Ports WA Forum Best practice environmental initiatives CEO Roger Johnston

Transcription

1 Ports WA Forum Best practice environmental initiatives CEO Roger Johnston

2 PPA at a Glance World s largest bulk export port authority PPA accounts for approximately 50% of world s seaborne iron ore exports PPA accounts for approximately 75% of Australia s iron ore exports Current PPA Ports PPA accounts for approximately 9% of global LNG exports Value of 18,683 WA s oil & PPA total throughput gas exports Total shipping movements (2015) 2016/ million tonnes (Mt) PPA record annual throughput 2016/17 LNG/LPG 4% PPA s key commodities PPA s commodities Salt 1% Other 2% Current PPA ports Iron ore 93% Ashburton Dampier Port Hedland

3 Environmental stewardship Governed under the Port Authorities Act 1999 Under the Act, PPA is afforded the power to protect the environment of the ports, and minimise the impact of port operations on the environment ISO is an international Standard that specifies the requirements for a structured management approach to environmental protection PPA maintains an Environmental Management System (EMS) consistent with the requirements of ISO14001:2015 Environmental Management Plan is a key component of the EMS

4 Dust strategies and controls Best practice initiative

5 Dust monitoring practices History of dust in Port Hedland The Pilbara region experiences elevated dust levels due to its arid, subtropical climate In Port Hedland, this naturally arid environment is the primary contributor to ambient dust levels Dust in Port Hedland is also influenced by other factors including: Lack of ground cover Bushfires Port activities Industrial/commercial activity Land development activities Spoilbank Weather events (e.g. dust storms)

6 Dust monitoring Port Hedland Industries Council Pilbara Ports Authority is a member of the Port Hedland Industries Council (PHIC), along with three other major industry groups Committed to sharing knowledge and promoting best practice initiatives to address dust and noise issues in Port Hedland PHIC maintains a network of eight (8) air quality monitors in the region and makes data available in real time to Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and community via its website (Real-time feed from PHIC website) The dust monitors are provided and operated by a third party (EcoTech)

7 PPA s dust management strategies PPA contributes about 4-5% to the total volume of throughput at Port of Port Hedland PPA holds Part V environmental licences at its Utah Facility (West side) and PPA s common-user berths 1 and 2 (East side) There are three tiers of dust management strategies and controls at these facilities: 1. Dust elimination 2. Engineering controls (water cannons and physical covers) 3. Administrative controls

8 Strategies and controls Dust elimination Stops dust from being generated in the first instance with a focus on moisture control. Port users are required to demonstrate their product is at or above the Dust Extinction Moisture (DEM) level for that particular ore type Engineering control Focuses on product handling at Utah Facility or PPA s common-user berths (1 and 2) o Involves sealing and sweeping of major roads o Transfer stations / chutes predominantly enclosed o Conveyor belts predominantly enclosed (East side) o Shiploaders fitted with chutes o Use of water sprays Administrative controls Policies, plans, procedures, work instructions and method statements to effectively management the material once onsite at the Port

9 PPA s dust monitoring network PPA operates two High Volume Air Samplers at its common-user berths (1 and 2) to monitor PM10 and PM10 copper concentrations PPA also operates four continuous real-time dust monitors located on the site boundary for Berths 1 and 2 A PM10 dust concentration exceeding 145 µg/m3 in a 24 hour period is reported to the DEWR as a Reportable Event PPA investigates all Reportable Events to determine probable causes These findings are provided to port users in a monthly report The findings and data are also provided to the DEWR as part of PPA s Part V licence conditions

10 PPA s dust monitoring network Real-time monitoring This screenshot is an example of real-time information (10 minute average) received by PPA s dust monitors, which is sent to PPA s operational staff Utah Facility: 3x monitors PPA s public berths: 4x monitors Green levels = OK

11 Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Number of reportable dust events due to PPA activity Utah Point throughput (tonnes) Results of PPA dust monitoring Trends: Throughput vs dust exceedances 20 2,500, ,000, ,500, ,000, , / / / /17 Utah throughput (tonnes) PPA exceedances Linear (Utah throughput (tonnes)) Linear (PPA exceedances)

12 Mangrove Rehabilitation Best practice initiative

13 Mangrove Rehabilitation Program PPA s Mangrove Rehabilitation Program was established in 2010 and involves: Mangrove nurseries and propagation Experimental research and rehabilitation trials Community engagement Education programs

14 Mangrove Nursery 2010 Program first embarked on mangrove propagation trials using cuttings in a purpose-built nursery in Port Hedland. Resulted in 8,000 seedlings (representing the seven species of mangroves found in Port Hedland) housed at the port s mangrove nurseries Program extended with the construction of a saltwater nursery, a better option for growing the mangroves from seed. The nursery successfully houses up to 5,000 mangrove seedlings.

15 Redbank Pilot Trial Seedlings have been successfully planted in areas outside the port s inner harbour area including: Redbank (6km east of the Port s inner harbour) De Grey River mouth (70km northeast of Port Hedland) Onslow (500km south-west of Port Hedland (Pictured - Redbank pilot trial)

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17 De Grey River Mangrove Rehabilitation Joint community initiative aimed at stabilising a section of the De Grey River in 2014 section experienced significant erosion and increased sedimentation Involved PPA employees and local environmental and community groups Planting of 1,000 mangrove seedlings at the mouth of the river to prevent erosion and slow the speed of water passing through the area Another 250 seedlings were planted in 2015 with 500 planted in 2016 and 2017.

18 Industry Reinstatement Works A major international oil and gas organisation approached PPA for assistance with their offset program in late 2014 As part of the reinstatement works in the affected area, PPA provided this organisation with 4,000 mangrove seedlings, which were grown specifically for the reinstatement works in Onslow

19 Passiflora weed management Leading Collaborative Weed Research - Passiflora foetida Stinking Passionflower Vine

20 Passiflora foetida - Characteristics Stinking Passionflower vine (Passiflora foetida) is a weed that has rapidly spread on the Burrup Peninsula over the last decade Originated from South and Central America First recorded in Western Australia (Derby) in 1921 First documented on the Burrup in 2007 PPA is leading a collaborative research project with Woodside, CSIRO, and the Murujuga Land and Sea Unit

21 Passiflora foetida Impacts Rock Art Fire Intensity Smothering Amenity

22 Passiflora foetida - Research projects Over the last 18 months, two research and development projects have been carried out to: o o Phenology: Examine the growth, flowering and fruiting of this plant over time Trial a number of herbicide control methods and monitor the success of these First documented research on this weed in a Pilbara context Phenology Monitoring Herbicide Trials

23 Passiflora foetida - Research results The vitality of large infestations of P. foetida are not limited by climate its growth, flowering and fruiting continued throughout extended hot, dry conditions (priority for control) Roundup Bioactive (glyphosate) foliar spray mixed with a leaf penetrant, applied over the entire vine 4-6 weeks after heavy rains, resulted in 100% plant mortality Key recommendations Map the occurrence of P. foetida across Port lands Share research outcomes to promote coordinated effort

24 Mapping Passiflora foetida Remote Sensing PPA s GIS specialists have developed a unique technique to map occurrence of Passiflora using remote sensing rapid and cost effective.

25 Sharing Research Outcomes PPA sharing research outcomes with: Murujuga Land and Sea Unit (National Park Rangers) Leading researchers with CSIRO (Passiflora research program) Port Industry (Rio Tinto, Woodside, Yara Pilbara) Scientific community (journal article under preparation)

26 Questions?