In 1987 the EPA assessed a proposal by Australian Gold Reagents Pty Ltd (AGR) to construct and operate a sodium cyanide plant in Kwinana and to transport the product (30% sodium cyanide solution) by road to mine sites for gold extraction. The EPA recommended that road transportation of sodium cyanide solution was unacceptable within a "defined area of concern", which is 50km of the Perth GPO and designated surface and groundwater catchment areas. Subsequently, AGR proposed rail transport as the alternative. The proposal was accepted by the EPA and by the then Minister for the Environment, and the environmental conditions of Ministerial Statement 6 reflected this.
This is an inquiry under s46 regarding a request by AGR seeking an amendment to the environmental conditions under Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 to transport 30% sodium cyanide solution by road from Kwinana to mine sites when necessary.
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