Forestry Tasmania Chatlee Quarry EAR

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REPORT
Chatlee Quarry Production Increase
Salmon River Forest
Murchison Forest District
Forestry Tasmania
Report and recommendations of the
EPA Division
Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and
Environment
to the Board of the Environment Protection Authority
April 2012
Environmental Assessment Report
Proponent
Forestry Tasmania
Proposal
Chatlee Quarry Production Increase
Location
Chatlee Road, Salmon River Forest, Murchison Forest District
NELMS no.
EPN 8686/1
DA number
N.A.
File
112466
Document
G:\EEO_Enviro_Ops\EAS_Assessments\EAS_Projects\FTChatlee\AR\EAR
Class of
Assessment
2A
Assessment process milestones
24 November 2011 Notice of Intent submitted
6 February 2012
Application received by Board
11 February 2012
Start of public consultation period
3 March 2012
End of public consultation period
N.A.
Supplementary information submitted to Board
Acronyms
Board
Board of the Environment Protection Authority
EER
Environmental Effects Report
DPIPWE
Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
EIA
Environmental impact assessment
EMPC Act
Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994
EPBC Act
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
LUPA Act
Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993
SD
Sustainable development
Environmental Assessment Report – Forestry Tasmania Chatlee Quarry
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Table of Contents
1 Approvals process ..................................................................................... 3 2 SD objectives and EIA principles .............................................................. 3 3 The proposal ............................................................................................. 4 4 Evaluation of Environmental Issues .......................................................... 8 5 Conclusion............................................................................................... 11 Appendix 1 Environment Protection Notice 8686/1 ................................. 12 Environmental Assessment Report – Forestry Tasmania Chatlee Quarry
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1 Approvals process
As required by 27(1) of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPC
Act), Forestry Tasmania submitted a Notice of Intent to the Board in relation to the proposed
Chatlee forestry quarry on Chatlee Road, Salmon River Forest, Murchison Forest District on 24
November 2011. The proposal is defined as a ‘level 2 activity’ under Schedule 2 Subsections 5(a)
and 6(a)(ii) of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPC Act), being
the intensification of use of a forestry quarry, currently operating as a level 1 activity.
The assessment has been undertaken by the Director, Environment Protection Authority, under
delegation from the Board.
The proponent submitted an Environmental Effects Report (EER) in support of the application
consisting of Forest Practices Plan (FPP) No DRT0207 accompanied by FPP DRT0207-02
(variation to reflect the proposed intensification of use) and a cover report .
The EER was released for public inspection for a 14-day period commencing on 11 February 2012.
Advertisements were placed in the Advocate newspaper and on the EPA web site. No public
submissions were received.
2 SD objectives and EIA principles
The proposal must be considered by the Director in the context of the sustainable development
objectives of the Resource Management and Planning System of Tasmania (RMPS), and in the
context of the objectives of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control System
(EMPCS) established by the EMPC Act. The functions of the Board are to administer and enforce
the provisions of the Act, and in particular to use its best endeavours to protect the environment of
Tasmania, and to further the RMPS and EMPCS objectives.
The Director must undertake the assessment of the proposal in accordance with the Environmental
Impact Assessment Principles defined in Section 74 of the EMPC Act.
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3 The proposal
The site has been operating as a level 1 quarry since 20 December 2004. The proposed capacity
increase at the quarry is due to an expected expansion of harvesting in the region in the next 5
years. The EER states that the site has been selected to allow efficiencies in costs associated with
the maintenance and construction of the existing road network on likely cart routes.
The main characteristics of the proposal are summarised in Table 1. A detailed description of the
proposal is provided in EER. The information contained in Table 1 also includes details presented
in the Natural and Cultural Values Assessment conducted for the FPP in accordance with the
Forest Practice System (FPS).
Table 1: Summary of key proposal characteristics
Activity
Extraction of a maximum of 19,500m3 of rock per annum and crushing of a maximum of 2,000m3 of extracted
rock per annum.
Location and planning context
Location
Chatlee Road, Salmon River Forest Block, Murchison Forest District
Approx 33 km south west of Smithton – see following maps
Land tenure
State Forest
Site Area
5 ha
Existing site
Land Use
Current quarry 3 ha. Surrounding area regrowth forest.
Topography
Moderate slope with a westerly aspect
Geology
Dolomite
Soils
Dark clayey with coarse sand and dolomite gravels of moderate soil erodibility
Hydrology
Nearest stream is 90m from the site boundary
Fauna
No potential threatened species habitat was identified on the site.
Flora
Non-forest & tall E. obliqua
Local region
Climate
Annual rainfall is approximately 1000-1250mm.
Surrounding
land and uses
Forestry
Species of
conservation
significance
Quolls, Northwest Velvet Worm, Wedge-tailed Eagle.
Proposed infrastructure
Major equipment
Excavators, dozers, drill rig, mobile crushing plant, supporting vehicles
Inputs
Energy
Fuel may be stored on site during operations.
Wastes and emissions
Liquid
Stormwater runoff from extraction and stockpile areas.
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Atmospheric
Dust.
Solid
General litter and oily wastes and scrap from maintenance.
Noise
From blasting and equipment listed above.
Greenhouse
gases
Not discussed directly in the EER. It is stated the quarry is located close to the road
network to be maintained with quarry product.
Commissioning and operations
Operating hours
0600 to 1700 hours, Monday to Friday
Project timetable
The quarry is currently operating as a level 1 quarry thus no commissioning period is
required.
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Location Map
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4 Evaluation of Environmental Issues
The FPP was prepared in accordance with the Forest Practice Code 2000 (FPC) and has been
developed on the basis of a natural and cultural values assessment of potential impacts on flora
and fauna, geomorphology, cultural heritage, landscape, soil and water. The natural and cultural
values assessment has been conducted in the context of Tasmania’s FPS specified under the
Forest Practices Act 1985. The FPC references the Quarry code of Practice 1999 (QCP) where
relevant.
It is noted that FPPs are regulated by forest practices officers appointed under the Forest Practices
Act.
The cover report provided as part of the EER provides a description of proposed operations and
summarises the environmental context and the environmental aspects identified in the FPP.
Management measures and evaluation
The FPP details management requirements in relation to environmental and other aspects of the
operation that Forestry Tasmania must comply with. The environmentally relevant management
measures are summarised and evaluated below.
Forest Practice Code
Management measures
• All mandatory requirements under the FPC apply to the conduct of the operation
Evaluation
The FPC provides a comprehensive set of guidelines for the protection of environmental values
consistent with best practice environmental management principles. Although the QCP is
referenced, compliance with the QCP is not mandatory, therefore condition G4 is
recommended.
Area of disturbance
Management measures
• The entire site may be worked.
Evaluation
The quarry is in the midst of a regrowth forestry area. Soils are of moderate erodibility and the
nearest waterway is a significant distance from the site. Restriction of the area of disturbance is
not considered merited.
Stripping and stockpiling
Management measures
• All topsoil stripping and overburden will be stockpiled for rehabilitation activities.
Evaluation
This is consistent with the QCP (condition G2).
Drainage and Erosion Control
Management measures
Drainage and soil water movement from the quarry area will be controlled as per normal
practices by the use of culverts, silt traps and silt fences and ripraps where needed.
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Evaluation
The required measures are consistent with the acceptable standards detailed in the QCP
(conditions G2, G4).
Quarry development
Management measures
• A simple plan for the development of the quarry is included in the FPP. The quarry will be
developed in a series of benches no more than 6m in height.
Evaluation
The FPP does not mandate compliance with the QCP. This is considered necessary (condition
G4).
Flora
Management measures
• The FPP does not consider that any specific management prescriptions are required.
Evaluation
The prescriptions contained in the FPP are considered adequate to protect flora values.
Weeds and diseases
Management measures
• The quarry is currently considered to be free of weeds and Phytophthora cinnamomi. The
FPP contains prescriptions to ensure that it remains so.
Evaluation
The prescriptions contained in the FPP are considered adequate.
Fauna
Management measures
• Standard fauna management prescriptions of the FPC should provide adequate protection
for the Northwest Velvet Worm, Spotted Tailed and Easter Quolls. No special prescriptions
are required.
• The FPP prescribes the procedure to be followed if a Wedge-tailed Eagle nest is located.
Evaluation
The prescriptions contained in the FPP are considered adequate to protect fauna values.
Geoscience
Management measures
• None proposed.
Evaluation
According to the FPP no specific prescriptions are required.
Cultural heritage
Management measures
• None proposed.
Evaluation
According to the FPP no specific prescriptions are required.
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Noise and dust
Management measures
• The FPP does not consider that noise or dust will be a problem.
Evaluation
The quarry is in an isolated location surrounded by production forestry areas. The nearest
private residence is 7km away. No particular measures are necessary to prevent noise or dust
nuisance.
Fuels and lubricants
Management measures
• The FPP contains Forestry Tasmania’s standard requirements for management of fuels
and lubricants.
Evaluation
The required management measures are considered appropriate (conditions G2, G4).
Site rehabilitation
Management measures
• Quarry site will be levelled and drained and stockpiled topsoil used in the final rehabilitation
of the site. Additional topsoil will be brought in from elsewhere if the quantity stockpiled is
inadequate.
• Soils will be respread to a depth of approximately 150mm
Evaluation
The procedures are consistent with the QCP (condition G4).
Recommendations
It is recommended that the following conditions be required, as detailed on draft EPN 8686/1
shown in appendix 1 to the report.
G1
Quantity limits for the volume of rock extracted and the volume of rock processed.
G2
Operations must to be conducted in accordance with the FPP.
G3
The Director must be made aware of any changes to the FPP.
G4
Operations must be conducted in accordance with the QCP.
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