcan Gove

Third Stage Expansion Project.

This newsletter provides an update

about the environmental assessment

process that is being undertaken for the

proposed expansion of the existing

alumina refinery located on the Gove

Peninsula in the Northern Territory.

This is the second of three newsletters

to be produced during the project’s EIS

process to update stakeholders and the

community on progress of the project.

The newsletter tells you how you can

become involved in the EIS process. If

you have questions about the proposal,

we want to hear from you.

ALCANAlcan Gove is the operator of thebauxite mine and alumina refinery atGove. Alcan Gove is wholly owned byAlcan Inc (Alcan). Alcan is the parentcompany of an international groupoperating in many aspects of thealuminium and packaging industries.Alcan has 48,000 employees in 38countries where it successfully operatesbauxite mines, alumina refineries,aluminium smelters, and aluminiumsemi-fabrication and packaging plants.

The existing Alcan Gove operationsconsist of a bauxite mine and refinerywhich converts the bauxite intoalumina. Alumina is an intermediateproduct in the manufacture ofaluminium. The alumina from Gove isexported from the refinery toaluminium smelters around the world.

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 3

Overview Alcan is continuing to investigate the feasibility of expanding the capacity of theGove refinery from 2.0 million tonnes of alumina per year to 3.5 million tonnesper year.

Since the last newsletter the NT Government guidelines for the EnvironmentalImpact Statement (EIS) have been published and studies addressing each guidelineare being undertaken. This will allow Alcan to assess the likely impact of therefinery expansion on the environment.

The objectives of the proposed expansion are:

◗ Maintenance of Alcan’s internationally competitive position;

◗ Longer term security for the Gove operation; and

◗ Improvement of environmental performance.

The feasibility study will integrate and co-ordinate the following four areas ofupgrade to the operations.

◗ The main refinery upgrade will involve theinstallation of new plant and equipment, whichwill integrate into the existing refinery processes.Infrastructure services will be augmented to meetthe demands of the additional refinery capacity.

◗ Liquor Purification. This is a processdesigned to reduce the causticcontent of the residue and to enablemaximum recycling of caustic liquor.Alcan Gove will only commit to thisproject once it is established that allappropriate environmental and healthguidelines can be met.

◗ Liquor Storage Reduction. One ofthe options being investigated is theneutralisation of the surplus alkalineliquor and a small proportion of redmud.

◗ Gas to Gove. Alcan has entered into aHeads of Agreement for the supply ofnatural gas to Gove in time for thecommissioning of the Third StageExpansion. This will replace the fueloil which is currently used.

Alcan aim to submit the EIS to the NTGovernment in early November 2003.The EIS will be put on public displayfor at least 6 weeks when comments canbe made to the NT Government. Alcanwill then submit any additionalinformation requested by the NTGovernment. It is expected the NTGovernment will then decide whetherto approve the EIS in March 2004.

It is expected that the feasibility studywill be completed by mid-2004. If theproject is approved from Alcan inMontreal, it is expected thatconstruction of the expansion willbegin in the third quarter of 2004 withcommissioning beginning in the thirdquarter of 2007.

Overview ofEnvironmental EffectsImplementation of the expansionproject will have the followingenvironmental effects.

◗ Natural gas is a much cleaner fuelthan oil and it will result insignificantly reduced emissions ofsulfur dioxide and particulates fromthe refinery operations. It is possiblethat gas may not reach Gove in timefor the expansion. Plans are beingdeveloped for these possibilities.

◗ Process equipment will use lesselectricity, which will reducegreenhouse gas emissions, includingcarbon dioxide.

◗ Improved standards of bunding anddrainage control at the refinery willreduce the risk of any spills or leaksof contaminants to the naturalenvironment.

◗ There will be no new dischargepoints from the site to Melville Bay.

◗ The liquor neutralisation processwould render the waste water andrunoff from the residue disposal areasaline and suitable for discharge tothe marine environment. This willreduce the volume of waste waterstored at the residue disposal areaenabling operations to continuewithin the existing area until 2015.

◗ There will be no additional heat loaddischarged to Melville Bay as a resultof the third stage expansion.

◗ Noise modelling has indicated thatthere will be no noticeable increasein noise levels in surroundingresidential areas as a result of theadditional plant and equipment.

◗ The existing residue disposaloperations will continue as at presentbut at a faster rate. The final heightof the residue will not be any higherthan what has already beenapproved.

◗ New bores will be required at theexisting borefield to provideadditional water supply. Modellinghas indicated that the new bores willnot have any significant effects onexisting water flows in either YirrkalaLagoon or in the Latram and NorthRivers.

◗ Vegetation clearing will beminimised and disturbed areas notrequired for operational purposeswill be rehabilitated.

◗ The on-site construction workforceis expected to peak at approximately1,000. They will be accommodated inspecially built temporaryaccommodation to be establishednear the army depot on ArnhemRoad at the site of the originalconstruction accommodationfacilities.

◗ The additional operation workforcefor the expanded refinery is stillbeing investigated.

The attached feedback form isprovided if you would like tocomment, ask questions or be keptinformed of the study process. Pleasecomplete the form and send it replypaid to the study team by Tuesday,30th September 2003 at the followingaddress:

Alcan Gove Expansion EISCommunity Affairs DepartmentReply Paid 21Nhulunbuy NT 0881

Alternatively you can contact the studyteam at:

FREECALL: 1800 199 283

WEBSITE: www.alcangove.com.au

MAIL: Alcan Gove Expansion EISCommunity Affairs DepartmentPO Box 21Nhulunbuy NT 0881

EMAIL:

communityaffairs@alcangove.com.au

FEEDBACK

2A L C A N G O V E R E F I N E R Y T H I R D S T A G E E X P A N S I O N • E I S N E W S L E T T E R

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A L C A N G O V E R E F I N E R Y T H I R D S T A G E E X P A N S I O N

This feedback form is designed to give interested people a chance to comment, ask questions or be keptinformed on the Alcan Gove Expansion project.

Please take a moment to complete this form, then fold and staple or tape it closed, and drop it into the nearestmailbox. Postage is free. Please add extra pages if you need more space.

What interest do you have in the Alcan Gove Expansion project? (tick all that apply)

I am a resident.

Which street do you live in?

I represent a group or organisation.

Which organisation?

I am a business owner.

What is your type of business and its location?

Another interest.

Please identify:

Please keep me informed of the progress of the EIS process.

PROJECT FEEDBACK

Please take the time to complete this feedback form to enable the study team to more fully understand your views on the project.

1. Why do you choose to live in this locality? (e.g. lifestyle, family, cost of living etc)

2. What are three things you like most about living in this area? (e.g. proximity to the coast, employment opportunities, fishing etc)

3. What are three things you like least about living in this area? (e.g. cost of living, lack of employment opportunities etc)

4. What advantages or positive outcomes, if any, do you anticipate, as a result of the Alcan Gove 3rd Stage Expansion?

5. What disadvantages or negative consequences, if any, do you anticipate, as a result of the proposed project?

✂

environmental and engineering professional services

Fold here first

Fold here second

TAPE O

R STAPLE H

ERE

Thank you for your time and input.

Your comments will help the Study Team and Alcan ensure that all relevant

environmental issues are addressed.

Please provide your contact details below if you would like to receive more information.

Full Name:

Postal Address:

Phone: Fax:

Email:

Alcan Gove Alumina Refinery Expansion Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Appendix K.2 EIS Guidelines Advertisement