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Remediating a mining site that pre-dates contemporary environmental legislation

Remediating a mining site that pre-dates contemporary legislation

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CLIENT

Iluka Resources Limited

SECTOR

Mining

SOLUTIONS

Contaminated land, remediation and auditing

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Steve Morrison

Senior Principal

Overview

Since 2018 Senversa has supported Iluka Resources Limited in developing and executing a mine closure aligned contaminated sites assessment and remediation strategy for the former South Capel mineral sands mining and processing site in Capel, Western Australia. The site’s operational phase between 1956 and1999 largely pre-dates contemporary environmental legislation including the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and the Contaminated Sites Act 2003. There is a long history of remediation efforts at the site, including active groundwater recovery and treatment since the early 1990s, to manage impacts associated with mineral sand processing by-product.

A key component underpinning the mine closure strategy is the South Capel Remediation Project (SCRP) Phase 1 to 3. SCRP comprises the consolidation and onsite encapsulation of more than 440,000 m3 of various byproduct types beneath some 185,000 m2 of bituminous geomembrane in a methodical manner that maximises the potential to reprocess byproducts in the future as market conditions and technologies evolve. In the long-term, the isolation of by-product will facilitate transition from active to passive groundwater management.

Scope

Development of a key stakeholder approved reclassification road map under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003 that is sustainable, compatible with other legislation and optimises beneficial reuse of the land at relinquishment.
Design and execution of remediation aligned contaminated site investigations.
Radiological assessments.
Acid sulfate soil (ASS) assessment and management.
Preparation of remediation action plans and subsidiary environmental management plans.
Remediation support including guidance and validation services.
Long term risk-based remediation performance monitoring.
Groundwater risk assessment including predictive modelling to underpin groundwater recovery and treatment cessation trials.

Challenge

Synthesising a vast number of historical reports into a robust conceptual site model (CSM).
Facilitating regulatory endorsement of remediation approaches and concepts, including via DWER Contaminated Sites Auditor, Radiological Council, Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration.
Problem solving by-product chance finds and practical remediation constraints.
Identification, risk assessment, and ASS neutralisation of site-won SCRP cover material, a crucial to project viability.

Outcome

The contaminated sites strategy underpins business confidence and clarity that its investment is moving the site towards the desired regulatory end points under closure. Phased implementation of the SCRP has demonstrated contaminant mass reduction. Ongoing groundwater performance monitoring and risk assessment will underpin future groundwater recovery and treatment cessation trials ahead of final site closure.