[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: GORGON BEST PRACTICE MYTH SHATTERED BY ENVIRONMENTAL BREACHES

[Chapple, Robin]

ROBIN CHAPPLE MLC
Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region


MEDIA RELEASE


GORGON BEST PRACTICE MYTH SHATTERED BY ENVIRONMENTAL BREACHES

Greens MLC Robin Chapple today slammed Chevron's environmental practices on Barrow Island as inadequate, as new information came to light concerning critical quarantining breaches on the Gorgon project.

Reporting obtained via a Parliamentary Question [please see below] listed 57 environmental quarantine breaches on the island from September 2009 to April 2010.  Five of these breaches have been listed as 'critical' with two more listed as 'major.'

"This is a completely unacceptable result for Chevron and a devastating outcome for the wildlife of Barrow Island," Mr Chapple said.

"The myth of environmental 'best practice' on the Gorgon project had been shattered by the reports."

Mr. Chapple also said the "appalling negligence" shown by the State Government over Department of Environment and Conservation monitoring of the project was a likely contributor to the large number of breaches.

"Despite the Gorgon Project having been approved by the State Government in September 2009, the agreed three DEC positions meant to monitor the project onsite have yet to be filled."

"This means that the project is proceeding without any external environmental oversight.  The breaches lie as much on the shoulders of the ineffectual Minister for the Environment as they do with Chevron."

Media Contact: Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255



Question On Notice No. 2170 asked in the Legislative Council on 24 March 2010 by Hon Robin Chapple

Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment
Minister responding: Hon D.E.M. Faragher
Parliament: 38 Session: 1



Question
With regards to quarantining of development projects on Barrow Island, I ask -
(1) Does the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) maintain a register of quarantine breaches (non-conformances) on Barrow Island?
(2) If yes to (1), -
(a) how many non-conformances have Chevron or companies contracting to Chevron reported since the start of the LNG development;
(b) how many non-conformances have been rated as not serious;
(c) how many as serious; and
(d) how many as critical?
(3) If no to (1), is a record of non-conformances kept by Chevron?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) If yes to (3), has this record or records been provided to the DEC?
(6) If yes to (5), -
(a) how many non-conformances have Chevron or companies contracting to Chevron recorded since the start of the LNG development;
(b) how many non-conformances have been rated as not serious;
(c) how many as serious; and
(d) how many as critical?

[cid:image001.gif at 01CAEBAF.B2AA2660]Answer
Answered on 4 May 2010


(1)-(4) Chevron Australia maintains detailed records of quarantine non-conformances. The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) intends to establish a register of non-conformances once permanent DEC staff begin their roster on Barrow Island.

(5) Chevron Australia provides its records to DEC on a weekly basis. In addition, DEC regularly meets with Chevron quarantine personnel on Barrow Island and advice is routinely sought from and provided by Chevron Australia from the register of quarantine events.

(6) Chevron Australia has reported 57 non-conformances from September 2009 to 8 April 2010, two of which are under investigation and have not yet been classified. Of these non-conformances, nine have been recorded as 'non-events', 39 were rated as 'minor' (non-serious), two were rated as 'major' (serious), and five were rated as 'critical'.



All the best

Robin Chapple MLC
Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region
PO Box 94, West Perth WA 6872
41 Havelock Street, West Perth. WA 6005

Phone: (08) 9486 8255 | Email: Robin.Chapple at mp.wa.gov.au  | Freecall: 1800 138 610