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NorthWestProtectionAdvocacy

POBox19,CoonabarabranNSW2357Email:NorthwestPA@protonmail.com.au

DPIESubmissionresponsefromNWPA21/08/20DPIEwereaskedto“ProvideparticularsofthestorageandbeneficialreuseofsaltwasteintheQueenslandgasfieldcontext”DPIEhaveprovidedinformationtotheIPCaroundcurrentCSGwastemanagementinQueenslandbutwefeelthisresponseisinadequateanddoesn’taddressanyoftheproblemsQueenslandexperienceswithitshandlingofCSGwasteortheconcernsofthecommunityhereinNSWandwewouldliketoexpandonthisfortheIPC.Firstly,asofAugust20ththeDPIEsubmissiononsaltswastewasincompleteonpage25–itendswith:TheCSGcompanies

Figure1DPIEsubmissionismissingwordsonpage25.

WewillneverknowwhatDPIEintendedtowriteherebutwewouldliketofinishthesentence.“TheCSGcompaniesinQueenslandincludingSantoshavespent10yearsandmillionsofdollarstryingtofindanon-existentsolutiontothecopiousvolumesoftoxicsaltswastethattheCSGindustryproduces.TheQueenslandframeworkforBeneficialReuseisnotfitforpurposeinNSW.Drillingmud(oneofthemorecommonwastestreams)hasrecentlybeenremovedfrombeingconsideredasaregulatedwasteinQueenslandandnowcanbereusedandmadeinto

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compost.SeetheEndofWastecodinghere:QDSE2019a:QueenslandGovernmentDepartmentofEnvironmentandScience,EndofwastecodeCoalSeamGasDrillingMud(ENEW07543018),01January2019,availableathttps://environment.des.qld.gov.au/assets/documents/regulation/wr-eowc-approved-drilling-mud.pdfTherecentlyreleasedBlueEnvironmentPtyLtdFinalHazardousWasteinAustralia2019PREPAREDFORDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandEnergycontainsmoreinformationonthisalongwithdescriptionsofthevariouswastestreamsthattheindustryproduces.http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/b4335773-4e09-4d87-8648-592b2b94d2d9/files/hazardous-waste-australia-2019.pdfDPIEsay:TheQueenslandgovernmenthasimplementedpoliciesencouragingthebeneficialuseofcoalseamgas(CSG)waterthroughtheCoalSeamGasWaterManagementPolicy2012https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0034/89386/rs-po-csg-watermanagement-policy.pdfTheoperativewordusedis“encouraging”,DPIEdonotsayexactlyhoworevenifthishappens,itisclearlynotmandatedandforthisreasonthecommunitystronglyobjectstotheuseofthiswordbecausetheyknowitismeaningless.Queenslanddoesn’thaveanEPAasNSWdoes,it’satotallydifferentsetupovertheborder.TherehavebeenproblemswithDepartmentsinQueenslandthatdonotcommunicatewitheachotheradequately.CommunitydoesnothavesuretythatenvironmentalharmISNOTOCCURRING.Seethefollowingarticleswhichdetailsthesemiscommunications.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-09/audit-questions-confidence-in-csg-regulation/12026136Quotedfromtheabove:“Alackoftransparency,ineffectivecompliancemanagementanddata,andfailuresoflegislativefunctionarejustsomeofthecriticismslevelledinanewauditofcoalseamgas(CSG)regulationinQueensland.”

Keypointsfromthearticle:

• AnaudithasfoundQueensland'sGasfieldsCommissionhasnotbeenperformingitslegislatedoversightfunction

• ThereportsaysthenumberofpetroleumleasesandenvironmentalauthoritiesforCSGactivitiescouldnotbeverified

• Italsofoundlandholderswerebeingdisadvantagedinnegotiationswithgascompaniesbecauseofalackofinformation

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"[TheDNRMEandDES]donotidentifycoalseamgasactivitiesseparatelyfromtheirotherregulatoryactivities,donotcoordinatetheirplanningandregulatoryactivities,andhavedisparatesystemsanddatapractices,"theauditreportfound.

QueenslandAuditReport:https://www.qao.qld.gov.au/reports-resources/reports-parliament/managing-coal-seam-gas-activities

"Theselimitationsmakeitdifficulttoassesstheoveralleffectivenessoftheregulatoryframeworkspecifictocoalseamgasactivities."

Thereportalsostates:Therapidgrowthofthecoalseamgasindustryhasledtopublicconcernsaboutimpactsonthecommunity,agriculture,health,andtheenvironment.Someoftheconcernsrelatetotheeffectoftheindustryon:

•groundwater•landaccessandlandvalues•agriculturalproduce•theenvironment(forexample,thelong-termmanagementofsafedisposalofsaltandbrinewaste)•uncontrolledorunintendedreleaseofgas(referredtoasfugitiveemissions).

And:

Thelong-termmanagementofsaltandbrinewasteisanunresolvedissue.Intheshortterm,therearerisksassociatedwiththemanagementofsaltywaterheldinevaporationdams.Inthemediumandlongterm,thegovernmentandindustryhavenotreachedasolutionforthesafedisposalormanagementofthissaltandbrinewaste.TheAustralianPetroleumProductionandExplorationAssociationcommissionedresearchintothisissuein2018.Itsreportidentifiedfouroptionsallwithvaryingenvironmentalimpacts.DESisconsideringtheoptionsandwillprovideadvicetogovernmentontheissue.

DPIEpointtotheQldCoalSeamGasWaterManagementPolicy2012https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0034/89386/rs-po-csg-water-management-policy.pdfasawastemanagementdocumentanditmentionsvariousmethods.DPIEsay:ThispolicyisconsistentwiththeNSWEPA’swastemanagementhierarchywhichwouldbeappliedtotheNarrabrigasproject,andincludesahierarchyformanagingsalinewasteincluding:Priority1:BrineorsaltresiduesaretreatedtocreateuseableproductswhereverfeasibleNWPAdonotbelievethatcreating‘useableproducts’frombrineorsaltresiduesissustainable/safeandeconomicalinAustralia.Ifitispossible(asStuartKahnsuggestsinhis

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submission)itwouldbegoodtoseedetail.Thereisnotagreatdealoftransparencyaroundwhatthese‘useableproducts’areandwhatvolumeofgoods/productstheyrepresent.WithsuchahighlycontentiousissueAustralia’slargestoilandgasoperatorcouldhaveprovidedalotmoredetailontheiragreementwithNaturalSoda.Attheveryleastsometechnicalanalysisshowinghowthechemistrycouldwork.DPIEadd:Priority2:Afterassessingthefeasibilityoftreatingthebrineorsolidsaltresiduestocreateusableandsaleableproducts,disposingofthebrineandsaltresiduesinaccordancewithstrictstandardsthatprotecttheenvironment.NWPAwouldlikeagreatdealmoreinformationonwherethebrineandsaltwillbedisposedof.Thereisnoplanforthis,nospecificlocation.CommunitiesinQueenslandhaveobjectedtoCSGwastedumpsintheirlocalitywithexamplesbeingtheBakingBoardHilldumpandasaltdumpnearRoma.TherecanbenodoubtthatcommunityinNSWwilltrackandrefuseanySantoswaste.Articleshere:https://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/5740151/chinchilla-landholders-still-fighting-proposed-salt-dump/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-22/roma-group-against-new-csg-waste-site/5700094DPIEsay:Thepolicyidentifiesmanagementoptionsandprinciplesforsaltandbrinemanagementoptionsforbeneficialreuseordisposalincluding:Forbeneficialreuse:•Identifypotentialuses;and•undertakefeasibilityassessmentofpotentialusesTherearecurrentlynooptionsthatarefeasible,pleaseallowustodiscuss.Santosmayclaimtheyareinvestigatingseveraloptionsbutit’sallforshow.TheTrittonmine(MurrawombieHeapLeachPadsTrial)hasnoteventuated,theEPAhaveindicatedthatthetrialhasnotprogressedandtheNaturalSodaprospectisstillyearsawayfromrevealingifthatparticularproposalisevenphysicallyabletobepursued.Santosalsoattemptedbeneficialuseviairrigation.TheymanagedtogetonecropoflucernewhichwasseeminglysmuggledoutofNSWbeforeitwasrevealedthattheyhadbeenoperatingwithoutawateruseapproval.EPAMediareleasehere:https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/news/media-releases/2018/epamedia181017ThecropthatSantoschoseinitiallywasbarley.ThislookedtobeasuccessfulcropthenLucernewasplantedandthisdidnotappeartodosowell.Santoshavegivennodetailsonyieldandnodetailsofwheretheharvestwent.TheEPAhadaverylaxsoilsampling

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timetableandNORMswerenotmonitoredfordespitethisbeingarequirementoftheSecretary.

ImagetakenofLeewoodirrigationarea161117Therearedetailsofthisbeneficialreuseexperimenthereinthisarticle:https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/is-the-santos-csg-waste-water-experiment-safe,11268DPIEgoontodescribemanagementoptions:Fordisposal:•demonstratethatallreasonableandfeasiblereuseoptionshavebeenconsidered;•convertthewastetosolidproductwherefeasible;•undertakeriskassessmentofdisposaloptions•disposeofbrineandsaltawayfromsensitivereceivingenvironmentsandgoodqualityagriculturallandTheoperativewordhereis“feasible”.TheQueenslandExperienceofwastemanagementisthattheonly2re-useoptionsforthebrine&saltwastearere-injectionandlong-termstorageincustombuiltstructures.Thereisnotransparencyaroundwherethesehazardous

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wastestorageareasare.ThedetailsareoftenburiedinPlanofOperationdocumentsormanagementplans.CompaniesinQueenslandarenottransparentwiththiswastestream.SantosstatedduringPanelquestioningofSantoson24thJune,2020(transcripthere:https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/resources/pac/media/files/pac/transcripts-and-material/2020/narrabri-gas/applicant-transcript.pdf)thattherewas‘stockpilingofsalt’–screenshotbelow.

SantosthendeniedstockpilingsaltinQuestionsonNotice:https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/resources/pac/media/files/pac/projects/2020/03/narrabri-gas-project/correspondence/applicant/200717_in_santos-responses-to-ipc-questions-on-notice.pdfsaying“TherearenosaltstockpilesinQueenslandasaresultofthecoalseamgasindustry.ThethreemajorcoalseamgasprojectsinQueenslandallhavewatertreatmentplantsthatusereverseosmosistechnologytoremovesaltfromproducedwatersothatthewatercanbebeneficiallyusedforstock,irrigation,environmentalflowsorotherpurposes.Thewatertreatmentprocessproducesaconcentratedbrinewhichissafelystoredinengineeredpondstopreventanyleakageintogroundwaterortheenvironment.”DPIEsay:Thepolicyidentifiesbrineinjectionundergroundand/ordisposingofsaltwastetoregulatedwastefacilitiesassuitableoptions.TherehasbeennomentionofbrineinjectioninanyofthedocumentsprovidedbySantosforassessmentorDPIEdocuments.IftheIPCwouldgobackpleaseandlookattheSEARs,theystate:

IntheSEARS,under“CSGwastemanagement”,SantoswasrequiredtoputthefollowinginitsEIS:

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4.1Secretary’sEnvironmentalAssessmentRequirements

TheSecretary’sEnvironmentalAssessmentRequirementsfortheNGPsaidEnvironmentalPlanningInstruments,GuidelinesandPoliciesshouldbecompliedwith,andasaGeneralRequirement“awastemanagementstrategy,havingregardtotheNSWEnvironmentProtectionAuthority’s(EPA)requirements”.

1. Proposedstorage,managementanddisposalofCSGproducedwaterandwasteproducts,including,butnotlimitedto:

i.beneficialreuseii.re-injectionintogroundwateraquifersiii.irrigationiv.transfertoalicensedwastemanagementfacility.

TheenvironmentalimpactstatementmustaddressalltheenvironmentalassessmentrequirementsoftheSecretary,butitdoesnot.Re-injectionseemstohavefallenofftheagenda,butmanagedreleaseintoBohenaCreek,amagnificentpristineephemeralsandywaterwayisenvisagedwherenootheroptionsseemfeasible?

DPIEhasmentionedreinjectionintheirreferencetoQueenslandbutweobjecttothismanagementoptionbeingincludedasnostudyhasbeendoneonitsefficacy.

DPIEsay:TheDepartmenthasrecommendedconditionsconsistentwithQueensland’sapproachtothemanagementofwasteandthewastemanagementhierarchyoutlinedintheNSWGovernment’sWasteAvoidanceandResourceRecoveryAct2001whichpromotesavoidance,followedbyresourcerecovery,followedbydisposaloptions.AproblemwiththeconditionsisthattheyseemtogiveapprovalforPhase1andthenSantoshavetogetlotsofmanagementplansinplacebeforetheycanstartPhase2.Webelievethatthiswarrantsrejectionoftheproject.Theseplansshouldhavebeenprovidedatthisstageoftheapprovalprocess.Communitywillnothaveanopportunitytocommentlaterandtransparencyisessential,furthermoreSantoshasinrealitybeenoperatingagasfieldinNarrabrinowfor8yearsunderguiseofanexplorationlicence,andafter8yearsofextractinggas,pipinggas,separatinggasfromthewateranddoingeverythingbutcrystalisingthewastetheyhavestillnotbeenabletodeveloptherequiredplanstotherequirements.PuttingforwardQueenslandasamodelforhowtheNarrabriGasProjectshouldberegulatedinregardstoBeneficialUseandWasteManagementseemstoignorethemanyproblemsthathaveariseninQueenslandasaresultofarapidlyexpandingindustrythathasrequirednumerousapplicationsofadaptivemanagementandpolicymadeontherunto

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keepup.AfteryearsofbeingtoldthatcoalseamgasinNSWwillbedifferenttoQueenslanditappearsitwillbeexactlythesame.ItdoesnotsitwiththeidealoftheNSWGasPlantoadhereto“WorldsBestPractice”.GascompaniesinQueenslandhavebeenattemptingforoveradecadenowtocomeupwithaschemetodealwiththeirwastethatiscosteffective,feasibleandenvironmentallysafe.Sofar,despitemillionsofdollarsbeingspenttheyhavenothingtoshowforit.Advisianarticle:https://www.advisian.com/en/global-perspectives/coal-seam-gas-water---the-challenge-of-upstream-interfaces

AdvisiansayinthearticlebyStephenPage,Brisbane,above:“TheriskassociatedwithsaltrecoverymustnotbeunderestimatedandmanyfactorsmustbeconsideredsuchasthecommoditisednatureofsaltsandtheirsusceptibletofluctuationsinthemarketpriceandthevalueoftheAustraliandollar,theproductvaluebeinggenerallylessthanthedistributioncoststomarket,andtheproprietarytechnologyinvolvedinsaltrecoveryleadingtobuild-own-operatecontractorsnotacceptingpriceanddistributionscostrisks.”Theseinvestigations/schemes/grants/feasibilitystudiesandtrialshaveincluded:

•Aquaculture•Oceandisposal•Concretesubstitution•SelectiveSaltRecovery•Waterlicencesubstitution(ascompensationforlossofbore)

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•Chemicalproductionincludingsodium hydroxide •Sodiumhypochlorideproduction•Xencrete–QueenslandGovernmentfundingof$140,000,Xencretewastobeaconcretesubstitutecomposedofcontaminantsfoundinwastewaterfromtheproductionofcoalseamgas.Thecompany’spatenthasnowlapsedandthecompanywebsitenolongeraccessible.

Todatetherearenopublicreportsorfeedbackonanyofthesetrialssucceedingthatwehavebeenabletolocate.Someofthesetrialswouldhaveabsolutelynosociallicencewithincommunityforexample:Swimmingpoolsaltandcompost.Concernsalsoexistaroundthepotentialfortheretobedrillingwasteinpottingmix.WhatCSGwastecancurrentlycanbeusedfor:

•Roadspraying•Coalwashing•Dustcontrol•Amendforoperationalwaterincludingrehab•Landsprayingwhiledrilling•Injection•Compostproduction•Stockwatering•Irrigation•Coolingtoweroperation•Roadconstruction•Sunwater/Chinchillawatersupplyamendment•Releasetowatercourse•Saltrecovery(Brinecrysallisations)•Chloralkalihttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/244307850_Treatment_of_saturated_brine_in_chlor-alkali_process_using_membraneshttps://www.coogee.com.au/Our-Businesses/Chemicals-Manufacturing/Manufacturing-Facilities/Chlor-Alkali-plant-in-Lytton,-QueenslandThechloralkaliprocessmakesSodiumHypochloriatewhichisusedinswimmingpoolproducts.http://www.chemlink.com.au/caustic_oz.htm•Solvay

Saltswaste TheCSGindustryinQueenslandproduceslargevolumesofwaste.Thisrecentreport(linkbelow)fromBlueEnvironmentPtyLtdonHazardousWastedetailsamissingdataset2017-2018.EndofWastecodesintroducedfordrillingmud(WasteGroupC–Alkalis)confusing

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detailsonvolumesofwastes,itcontainsdetailsonnon-toxicsaltswhichhaverisensharplyinthelastfewyears.BlueEnvironmentPtyLtdonHazardousWaste:http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/b4335773-4e09-4d87-8648-592b2b94d2d9/files/hazardous-waste-australia-2019.pdf

Seriousconcernsarestillnotbeingaddressedabouthowmuchofthiswasteendsupwashedintolocalcreeks,thenriversandeventuallytheMurrayDarlingBasin.ItisimperativebeforethisprojectisapprovedthattheIPCaskseriousquestionshowtheindustryhasmanagedtogetfullyestablishedinAustraliawithoutprovidingasustainablesolutionforitswastestream.

DPIEsay:Therecommendedconditionsinclude:ConditionB35–WaterManagementPerformanceMeasuresforSaltManagementrequiringtheproponentto:•maximisebeneficialreuseofproducedsalt,asfarasreasonableandfeasible;•disposesaltwastenotabletobebeneficiallyreusedtoappropriatelylicencedwastefacilityCansomeonepleasedetailwheretheseappropriatelylicencedwastefacilitiesareascommunityhastherighttoknow.ThisisthedetailtheDPIEshouldbeaskingSantostodisclosebeforerecommendingtheprojectforapproval.TheremainderofconditionB35whilstoutofscopeforthissubmission(Watermanagementperformancemeasures)aregoingtoproveimpossibleforSantostoadhereto.DPIEtheninvokeConditionB38–WaterManagementPlanincluding:•SaltManagementPlanincludingaprogramforinvestigatingandimplementingbeneficialreuseoptionsforthesaltproduct,inaccordancewiththeProducedSaltBeneficialReuseandDisposalStudy;Thisconditioniscompletelyprohibitive.EverysingleManagementPlanlistedbelowshouldhavebeensuppliedforassessmentandbeenavailableforperusalbythePublic.

ErosionandSedimentControlPlanSiteWaterBalanceSurfaceWaterManagementPlanGroundwaterManagementPlanProducedWaterManagementPlanIrrigationManagementPlanDustSuppressionProtocolManagedReleaseProtocol

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SaltManagementPlanPollutionIncidentResponseManagementPlan

Theseplansformthebarebonesoftheproject.Theyareformativeforsafeoperations.Santoshasbeentheoperatorforagood8yearsinthePilligaandthisworkshouldhavebeencompletedforreview.Santoshasagreatdealofexperiencebuildinggasfieldsandshouldhavethein-houseexpertisewithwhichtohaveprovidedisdetail.DPIEmentionConditionB63–WasteOperatingConditionsincludingrequirementsto:•implementallreasonableandfeasiblemeasurestomaximisebeneficialreuseofwaste;•minimisetheresidualwastegeneratedbythedevelopment•disposeofallwasteatappropriatelylicensedwastefacilities;•monitorandreportontheeffectivenessofwasteavoidance,minimisationandmanagementmeasures;WhydidSantosnotprovidedetailtotheDepartmentabouttheirattemptedMurrawombieHeapLeachTrialordetailabouthowthebicarbonatetechisbeingusedinChina?ConditionB65–ProducedSaltBeneficialReuseandDisposalStudyincluding:•anassessmentofreasonableandfeasiblebeneficialreuseoptions;•strategyformaximisingbeneficialreuseforidentifiedreasonableandfeasiblereuseoptions;and•astrategyfordisposalofanyproducedsaltthatisnotabletobebeneficiallyreused,includingdemonstratingthatoccupiersofwastefacilitiescanlawfullyacceptandwillpermitthevolumeandcompositionofsaltwaste.DoesDPIEmean“operators”ofwastefacilitiesnotoccupiers?WilltheIPCpleaseactinregardstowhatisnowclearlyasignificanterrorintherepresentationofthisproject.Santoscannotbepermittedtoproceedwhenitisnotclearthatwastefacilitiesarereasonablyandfeasiblyadequateinbothcapacity,contentandindeedexistence.PagexivoftheDPIEAssessmentReportstates“thesaltislikelytobeclassifiedasgeneralsolidwastewhichcanroutinelybedisposedofatoneofthe11licencedwastefacilitieswithin150kilometresofthesite”[6].Wherearethesefacilities?Thecommunityhastherighttoknow.BuildingnewlandfillstoaccommodateCSGisoutofthequestion.Thisisadirectquotefromourearliersubmission:“InNSWwearefacedwithasituationwherebythecompanySantos,andtheGovernmentrefertothe“QueenslandExperience”asbeingapositiveone.Whensomethingisnegativeandbearsfurtherinvestigation

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governmentagenciesinNSW,liketheEPA,say“That’sQueensland,thatwon’thappeninNSW”.FromourexperiencethoughSantoswilloperateinexactlythesamewayandDPIEseemstobegivingthempermissiontodoso.

Furthermore,"Beneficialreuse"appearstobeAustralia'sversionoftheU.S."HalliburtonLoophole"–whichrepresentsasignificantreductionoffederaloversightinfrackingoperations–andcitizenswouldberighttobeconcernedaboutthefoodandwatersecurityoftheeastcoastofAustralia.

NWPAfeelabsolutelyjustifiedinreiteratingouroppositiontothisprojectjustontheissueofwastealoneaswestronglyfeelthelatestsubmissionsofbothDPIE&Santoshavefailedtoaddresstheconcernsofthecommunity.