Agendas | Minutes

Homebush Bay Dioxin Remediation Project
Community Liaison Group
2nd Meeting
Notes of Meeting

When: Wednesday 17 October 2001, 5.30pm to 8.30 pm

Where: Rhodes Community Centre

Attendees: John Kent, Independent Chairman
Kate Hughes and John Pym, Independent technical reference people
Paul Hanly, John Pike, Rhodes Peninsula Group
Carol Kendall, Jenny Nicolls, Rhodes Residents' Group
Jan Toohey, Louise Hayes, Meadowbank & West Ryde Progress Association
Sundar Mahtani, King Street Area Residents' Group
Andrew Komli, Liberty Grove Community Group
Dietrich Willing, Friends of the Earth 
Nigel Routh, Concord West P&C

Doug Moss and John Hunt, Thiess Services
Jo Robertson, Lisa France, Rowena Lennings and Sara Phillips, PPK Environment and Infrastructure

Apologies: Cr Pauline Tyrrell of the City of Canada Bay
Paula Majstorovic, Blaxland Road resident
Carmen Gravatt, Greenpeace
Don White, Nature Conservation Council

Notes of Meeting:

Introduction
CLG representatives participated in a guided tour of the Union Carbide (Lednez) site. The site tour was followed by a meeting that focused primarily on the history of the site and the scope of the EIS studies. 

1. The meeting commenced with the appointment of the Independent Chairman and Technical Reference group members. The Chairman took over the running of the meeting from this point.

2. Discussion of the previous meeting record.
Meeting No. 1 Notes were accepted with one amendment. It was noted that John Kent had been omitted from the list of participants. 

3. History of the Site
The presentation materials (Attachment 1) outline the information given on this subject. 
Issues and Questions
Clarification was sought regarding the meaning of abbreviated technical terms (ppm- part per million, ppb - parts per billion and TEQ - toxicity equivalence).
Further to the discussion of the use of technical terms, it was agreed that the EIS would have a glossary.

Metal Contamination
The levels of heavy metals on the site and in Homebush Bay were raised as a concern. It was noted that the 1997 EPA's State of the Environment Report had described the levels of metals in Homebush Bay as having a detrimental biological impact. In view of this, how would it be possible to reconcile the levels of metals in the Bay with safe human use? 
The following points were made 
§ The levels of metals that are determined to cause ecological damage are in most cases much lower than those determined to harm human health. The 1997 State of the Environment Report (NSW EPA, 1997) makes comment on the state of the harbour sediments with respect the metals. High levels of metals in sediments are an issue for most of the bays in Sydney Harbour, caused by previous industrial activity and compounded by shipping. The scope of this EIS and objective of the remediation activities is the removal of dioxin in order to achieve the lifting of the dioxin-based fin-fishing ban in Homebush Bay.
§ Land contamination - Previous activities undertaken on this site are not known to cause heavy metal contamination.
§ Sediment contamination - The process of dioxin remediation through the removal of the existing sediments within 45 metres of the sea wall and replacing it with clean material from the site, will also reduce existing levels of metals. The composition of the replacement material and the method for its replacement will be closely examined by the EIS study team. 

How are you going to homogenise the fill and the material entering the processing plant?
A pre-treatment process will take place in an enclosed area. The enclosure will vented under negative pressure through filters.

What was lime buried on site used for?
Lime is a chemical that is commonly used to balance the level of acidity in soils. It was probably used on the site to neutralise acidic effluent.

Questions and issues were raised regarding the EVS remediation study and Thiess's investigations, including:

§ How did you arrive at the average?
EVS sampling - clarification was asked regarding the depth of samples and where the Bay tests were taken. 
Note that Section 3.1.1 of the EVS 1998 report "Detailed Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment of Homebush Bay Sediments" states "Surface sediment samples (0-10 cm) were collected from 43 grid sections and subsections……………"
§ The EIS study team noted that they were hoping the EVS report would shortly be made publicly available and that they would try to put the EVS report on the Thiess website.
Note that Waterways has since advised their position that the EVS reports are now in the public domain.

§ Location of hotspots. EIS to address the "hotspot" issue.

§ Fish grazing.

§ Remediation goals/standards.

§ Potential impact of the contaminants on children.

It was agreed that these issues would be examined in the meeting designated for the discussion of the Remediation Action Plan.

4. Scope of the EIS 
Presentation materials are attached that outline this presentation. Copies of the study requirements for the EIS from relevant NSW Government Departments were distributed to the CLG. 

Questions and Issues 
Clarification was sought regarding the extent of the environment studies and specifically the land areas being investigated. 
It was noted the EIS is comprised of a range of studies that address different areas of the environment (e.g. water, air quality studies). Each area of study has different requirements to meet. The need to meet these requirements nominated for the EIS is the main factor guiding the extent of each of the studies. 

Air Quality Monitoring Strategy 
It was noted site operations would have to comply with air quality goals for inert dust and measures would need to be taken off the toxic components of the dust. Existing background levels of dust will be examined to provide information about changes that occur during the life of the project. A high volume air sample will be used that will take measurements over 24hours for a six day cycle. 
The study team was asked if averages or highest readings would determine values for comparison. 
It was advised that that decision had not yet been made and that it would be informed by the health risk assessment, the latter to be signed off by the project auditor. 
A number of locations have been proposed for the location of air quality monitors. Air quality experts will provide advice on wind direction and speed.
It was asked what parameters the meteorological station would measure. Note: It will monitor wind speed and direction, humidity, solar radiation and temperature. 
It was discussed that dispersion monitoring also needs to be considered.

Noise impacts
Vehicle movements would be largely limited to the enclosed site area during working hours. Daytime noise is not likely to be an issue, however mitigation measures need to be determined for night time noise. Studies are being reviewed to determine how much noise each of the different remediation technologies generate. 

5. Community consultation
§ A copy of draft Household Update No 2 was circulated and comments were requested. 
§ It was proposed that a community open day be organised for Saturday 3 November, if it is possible to coincide with the visit of Mr Bill Troxler. Note: Unfortunately Bill Troxler will not be available on the Saturday so CLG members are encouraged to invite guests who may be interested in his presentation on remediation technologies to the CLG session on Thursday 1 November. 
§ Site Tours - Guided tours of the site are being organised for interested community members on Saturday 10 November. These tours will be advertised in the local newspapers and in the Household Update No 2 that will be letterbox dropped shortly. 
§ A draft Terms of Reference document for the CLG is attached for consideration and comment.

6. Proposed Agenda Item for next meeting
Please also see email from Paul Hanly (Attachment B) regarding the next session.