Environmental Performance

Leinster Nickel Operation has no outstanding environmental non-compliances.View 2004 environmental non-compliance incidents for LNO.

During 2004, there were two Level 1 non-compliances, the first relating to the incorrect disposal of approximately 60 Quell smoke alarms. The smoke alarms contain trace amounts of radioactive material and must be returned to the manufacturer. A communication failure meant the alarms were disposed in the site's inert landfill. The alarms were immediately recovered and sent to the manufacturer.

The second non-compliance occurred whilst excavating a drill sump, a front end loader struck and split a pipeline containing saline dewatering from Perseverance Underground. The water overtopped the pipeline bund and flowed into adjacent vegetation and a previously rehabilitated area, impacting two acacias and several small shrubs. The area of vegetation impacted is less than 100 m2. No long term impact is expected as the exposure to the water was minimal. Photographic monitoring will be used to determine the extent of the impact.

Resource Use

Annual environmental targets established for total water use, high quality water use, energy use, land rehabilitation earthworks, land rehabilitation, revegetation and sulphur dioxide recovery were all met.

For the purpose of this report, water usage includes groundwater extracted from nearby aquifers for use in the processing plant and drinking water, as well as water from mine dewatering used in the processing plant. High quality water usage is defined as water containing less than 5,000 ppm total dissolved solids. At Leinster Nickel Operation extracted groundwater is generally of high quality, with groundwater used for processing containing <4,000 ppm total dissolved solids and drinking water <400 ppm total dissolved solids.

Land Management and Biodiversity

Leinster Nickel Operation is situated on the Leinster Downs pastoral station, with the mine leases covering approximately 6972 hectares. This arid rangeland is composed of several different landform types containing habitats ranging from sand plains with spinifex to stony ironstone mulga and breakaways.

Flora and Fauna

No threatened or priority species of fauna have been identified on the mine lease area. The Mulgara, a small, threatened mammal, is thought to inhabit the area, however, no specimens have been captured in fauna monitoring programs.

During a fauna study completed in 2003 as part of baseline monitoring for the 11 Mile Well open-cut mine, a number of Kultarr were captured and released. Kultarr are small mammals and although not listed as a threatened or priority species in Western Australia, they are under pressure in the Eastern States. During a second fauna survey completed prior to commencement of the mine's development, none were captured. Further studies are proposed in the region to investigate their movement and population.

There are a number of priority flora species on the mining leases, with a community of the priority four listed Eremophila pungens adjacent to the entrance to the site located near mining activities. These populations have been mapped and management plans are being developed for their protection. Vegetation monitoring undertaken during the planning and approval process for the 11 Mile Well open-cut mine identified no priority species in the mining area.

Vegetation in the area surrounding the tailings storage facility and evaporation ponds is monitored twice a year to identify any impact arising from seepage. This involves photographs being taken at monitoring points around the facilities to provide a comparative record of vegetation health. Results in 2004 show that there has been an improvement in vegetation health due to the sporadic rainfall over the year. However, monitoring is also showing some degradation of vegetation by feral goats.

The presence of a large numbers of feral goats has been an ongoing challenge in the Leinster area. To reduce the impact of the goats in the immediate area surrounding the mine, a 21-kilometre perimeter fence was built around the mine area in 2004. WMC Pastoral group assisted with the design of the fence and a goat-trapping yard, and are assisting with the ongoing mustering and removal of goats from the fenced area. It is anticipated that all goats will eventually be removed from within the fenced area.

In conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Leinster Nickel Operation participated in an annual wild-dog baiting program. A regular feral-cat trapping program was also conducted, targeting feral cats at landfills, the mine and Leinster township.

11 Mile Well Open-Cut

Approval for the 11 Mile Well open-cut project was granted in January 2004. This involved consultation with regulatory authorities including Department of Industry and Resources, Department of Environment, Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Shire of Leonora. Approximately 102 ha of land has been cleared for the mine, which has an 18-month operating life. Progressive rehabilitation will be undertaken during mining activities.

A separate approval was obtained in 2003 for dewatering required prior to commencement of mining. The approval included permission for discharge of the low salinity groundwater into drainage lines. Dewatering was undertaken from September 2003 to June 2004 during which time the quality of the water discharged was monitored. Vegetation monitoring along the drainage line has not detected any negative impact associated with the discharge.

Tailings Storage Facilities

The management of Tailings Storage Facilities (TSF) is a critical aspect of environmental management at Leinster Nickel Operation. The objective of their design, operation and rehabilitation is to ensure the long-term stability of structures and that the land is suitable for agreed post-mining land uses.

The site has three main Tailing Storage Facilities; TSF1, TSF2, TSF3. TSF1 has been capped and rehabilitation works completed. TSF2 has been decommissioned and capped, however final rehabilitation earthworks have not been completed, as it may be re-commissioned in the future. TSF3 is currently operational.

The effective management of seepage from the facilities is essential to ensure nearby vegetation is not impacted. To achieve this, a groundwater recovery bore is currently operating near TSF2 and additional recovery bores have been drilled around TSF3. Groundwater monitoring indicates decreasing water levels beneath TSF2 and no impact on vegetation around either facility.

Rehabilitation work has been carried out on the Old Agnew Tailings Area and the surface of TSF1. The success of rehabilitation on the Old Agnew Tailings Area has been impacted by a combination of feral goats and low rainfall at the time of seeding. The fencing of the area and subsequent eradication of feral goats is expected to assist future reseeding activities in these areas. The embankments of TSF1 will be rehabilitated in 2005 by spreading erosion resistant cap rock, ripping and seeding.

Waste Rock Dumps

The site has a number of waste rock dumps, associated with past and present mining activities. As with Tailings Storage Facilities, the objective of the design, operation and rehabilitation of waste rock dumps is to ensure the long-term stability of structures and that the land is suitable for agreed post-mining land uses.

The closure and rehabilitation of waste rock dumps associated with the Harmony open-cut mine, which is due to close in 2005, has been the main focus of the site's rehabilitation program during 2004. Earthworks associated with the progressive rehabilitation of the waste rock dumps were completed, along with seeding, using seed collected from the local area. The waste rock dumps cover an area of approximately 130 hectares.

Development of the 11 Mine Well open-cut mine, which includes a new waste rock dump, commenced in 2004. Several integrated processes were utilised in the planning and design of the 11 Mile Well waste rock dump. Foremost in the planning process was the need to meet all environmental obligations while minimising the costs associated with waste rock disposal. Liaison with regulatory authorities was undertaken early in the planning process and a risk management approach was adopted to rank the environmental risks. Upon approval of the proposal by regulators and completion of the dump design model, a management plan for the waste rock dumps construction was developed.

Rehabilitation Monitoring

Monitoring of rehabilitation is undertaken through various methods, including monitoring of species diversity and abundance, Ecosystem Function Analysis for a holistic view in comparison to analogue sites, photographic monitoring, fauna surveys and downstream measurements of water quality and flow.

Air Emissions

Particulate, metals and sulphur dioxide emissions from the concentrate drying stack are monitored annually in accordance with the site's environmental licence. Monitoring undertaken in the first half of 2004 indicated that particulate emissions had decreased back to historical baseline levels. An increase had previously occurred when plates made from an alternative material were trailed to reduce safety issues associated with the handling of the stainless steel plates during maintenance.

Waste Management

Leinster Nickel Operation has two licensed landfills, both of which are included in the site's Environmental Operating Licence. The landfills are categorised by the material they are licensed to receive. Generally, this is divided into putrescible or degradable waste and inert waste. The volume of waste disposed of in each landfill is estimated.

Paper and cardboard recycling is encouraged and paper-recycling bins have been placed around the site. Recently, equipment has been purchased to make the handling of paper bins easier and safer. Cardboard crushers have been placed at the Leinster Nickel Operation supermarket and dry mess. The collected paper and cardboard is transported off-site for sorting. Sales of the paper aid WA Goldfields charities.

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