Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Assessment for the Fingerboards - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Assessment for the Fingerboards Project

Stage Two Assessment

2019

Introduction

Katestone Environmental:

• Leading provider of expert air quality and meteorology

services in Australia since 1989

• Experts in Air Quality, Meteorology and Climate
• Clients include industry, state and local governments

and community groups

• Our experience includes:

– Atlas Campaspe Project, Cristal Mining – Yeelirrie Project, Cameco – Eastern Leases, South32

Purpose of Study

• Describe the facility and its existing or proposed

activities

• Determine the potential effect of construction

and operation of the project on air quality at nearby sensitive receptors (especially residents)

• Assess the dust levels against relevant criteria
• Determine appropriate mitigation measures

EES Scoping Requirements

• Environment Protection Act 1970
• Environment Protection Act 2017
• State Environment Protection Policy (Air Quality

Management (SEPP (AQM))

• Protocols for Environmental Management Plans

(PEM)

• PEM for Mining and Extractive Industries
• National Environmental Protection Measure (Air

Quality)

Key air quality issues in mineral sands mining

Particulate matter:

• Emitted from mining activities
• Solid or liquid particles that may be suspended

in the atmosphere

• Large particles generated by:

– Mechanical disturbance of soil material by bulldozing, scraping and trucks travelling on unsealed roads – Wind erosion of stockpiles and bare ground

• May affect human health and amenity depends
• n the size of the particles, the concentration of

particulate matter in the atmosphere and rate of deposition

Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency (https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics)

Other air quality issues in mineral sands mining

• Respirable crystalline silica
• Heavy metals
• Radionuclides
• Dust deposition
• Combustion gases (carbon dioxide, carbon

monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide)

• Greenhouse gases

Methodology Underpinning Study – PEM Level 1 requirements

12 months Baseline Monitoring

Continuous dust – PM10 and PM2.5 Crystalline silica Heavy metal content Meteorology

Management and Controls

Best available technology MEA (Maximum extent achievable)

Dispersion Modelling

EPA Approved Model Predict ground- level concentrations Assess against air quality

• bjectives

/criteria

Baseline monitoring

2 x high volume air samplers

• 24 hour average PM10 (analysed for

heavy metal content)

• 24 hour average PM2.5 (analysed

for α-quartz content)

E-BAM

• 1 hour PM10

BAM

• 1 hour PM2.5

Dust deposition gauge

Baseline dust monitoring

PM10 – all measurements below PEM objective

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

24-hour average concentration (µg/m3) PM10 - E-BAM+ PEM objective SEPP (AAQ) objective

Baseline dust monitoring

PM2.5 – all measurements below Air NEPM and PEM objective

• 5

5 10 15 20 25 30 35

24-hour average concentration (µg/m3) PM2.5 BAM1022 PEM objective SEPP (AAQ) objective

Baseline dust monitoring

Respirable crystalline silica – well below PEM objective. Both cristobalite and α-quartz analysed.

0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 RCS (µg/m3) Cristobalite a-quartz PEM Annual Average Objective

Baseline dust monitoring

• Heavy metals - large range measured, including:

– Arsenic – Cadmium – Cobalt – Iron – Lead

• Arsenic - less than 32% of PEM assessment criteria
• Cobalt - less than 45% of assessment criteria
• Other heavy metals - less than 10% of assessment criteria

Local wind patterns

On-site meteorological monitoring station – data included in the dispersion model

Wind rose: Shows the frequency of winds blowing from each direction Colours indicate the wind speed

Key findings

For construction, and the three operational years assessed:

• PM10 is key pollutant
• Air quality can be managed through combination of:

– Standard mitigation measures

• Applied every day (best practice and MEA measures)

– Additional mitigation measures

• Applied on days with poor dispersion conditions
• Linked to a weather forecast as well as a reactive

management strategy

Impact Assessment

Pollutant Averaging Period Units Air Quality Assessment criteria Max at most affected receptor in any year * % of criteria at most affected receptor * PM10 24-hour µg/m3 60 59.5 99% PM2.5 24-hour µg/m3 36 23.4 65% Respirable crystalline silica Annual µg/m3 3 1.2 40% Arsenic Annual µg/m3 0.003 0.0019 63% * Concentrations at other receptors and locations further from the mine are lower

Impact Assessment

Pollutant Averaging Period Units Air Quality Assessment criteria Max at most affected receptor in any year * % of criteria at most affected receptor * Dust deposition Monthly mg/m2.da y 120 79 66% Annual g/m2.mont h 2 0.47 24% Annual g/m2.mont h 4 1.36 34% * Concentrations at other receptors and locations further from the mine are lower

Dust mitigation measures – Standard – Best Practice and MEA

Haulage: Minimise travel distances Chemical suppressants/water Enforce vehicle speed limits Low silt aggregate Use designated haul routes

• nly

Dozing: Minimise travel speed Watering of material and travel routes Truck dumping: Minimise drop height Exposed areas and stockpiles: Watering/suppressants Progressive rehabilitation or vegetation Product transport: Paved road Sealed HMC containers Ore transport: Slurry – no emissions Ore processing: Screening – slurry No crushing/grinding

Dust mitigation measures - Additional

Proactive

Based on forecast weather conditions Site activities planned to avoid adverse weather conditions

Reactive

Triggered by real-time monitoring at key sensitive receptors Site activities adjusted to prevent exceedances e.g. ceasing activities

• vernight

Dust management plan will include triggers and management actions for proactive and reactive management

Greenhouse Gas Assessment

Scope 1 emissions

Diesel combustion:

• Heavy machinery

and site vehicles

• Processing

plants and equipment

• Diesel generators
• HMC transport

Land clearing

Scope 2 emissions

Electricity usage:

• Processing
• perations
• Lighting
• Offices and

amenities

Methods

National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Measurement) Determination 2008 The National Greenhouse Accounts, July 2013 (DIICCSCRTE, 2013)

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol

Greenhouse Gas Assessment

• Maximum GHG emissions:

0.02% and 0.07% of national and state emissions

Greenhouse Gas – Best Practice Initiatives

• Ongoing monitoring and reporting GHG emissions

and identifying opportunities to reduce GHG emissions

• Fuel efficient equipment
• Load optimisation, production scheduling and

logistics planning including route optimisation

• Use of solar power to supplement electricity use

where practical

• Minimisation of grid electricity consumption through

power factor correction