mt marion lithium project - der.wa.gov.au · mt marion lithium project m15/717 ... march 2017. to...

Report Reference: ENV-TS-RP-0062_Rev0

Mt Marion Lithium

Project M15/717 – M15/1000

LICENCE APPLICATION -

SUPPORTING DOCUMENT

Proponent: Process Mineral International Pty Ltd

Address: 1 Sleat Road, Applecross, WA 6153

Postal Address: Locked Bag 3, Canning Bridge LPO, Applecross, WA 6153

Corporate contact: Matt Blacklow Phone: +61 8 9329 3498 Email: [email protected]

February 2017

mailto:[email protected]

Mt Marion Lithium Project Licence Application Supporting Document

ENV-TS-RP-0062_Rev0 Page | ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................ 1

2. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 2

2.1. Background ................................................................................................................................... 2

2.2. Purpose of this document ............................................................................................................. 3

2.3. Location ......................................................................................................................................... 3

2.4. Proposal Description ..................................................................................................................... 6

3. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................................................ 7

3.1. Climate .......................................................................................................................................... 7

3.2. Surface Water ............................................................................................................................... 7

3.3. Regional Groundwater .................................................................................................................. 7

3.3.1. Ghost Crab Pit Hydrology .............................................................................................................. 7

3.3.2. Pit Lake Water Quality .................................................................................................................. 7

3.4. Flora and Vegetation ..................................................................................................................... 9

3.5. Fauna ............................................................................................................................................. 9

4. LAND USE AND COMMUNITY .................................................................................................................. 9

4.1. Stakeholder consultation .............................................................................................................. 9

5. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESCRIBED PREMISE ACTIVITIES ...................................................................... 11

5.1. Processing or beneficiation of metallic or non-metallic ore ....................................................... 11

5.2. Tailings disposal .......................................................................................................................... 11

5.2.1. Storage Facility (Ghost Crab Pit) ................................................................................................. 11

5.2.2. Tailings Composition ................................................................................................................... 11

5.2.3. Disposal Method ......................................................................................................................... 12

5.2.4. Ghost Crab Pit Storage Capacity ................................................................................................. 12

5.2.5. Tailings Characteristics ................................................................................................................ 12

5.2.6. Expected Tailings Water Quality ................................................................................................. 12

5.2.7. Mineralogical Sampling and Analysis .......................................................................................... 12

5.3. Process Water ............................................................................................................................. 12

5.4. Waste Disposal ............................................................................................................................ 12

5.4.1. Waste Water ............................................................................................................................... 12

5.4.1.1. Input .................................................................................................................................. 12

5.4.1.2. Outputs ............................................................................................................................. 15

5.4.1.3. Maintenance ..................................................................................................................... 16

5.4.2. Landfill ......................................................................................................................................... 16


ENV-TS-RP-0062_Rev0 Page | iii

5.4.3. Tyre Storage and Disposal ........................................................................................................... 17

5.4.4. Contaminated soil disposal ......................................................................................................... 17

5.4.5. Other supporting infrastructure ................................................................................................. 17

6. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND EMISSIONS .................................................................... 17

6.1. Dust Emissions ............................................................................................................................ 18

6.2. Odour Emissions ......................................................................................................................... 18

6.3. Noise and Vibration .................................................................................................................... 18

6.6. Solid and liquid waste ................................................................................................................. 18

6.8. Tailings ........................................................................................................................................ 18

6.8.1. Existing Groundwater Users........................................................................................................ 18

6.8.2. Environmental Receptors............................................................................................................ 18

6.9. Groundwater Flow Modelling ..................................................................................................... 18

7. INCIDENT RESPONSE AND COMPLAINTS............................................................................................... 19

7.1. Incident Response ....................................................................................................................... 19

7.2. Complaints .................................................................................................................................. 19

8. PROPOSED MONITORING PROGRAMS .................................................................................................. 19

9. OTHER APPROVALS ............................................................................................................................... 20

10. REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................................... 20

TABLES

TABLE 1: MINING PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS TO DMP ....................................................................................... 2

TABLE 2: PRESCRIBED PREMISE CATEGORIES AND THROUGHPUTS ................................................................. 3

TABLE 3: TENEMENTS OF THE PRESCRIBED PREMISES ..................................................................................... 3

TABLE 4: OVER VIEW OF PROPOSED PROJECT ................................................................................................. 6

TABLE 5: GHOST CRAB PIT-LAKE WATER QUALITY – COMMON IONS ............................................................... 7

TABLE 6: GHOST CRAB PIT-LAKE WATER QUALITY – METALS ........................................................................... 8

TABLE 7: STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION .......................................................................................................... 9

TABLE 8: THE ATU WASTE WATER TREATMENT PROCESS .............................................................................. 13

TABLE 9: THE SAF WASTE WATER TREATMENT PROCESS ............................................................................... 14

TABLE 10: EFFLUENT OUTPUT ......................................................................................................................... 16

FIGURES

FIGURE 1: PRESCRIBED PREMISE 4

FIGURE 2: GHOST CRAB PIT INFRASTRUCTURE AND BORE LOCATIONS 5

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A DOW 5C GWL182397(1)


ENV-TS-RP-0062_Rev0 Page | 1

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This document provides information in support of Process Minerals International Pty Ltd (PMI) Licence application for Processing or beneficiation of metallic or non-metallic ore (Category 5), General Used Tyre Storage (Category 57), Class II or III Putrescible Landfill Site (Category 64) and Sewage facility (Category 85) to be located at the Mt Marion Lithium Project.

Neometals Ltd (Neometals) (formerly Reed Resources Ltd [Reed]) and Mineral Resources Ltd (MRL) by its subsidiary PMI, are working together in a joint venture to develop the Lithium mine. By the agreement, Reed Industrial Minerals Pty Ltd (RIM) (a jointly owned subsidiary of Neometals and PMI) is, or is entitled to become the registered holder of the project mining tenements. PMI owns and will operate the processing facilities.

More recently, RIM has entered into a conditional Memorandum of Understanding with China’s second largest lithium producer (Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd) for a long-term off-take agreement.

The prescribed activities associated with the Project occur on mining lease M15/717 and M15/1000, all of which are held by RIM.

The project encompasses mining from open cut pits using conventional drill and blast methods. Ore will be hauled by mine trucks to the Run of Mine pad located at the processing area on M15/717. The ore will then pass through a crusher and processing circuit. The beneficiation process produces a product and tailings waste. The spodumene product will be transported off-site to Kwinana or Esperance for export. The tailings waste streams will be disposed of into the Ghost Crab pit, west of the plant site.

The expected mine life for the project is about 18 years. Based on a tailings production rate of 1.866 million tonnes per annum, the longevity of Ghost Crab pit will be around 6 years. An alternative tailings storage option will be developed and the relevant approvals sort before the tailings reaching 0.8 metres from the pit crest.

A landfill site (up to 750 tonnes (t) per annual period) has been established for the disposal of general domestic and putrescible waste; inert wastes (e.g. plastic wrapping, polystyrene foam etc.) that may not be recycled. This has been registered under Category 89 but this registration will be surrendered upon successful licence application and become a Category 64 Landfill facility. All hydrocarbon soils will be treated at the onsite bioremediation facility (which does not form part of this licence application) or disposed of offsite by a licenced contractor. Outputs from the landfill may include dust, odour, and renegade rubbish. To minimise the effects of these outputs, PMI will ensure that all waste materials are disposed of according to the relevant waste regulations.

The only amendment to the existing approved Works Approval is to add:

Category 85 (greater than 20m3 and less than 100m3) to the prescribed premises to allow construction and operation of a WWTP for the processing of site wide septic waste.

The above Category has been included in this License application after it was agreed upon after consultation with DER.

The potential environmental impacts associated with the proposal include:

dust

noise

odour from landfill

odour from WWTP

gaseous emissions



hydrocarbon contamination and

tailings discharge to land and water.

All potential environmental impacts from the prescribed premises are considered to be of low risk and manageable. Environmental management of the site will be undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation and Environmental Management Plan - MRL-OHM-PLN-0004 (provided as part of the Works Approval W5734/2014/1) which will govern environmental performance at the site. This system includes plans, procedures, work instructions, forms and registers to reduce the risk of significant residual environmental impact.

PMI is committed to ensuring that construction and operation of the Project is done in a manner that reduces environmental impacts.

2. INTRODUCTION

2.1. Background

Since the approval of Works Approval Amendment W5734/2014/1 was granted on 11 August 2016 changing the commissioning period from a period of four to nine months, construction activities have nearly been completed with the commissioning of the Processing Plant due to be finalised at the end of March 2017. To accommodate changes to the Project, PMI have submitted a further two Mining Proposal amendments under the Mining Act 1978 (Mining Act). Table 1 shows these in further detail.

TABLE 1: MINING PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS TO DMP

Mining Proposal Reference Major Changes Covered Date Approved

Reg ID: 59349 - Deposition of tailings into Ghost Crab Pit

- RO Plant

- ANE Compound

- Additional haul roads

24 June 2016

Reg ID: 63646 - Expansion of Mining areas (waste dumps, pits, haul roads and topsoil stockpile)

- Installation of a 143 man camp

- Additional infrastructure areas

Still being assessed

An application to amend Native Vegetation Clearing Permit (Purpose Permit - 3549/1) under Section 51E of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) for the clearing of 450 Ha of native vegetation was assessed by the Department of Environment Regulation (DER) and approved on 21 July 2016. All clearing activities are now approved through NVCP 6770-2.

PMI obtained a licence (GWL182397(1)) to take 490,000 kilolitres (kL) per annum of water from the Ghost Crab pit and a licence to construct bores on M15/717. This has recently been surrendered as the Ghost Crab Pit is now an active Tailings Storage Facility.



The resource definition and exploration drilling program was completed in December 2016.

2.2. Purpose of this document

The purpose of this document is to provide sufficient information to the Department of Environment Regulation (DER) to support a Licence Application pursuant to Section 54 of Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) for Processing or beneficiation of metallic or non-metallic ore (Category 5), General Used Tyre Storage (Category 57), Class II or III Putrescible Landfill Site (Category 64) and Sewage facility (Category 85) pursuant to Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987. The proposed throughputs of these categories are detailed in Table 2 below.

This document will address the potential environmental issues associated with the operations of the above Prescribed Premises and discuss the proposed management measures to mitigate the impact to the environment from the operation of the Project.

TABLE 2: PRESCRIBED PREMISE CATEGORIES AND THROUGHPUTS

Category

No. Category Description

Category

production or

design capacity

Premises production

or design capacity

5 Processing or beneficiation of metallic or

non-metallic ore

50,000 tonnes or

more per annual

period

2.4 million tonnes

per annual period

57 Used tyre storage (general) 100 tyres or more 1,000 tyres per

annual period

64 Class II or III putrescible landfill site 20 tonnes or

more per annual

period

750 tonnes per

annual period

85 Sewage facility More than 20 but

less than 100

cubic metres per

day

65 cubic metres per

day

2.3. Location

No change to previous assessment (Works Approval W5734/2014/1).

The premises are situated on the tenements detailed in Table 3 below and all current and proposed activities are to occur on tenements M15/1000 and M15/717, both being held by RIM. Figure 1 shows the location of the prescribed premises.

TABLE 3: TENEMENTS OF THE PRESCRIBED PREMISES

Tenement Ownership Grant Date

M15/717 Reed Industrial Minerals 10 May 1994

M15/1000 Reed Industrial Minerals 22 October 1996

6,558,000

6,559,000

6,560,000

6,561,000

6,562,000

6,558,000

6,559,000

6,560,000

6,561,000

6,562,000

34

9,0

00

35

0,0

00

35

1,0

00

35

2,0

00

35

3,0

00

35

4,0

00

35

5,0

00

34

9,0

00

35

0,0

00

35

1,0

00

35

2,0

00

35

3,0

00

35

4,0

00

35

5,0

00

Mount Marion Project

Figure 1Prescribed Premise

Projection: MGA94 Zone 51Date: 16/02/2017

Author: K. Dennison Tailings Discharge

Prescribed Premise Boundary

Tenements

Legend

Current Mine Areas and Infrastructure

Proposed Mine Areas and Infrastructure

0 850

meters

6,560,000

6,560,250

6,560,500

6,560,750

6,560,000

6,560,250

6,560,500

6,560,750

35

0,0

00

35

0,2

50

35

0,5

00

35

0,7

50

35

1,0

00

35

1,2

50

35

0,0

00

35

0,2

50

35

0,5

00

35

0,7

50

35

1,0

00

Mount Marion Project

Figure 2Ghost Crab Pit

Infrastructure and Bore Locations

Projection: MGA94 Zone 51Date: 16/02/2017

Author: K. Dennison

Legend

Infrastructure

Bore

0 100

meters



2.4. Proposal Description

The objective of the project is to mine lithium bearing pegmatite ore from the mineralisation on M15/1000. The resource is estimated to 79 Mt to be mined over a period of up to 18 years. Construction of the project commenced in September 2015.

A summary of the proposed mining infrastructure and activities for the project is outlined in Table 4 and on Figure 2.

TABLE 4: OVER VIEW OF PROPOSED PROJECT

Elements Detail

Duration of construction 12 months

Operation to commence 2nd

Quarter 2016 (Crushing and screening)

Project life span Approximately 18 years

Processing and Beneficiation

Throughput (Mtpa)

2.4 million tonnes per annum

Spodumene concentrate

production

Approximately 0.45 million tonnes per annum

Intermediate product stockpiles Intermediate product will no longer be stockpiled in large volumes on

site. It will now be processed through the beneficiation plant.

Tailings product disposal Ghost Crab pit

Water source Water bores located on M15/1000. Freshwater abstracted from Perth to

Kalgoorlie pipeline combined with reclaim water taken from the Ghost

Crab pit.

Water requirements 2,155 million litres per annum (RO feed water)

RO Brine discharge 1,296 million litres per annum (73,000 Total Dissolved Solids)

Fuel supply 3 x 57,000 litre and 1 x 53,000 litre tanks

Power generation Gas Power Plant supplemented by smaller diesel generators used for

black start-up of the Gas Power Plant and other miscellaneous power

demands such as water bores. The LNG facility will have an approximate

store capacity of 240,000 litres which will consist of 4 x 60,000 litre tanks.

Landfill 750 tonnes per annum combined across both Landfill locations.

This includes inert and putrescible wastes with an estimated 1500 tyres

will be disposed of per annum within the WRL.

Used tyre storage Tyres to be stored at both Waste Disposal Facility locations. Combined

tyre storage of 1000 whole tyres.

Product transport Product will be transported via truck and rail to Kwinana or Esperance for

bulk shipping.

On site waste water processing. Combined 65m3 system to be installed.

Worker Accommodation 180 man camp to established.



3. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

3.1. Climate


3.2. Surface Water


3.3. Regional Groundwater

Due to the change in land use of the Ghost Crab Pit, from groundwater source to active Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), PMI have surrendered the 5C GWL182397 (Appendix A). Water is still abstracted from the TSF and then passed through a reverse osmosis (RO) plant for use in the Processing and Beneficiation process. The brine from this is mixed with the tailings slurry and ejected back into the TSF.

Water for the project is currently being sourced from reclaim water from the TSF along with water from the Water Corporation scheme water pipeline.

3.3.1. Ghost Crab Pit Hydrology


3.3.2. Pit Lake Water Quality


Further to our previous submissions and the PSM Tailings Report, PMI have been conducting regular monitoring of the in-pit lake water quality in the Ghost Crab Pit (Tailings Storage Facility). Table 5 and Table 6 show the water quality results prior to tailings being ejected into the pit against water quality testing of the in-pit lake quality since tailings have been ejected in to the TSF.

TABLE 5: GHOST CRAB PIT-LAKE WATER QUALITY – COMMON IONS

PARAMETER UNIT LOR1 GHOST CRAB PIT 1 GCP

Sample date 12/11/2015 05/01/2017

pH Value pH Unit 0.01 7.47 7.8

Electrical

Conductivity

µS/cm 1 50,900 44,000

Total Dissolved

Solids

mg/L 10 42,600 36,000

Suspended Solids mg/L 5 26 22

Hydroxide

Alkalinity

mg/L 1 <1 <5

Carbonate

Alkalinity

mg/L 1 <1 <5

Bicarbonate

Alkalinity

mg/L 1 75 58




Total Alkalinity mg/L 1 75 58

Sulfur mg/L 1 1,260 1,100

Sulfate - mg/L 1 3,680 3,000

Chloride mg/L 1 20,800 17,000

Calcium mg/L 1 1,540 1,300

Magnesium mg/L 1 1,440 1,200

Sodium mg/L 1 10,500 9,000

Potassium mg/L 1 275 190

TABLE 6: GHOST CRAB PIT-LAKE WATER QUALITY – METALS


Aluminium mg/L 0.01 0.14

Arsenic mg/L 0.01 <0.010 <0.010

Beryllium mg/L 0.01 <0.010 <0.010

Barium mg/L 0.001 0.153 0.18

Cadmium mg/L 0.0001 <0.0010 <0.0010

Chromium mg/L 0.01 <0.010 0.003

Cobalt mg/L 0.001 0.017 0.018

Copper mg/L 0.01 <0.010 0.27

Lead mg/L 0.01 <0.010 <0.010

Lithium mg/L 0.001 0.892

Manganese mg/L 0.001 4.74 2.8

Nickel mg/L 0.001 0.302 0.28

Selenium mg/L 0.01 <0.10 <0.10

Strontium mg/L 0.001 21.2 17

Thorium mg/L 0.01 <0.010

Uranium mg/L 0.01 <0.010

Vanadium mg/L 0.1 <0.10 <0.10

Zinc mg/L 0.05 <0.050 <0.050

Boron mg/L 0.05 5.08 4.7

Iron mg/L 0.05 0.12

Mercury mg/L 0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001

Notes:



1. Red infill indicates exceedance of ANZECC & ARMCANZ (2000) guidelines

PMI will continue to monitor the level and quality of the in-pit lake water of the TSF as part of its ongoing monitoring program.

3.4. Flora and Vegetation


3.5. Fauna


4. LAND USE AND COMMUNITY


4.1. Stakeholder consultation

An overview of Stakeholder Consultation undertaken since the last Works Approval Amendment is detailed below in Table 7.

TABLE 7: STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION

Date of

consultation

Stakeholder Purpose and Items

Discussed

Issues Raised Outcomes and

Proponent Response

8 August

2016

DER Formal Letter Notification of intent to

commence commissioning of

the processing plant

(beneficiation plant).

Response received 11

August 2016.

8 August

2016

DMP Email correspondence Extension of rehabilitation date

for PoW’s 56331 and 58416 to

August 2017.

Approved 18 August

2016.

11 August

2016

DER Phone and email

correspondence

Further information regarding

the notification of dry Vs wet

commissioning of the

beneficiation plant.

Notification on 8 August

clarified as

commencement of dry

commissioning only.

5 September

2016

DER Formal Letter Processing Plant (beneficiation

plant) compliance document.

Authorised on 20

September 2016.

7 September

2016

DMP Site Inspection to see

compliance against

Mining Proposal

Minor items raised in email for

immediate action.

Rectification report

submitted and

approved 22 September

2016.

7 September

2016

DMP Email correspondence

and formal letter

Minor Mining Proposal

amendment for addition of

small section of haul road to

access waste dump.

Authorisation granted

on 9 September 2016.

8 September DER Formal Letter Notification of intent to Authorised on 20



2016 commence wet commissioning

of the processing plant

(beneficiation plant).

September 2016.

14

September

2016

DMP Phone and email

correspondence

Minor Mining Proposal

amendment for addition of

bund area and haul road

alignment around Pit 1

Authorisation granted

on 16 September 2016.

17 October

2016

DER Phone and email

correspondence

Advice on whether the 35m

buffer between landfill trench

and the fence line is mandatory

Response received on

17 October 2016.

18 October

2016

DMP Email correspondence Extension of rehabilitation date

for PoW’s 59942 and 59792 to

October 2017.

Approved 21 October

2016.

3 November

2016

DER Formal Letter Landfill compliance document

and registration for Category

89 Application.

Approved 1 December

2016.

13 January

2017

DMP Formal Letter Request for further information

on MP Reg ID: 63646. Mainly

around the rehabilitation

methodology/specifications.

Mining Proposal Rev 2

submitted 3 February

2017.

10 February

2017

DER Meeting at DER

Offices, Booragoon.

Discussion on Licensing

Application for Mt Marion

Project.

License application

required to be

submitted as soon as

practicable for the

Project.

14 February

2017

DER Email correspondence Advice on whether category 85

could be included into the

current License Application for

Mt Marion.

Response received

advising that Cat 85

could be included in

application for

Operating Licence.



5. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESCRIBED PREMISE ACTIVITIES

The DER has advised that the Project will require a Licence Application under Part V of the EP Act for operation of Processing or beneficiation of metallic or non-metallic ore (Category 5), Used Tyre Storage (Category 57) a Class II and III Putrescible Site Landfill (Category 64) and a Sewage System (Category 85). The proposed throughput of these categories is detailed in Table 2.

5.1. Processing or beneficiation of metallic or non-metallic ore

The only change to the previous Works Approval submission is the addition of a grinding circuit and

flotation banks for separation of a 6% Li2O Spodumene concentrate product in the beneficiation process. A

brief overview of the process is described below.

The proposed grinding circuit uses a ball mill for reducing particle size and a cyclone cluster for specific

separation of the particle sizes. Any particles which are still too big and heavy will drop out of the cyclone

cluster as an underflow and will get reprocessed through the mill again to reduce size, whilst the smaller

lighter particles will come out of the cyclone cluster and get pumped over to the flotation plant.

The flotation plant feed will initially go through a dewatering cyclone cluster which is designed to remove

the majority of the water content (approx. 90%). The excess water will be released from the cyclone clusters

via the overflow, and as a result the underflow will still contain a majority of the feed solid material which

will be fed to the flotation cells. This line will be dosed line with specific reagents to encourage bonding of

the desired ore with air bubbles. The feed is then processed through multiple flotation cells where the

solution is integrated with air and mixed thoroughly with the air bubbles using mechanical agitators. Due to

the hydrophobic nature of the particles and chemical bonding agents the bonded ore will rise to the surface

as a froth. The concentrated froth product is separated as a decant from the cell and the reject gangue

removed from the bottom of the cell, will either be recirculated through the flotation circuit to pull more

product from the solution or sent back to the main plant thickener as a slimes rejects. The concentrated

froth product will then be processed on a belt filter to remove excess water before being stockpiled as a

shippable 6% Li2O Spodumene product.

After consultation with the DER, it was confirmed that the addition of a flotation circuit and grinding circuit to the beneficiation process were not likely to change emissions, therefore an amendment to the Works Approval was not required.

5.2. Tailings disposal


5.2.1. Storage Facility (Ghost Crab Pit)


5.2.2. Tailings Composition




5.2.3. Disposal Method

The only amendment to the previous Works Approval document is in the mode of disposal of the tailings. Previously tailings were going to be ejected as a separate dry and wet component on a conveyor system, and then comingled in the TSF, Ghost Crab Pit. After consideration, the mode of tailings discharge was amended to have the wet and dry portion of the tailings comingled in a tailings hopper in the beneficiation plant and then pumped out as a slurry into the pit through a tailings disposal line.

5.2.4. Ghost Crab Pit Storage Capacity

The storage capacity of the Ghost Crab Pit is still expected to be 6 years. Within this time, an alternative storage facility option will be developed. PMI seek to amend the freeboard for tailings deposition to cease in the TSF from 6m from the pit crest, to 0.8m from the pit crest. 0.5m freeboard is a usual standard in the region and the additional 0.3m allows for any significant rain event (ie 1 in 100 year event).

5.2.5. Tailings Characteristics


5.2.6. Expected Tailings Water Quality


5.2.7. Mineralogical Sampling and Analysis

Please refer to previous assessment (Works Approval W5734/2014/1).

Every two years, a complete audit of the tailings storage facility will be undertaken by an engineering/geotechnical specialist. This will include the water quality monitoring as well as the mineralogical analysis.

PMI are happy to make this report available to the DER if requested.

5.3. Process Water


5.4. Waste Disposal

5.4.1. Waste Water

Wastewater will be treated through the following processes to produce a clean effluent that is suitable for disposal by a leach drain or irrigation field system depending on the system utilised. The wastewater requirement for this license covers both the camp and mining components. The camp size is estimated at around 150 persons.

5.4.1.1. Input

The water usage for the Mt Marion camp is estimated at 300L per person per day, while the water usage for the mine, calculated at 50L per person per day. It is estimated that the total throughput for the WWTP will be 65m3 per day. Given that the workforce will be employed on a Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) or Drive-In-Drive-Out (DIDO) basis it is unlikely that the camp will be at full capacity at all times and therefore it is expected that the actual volume of waste water produced will be less than this amount.



Processing of the waste water will be by either an Aerobic Treatment Unit (ATU) or by a Submerged Aerated Filter (SAF) that uses natural biological processes to treat the waste water. The process involved in an ATU is described in Table 8 and SAF in Table 9.

TABLE 8: THE ATU WASTE WATER TREATMENT PROCESS

Treatment Stage Treatment Description

Primary Pre-Treatment

Tank

Water is pumped into the primary pre-treatment tank where large organic and inorganic

solids settle to the bottom and floating matter forms a scum layer on top of the liquid in

the chamber. A sludge layer builds up in the tank which causes a fermentation processes

to take place whereby anaerobic bacteria digest the sludge and breakdown organic

matter.

Balance/Surge Tank The balance / surge tank ensures that when additional waste water flows into the pre-treatment tank the existing waste water flows into the aeration chamber by hydraulic displacement.

Aeration Tank The aeration tank is where air is introduced to the system via fine diffusers which serve

to stir the contents of the tank and provide oxygen for the aerobic bacteria to survive.

Bacteria form a biofilm on submerged media in the take and float into the solution

where they digest remaining effluent and organic matter.

Clarifier Tank Liquid form the aeration tank flows into the clarifier tank where the solution it left to

allow any suspended particles to settle out of solution. Periodically the accumulated

sludge is returned to the primary treatment chamber to maximise treatment. A surface

skimmer returns any floating material back to the aeration chamber.

Chlorine Retention and

Pumpwell

The treated solution then flows into the Chlorine Retention and Pumpwell tank in which

it is dosed with chlorine to disinfect it to a Class C level prior to discharge from the

system.



FIGURE 3: SCHEMATIC OF AN ATU WASTE WATER TREATMENT PROCESS

TABLE 9: THE SAF WASTE WATER TREATMENT PROCESS

Treatment Stage Treatment Description

Balance Tank Wastewater which has passed through a mechanical screen is temporarily stored in the

Balance Tank before being pumped to Primary Tank 1. A coagulant is dosed into the

discharge of the Balance Pump aiding the settlement of solids in the system and reducing

the phosphorous level in the treated effluent.

Primary Tanks Primary Tank 1 provides additional buffer capacity of inlet flow whilst Primary Tank 2

creates a steady inflow for the Anoxic and the Aerobic Tanks. After the wastewater is

delivered to Primary Tank 1, the top water level of the influent wastewater is allowed to

overflow into Primary Tank 2. Both tanks facilitate sedimentation of between 30 and 50%

of the influent suspended solids and allow anaerobic digestion to commence.

Anoxic Tank The top water level of the influent wastewater is allowed to overflow from Primary Tank

2 to the Anoxic Tank. The Anoxic Tank facilitates nitrate-specific bacteria to utilise nitrate

as an oxygen source and a nutrient in a process called de-nitrification. The tank is

enriched with returned activated sludge from the Clarifier to provide a plentiful supply of

food for the bacteria. Partially treated effluent from the Anoxic Tank contains

approximately 65% of the pollution load of the original sewage influent entering the

WWTP.

Aerobic Tank The top water level of the influent wastewater is allowed to overflow from the Anoxic

Tank to the Aerobic Tank where it is aerated. Air is introduced into the Aerobic Tank by a

Biological Air Blower via air diffusers located beneath a submerged media. Coarse air

bubbles provide favourable conditions for the growth of aerobic bacteria. The Aerobic

Tank contains submerged media with large surface areas, allowing bacteria and other

micro-organisms to thrive and form a biological film. These micro-organisms utilise the



dissolved oxygen in the air bubbles in the wastewater to consume dissolved matter and

by so doing remove a majority of the colloidal contaminants present in the wastewater

by converting them into carbon dioxide and biological floc.

Clarifier Tank The Clarifier removes heavier solids by means of settlement and separation from the

liquid phase. It is designed to have a large surface area with adequate retention time.

The hopper bottom channels the sediment to the centre of the Clarifier tank before the

sediment is periodically returned to Primary Tank 1.

Chlorine Contact Tank The top water level of the influent wastewater is allowed to overflow from the Clarifier

to the Chlorine Contact Tank. Chlorine compounds are added to the treated wastewater

for the purpose of pathogen reduction. The Chlorine Contact Tank is designed to provide

30 minutes minimum contact time for effective disinfection of the influent to ensure that

the effluent is safe for disposal.

Irrigation Tank Prior to transfer the effluent is filtered using a media filter which will remove particles

above 10 microns in size. Treated Class C effluent is stored in the Irrigation Tank where it

remains prior to discharge.

FIGURE 4: SCHEMATIC OF AN SAF WASTE WATER TREATMENT PROCESS

5.4.1.2. Outputs

The final output of the water from the proposed WWTP will be graded as Class C effluent as a minimum based on the criteria outlined in the Australian Guidelines for Sewerage Systems (NHMRC and NRMMC, 2011), refer to Table 10.



TABLE 10: EFFLUENT OUTPUT

Description ATU WWTP SAF WWTP Australian Guidelines

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) ≤20 mg/L <20 mg/L 20-30 mg/L

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) ≤30 mg/L <30 mg/L 25-40 mg/L

Total Nitrogen (TN) ≤10mg/L <30 mg/L 20-50 mg/L

Total Phosphorus (TP) ≤5 mg/L <8mg/L 6-12 mg/L

Chlorine Residual 0.2-2mg/L 0.2-2mg/L 6.5 – 8.5

pH 6.5 – 8.5 6.5 – 8.5 6.5 – 8.5

Thermo-tolerant Coliforms (E. Coli) ≤45 cfu/100ml <1000 cfu/100ml 105 -10

6 cfu/100ml

The proposed WWTP will discharge treated Class C wastewater to the environment by way of an irrigation field setup. This irrigation field will be established and maintained as per DoW WQPN 70 – Wastewater treatment and disposal – domestic systems. To ensure that the treated wastewater is suitable for irrigation, PMI have undertaken an assessment of the nutrient application rate based on the DoW Water Quality Protection Note 22 – Irrigation with nutrient-rich wastewater (DoW 2008). PMI has determined that the area proposed to have the irrigation field established falls under risk category D as it consists of fine grained soils e.g. loam, clays or peat and the absence of any surface water bodies within 500m of the site. To control the risk of eutrophication to land and water, a 1.5ha irrigation area will be sufficient to prevent excessive nutrient accumulation, and indicative location is provided in Figure 1.

Once constructed, the WWTP will be commissioned for a period of three months to ensure it is operating at its optimum capacity and effluent quality.

5.4.1.3. Maintenance

The ATU/SAF process requires regular maintenance to ensure optimum processing levels. Maintenance and management will be carried out by site based maintenance personnel.

Maintenance and management will involve:

removal of inorganic waste from filters

removal of sludge every two months

refilling Chlorine and Aluminium Sulphate pumps where applicable

calibrating ATU/SAF cycles

Oversized waste sludge, separated at the inlet screen will be removed regularly, as specified by manufacturers. Waste sludge will be fully contained and transported off-site by a licensed controlled waste contractor and disposed of at a licensed landfill facility.

During operations BOD, TSS, TP, TN, Thermotolerant Coliforms (e. Coli) and pH of treated wastewater will be monitored on a quarterly basis.

5.4.2. Landfill




5.4.3. Tyre Storage and Disposal


5.4.4. Contaminated soil disposal


5.4.5. Other supporting infrastructure

Changes to support infrastructure include the construction of a 150 man camp and associated infrastructure, additional containerised RO plant, grinding mill, additional administration offices for the processing team and a new workshop.

6. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND EMISSIONS

All potential environmental impacts from the prescribed premises are considered to be of low risk and manageable. The environmental impacts from discharges and emissions of each prescribed premises category are described below.

The potential environmental impacts from the prescribed premises include:

dust

noise

gaseous emissions

odour from landfill or WWTP

hydrocarbon contamination

tailings discharge to land and water

The identification of environmental impacts and development of management strategies and actions for the project are based on a risk management approach, consistent with EPA Environmental Assessment Guideline 9 and the Australian Standard for risk management (AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009).

PMI also adopts the mitigation sequence endorsed by the EPA for environmental management, which involves avoiding, minimising, rectifying and reducing impacts as well as offsetting significant residual impacts to critical value assets.

The key elements of EIA and management for the proposal are:

Identify the aspects of the project that could affect the environment.

Assess the inherent risk of these aspects having a significant effect on the environment and identify whether further investigation and/or management are required to reduce the risk of significant environmental effects.

Assess the residual risk of significant environmental effects on preliminary environmental factors, following further investigation and/or development of management measures.

Identify the preliminary key environmental factors, i.e. factors that remain at risk of being significantly affected.

Document management measures so they become part of the Company’s Environmental Management System during implementation of the project.

Monitor and report on the effectiveness of these measures and commit to continuous improvement.



6.1. Dust Emissions


6.2. Odour Emissions

Odour may be produced from the landfill facilities or the WWTP. Odour may be produced from the

wastewater treatment process, odour emissions are expected to be minimal. Wastewater treatment

maintenance procedures will be closely followed to minimise odour emissions.

6.3. Noise and Vibration


6.4. Air Emissions (other than dust)


6.5. Light Emissions


6.6. Solid and liquid waste


PMI will ensure that all care and maintenance will be undertaken at the WWTP and sprayfield to ensure ongoing compliance with monitoring conditions.

6.7. Hydrocarbon, hazardous substances and dangerous goods


6.8. Tailings


6.8.1. Existing Groundwater Users


6.8.2. Environmental Receptors


6.9. Groundwater Flow Modelling




7. INCIDENT RESPONSE AND COMPLAINTS

7.1. Incident Response

If pollution incidents (e.g. hydrocarbon spill events, elevated TDS levels in surface water samples etc.) occur at the site, the Site Manager will be notified, the activity causing the problem will be isolated, the spill will be contained, clean-up and remedial works will commence as appropriate and an investigation will be initiated immediately.

The following corrective action will be taken as soon as practicable:

Recording of the date, time and reason for the incident utilising the MRL internal incident reporting system;

Estimation of the period over which the incident occurred;

Determination of the extent of the emissions or discharges over that period and potential or known environmental consequences;

Establishment and implementation of corrective action taken or planned to mitigate adverse environmental consequences; and

Establishment of a corrective action to prevent a recurrence of the incident.

The Site Manager will advise DER of the incident in accordance with Licence requirements and/or the DER S72 notification requirements. Once the incident has been investigated, the Site Manager will advise DER in writing of the status of corrective actions implemented to address the problem.

7.2. Complaints

Polaris will establish a Complaints Register to record any complaints received from the public including date, details of complainant (i.e. name, address and contact details), nature, and follow-up action undertaken.

When a complaint is received, the Site Manager will contact any complainants that have concerns related to the environmental issues and determine the nature of the nuisance.

If the nuisance is of an ongoing nature as deemed from the receipt of repeated valid complaints, the Site Manager will take steps to ensure that any identified impacts are addressed.

8. PROPOSED MONITORING PROGRAMS

Several monitoring programs are proposed to be implemented during the operational phase of the project including the following:

Flow rates of the production bores on M15/1000 in accordance with the RIWI Act 1914 and 5C licence conditions.

Quarterly groundwater sampling of the monitoring bores (old dewatering bores MTMMB1-3 on Figure 2) around the Ghost Crab Pit Tailings Storage Facility when a body of water is available. This will have a full extended water analysis conducted on them (major ions and metals). Standing water level will also be undertaken from the monitoring bores and piezometers on a monthly basis.

During operations, BOD, TSS, TP, TN, Thermotolerant Coliforms (e. Coli) and pH of treated wastewater will be monitored on a quarterly basis.

Ongoing visual dust monitoring.

Daily inspection of turkey nests and saline water pipelines.



9. OTHER APPROVALS

Further Mining Act approval is required. A mining proposal (Reg ID: 63646) has been submitted to the DMP to seek approval for the development of a camp and WWTP and account for other changes to the operation managed under the Mining Act. This is currently being assessed.

10. REFERENCES

DoW Water Quality Protection Note 22 – Irrigation with nutrient-rich wastewater (DoW 2008).



APPENDIX A

5C GWL – 182397(1)



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