6 years ago
Call for Senate inquiry to address ash waste
Senator Rex Patrick
NXT Senator Rex Patrick will move to establish a Senate inquiry into the disposal and management of ash by coal-fired power stations across Australia following the failure of the South Australian Government to properly address an abandoned power station site at Port Augusta.
The call comes after SA-Best's announcement of the need for a proper environmental remediation plan for Port Augusta.
"All power stations operating across Australia produce fly ash. More than one billion tonnes of waste has been produced by these power stations," said Rex.
"Across their operating life, from 1954 to 2016, the power stations at Port Augusta alone have produced enough ash to cover the Adelaide CBD to a height of five metres.Their remediation strategy is basically dumping a thin layer of dirt on the ash dam - a poor attempt at a cover up."
"Australians are not being treated to world's best practice."
The United States Environmental Protection Agency adopted national regulations last year to provide for the proper disposal of coal ash imposing requirements for landfills and surface impoundments.
These standards demand:
- scientific selection of the location of ash dams;
- proper lining to prevent water percolating through the ash and leaching contaminants into the ground water;
- strict structural requirements for the dam walls;
- proper closure remediation plans which involve eliminating free liquids and stabilising the waste;
- properly covering the ash in accordance with strict standards;
- eventual removal of the waste; and
- ongoing monitoring and reporting.
"Australia needs to look to make a similar regulatory move to the US. This inquiry could carefully consider their regulations and whether they would be suitable to adopt here in Australia," said Rex.
"There is also a need to ensure that power station operators continuously address the ash, right from the start, not at the end when cash flows have dried up and they can no longer afford to remediate the site properly. Federal and State Governments also need to pass laws to ensure 'Clean As You Go' policies are adopted."
Senator Patrick is calling on the Senate to support the inquiry when it returns in the week commencing 19 March.