Briefing Paper for the
Orica Botany Liaison Committee (OBLC) Meeting on 13 October 2015
This Briefing Paper aims to provide an update on the following items:
1. Botany Groundwater Cleanup (BGC) Project
2. The Former ChlorAlkali Plant (FCAP) Mercury Remediation Project
3. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) Stored Waste
4. The Southlands Development Project
5. Car Park Waste Encapsulation (CPWE) Remediation Project
6. Divestment of Other Surplus Land
7. Community Communications
8. Community Investment
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BGC PROJECT UPDATE
Voluntary Management Proposal (VMP) Progress Report No. 20
Progress Report No. 20 for the Botany Groundwater VMP was submitted to the NSW Environment
Protection Authority (EPA) on 31 August 2015 and has been posted on the Orica website. This
report shares the results of the June 2015 monitoring event. The Executive Summary of the
Progress Report is included as Attachment A to this Briefing Paper.
Groundwater Treatment Plant (GTP)
The approximate total volume of groundwater treated since pump and treat activities commenced
in 2005 up to 30 June 2015 is 16,660 ML. The estimated total mass of chlorinated hydrocarbons
destroyed in the thermal oxidiser for the same period is 1,260 tonnes.
The GTP continues to operate effectively. There have been no GTP non-compliances this quarter
and effective hydraulic containment continues to be achieved.
Update of the Consolidated Human Health Risk Assessment
As agreed at the August meeting, Jackie Wright from Environmental Risk Sciences will attend the
upcoming meeting to present on the five-yearly update of the Consolidated Human Health Risk
Assessment (CHHRA).
Botany Groundwater Remediation Strategy Review Update
OBLC members are aware that Orica conducts a review of the Botany Groundwater Remediation
Strategy every three years, involving at least three international industry experts, local consultants,
appropriate representatives of the Independent Monitoring Committee (IMC) and the EPA.
An action from the last OBLC meeting was for Orica to advise whether a bioremediation update can
be provided before the next Strategy Review to be held in early 2017. Orica continues to fund
research by Associate Professor Mike Manefield and his environmental microbiology research team
at UNSW and they are currently planning some more field trials of one of their cultures.
Work is also progressing on actions recommended at the 2014 Strategy Review, particularly with
regard to the groundwater model that was revisited in the lead-up to the 2014 Strategy Review
Workshop. Work is planned to further evaluate the migration of contamination from the source areas
and the natural remediation processes that are at work in the aquifer.
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FORMER CHLORALKALI PLANT (FCAP) MERCURY REMEDIATION UPDATE
As the OBLC is aware, Orica is undertaking the following work to remediate mercury contaminated
soil at the site of the FCAP at the Botany Industrial Park (BIP):
Stage 1 - Blocks A & M excavation and reinstatement – completed November 2013;
Stage 2 - Block G targeted excavation and reinstatement – completed December 2013;
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Stage 3 - Decontamination and site preparation and removal of the Temporary Emissions
Control Enclosure (TECE) and associated Emission Control Systems (ECSs) – completed
November 2014; and
Stage 4 - Construction of cut-off wall and installation of vapour capping system.
Cut-off wall construction is complete. Work to install the capping system is underway and Stage 4
works will be completed in early 2016.
All ambient air monitoring results at the BIP boundary continue to be orders of magnitude below
the conservative action levels in the Environment Protection Licence. The results demonstrate that
airborne mercury risk has been effectively controlled and the project is progressing as planned.
The current licence and monitoring results are available on the Orica website.
Mercury Groundwater Monitoring
The next annual monitoring for mercury in groundwater is scheduled to be conducted in December
2015.
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HCB STORED WASTE UPDATE
There is no further update to provide at this time in relation to the French HCB export application.
The HCB waste remains safely stored on the BIP. Orica conducts proactive inspections and has a
good knowledge of drum contents and condition.
Orica will proactively repackage drums as needed in accordance with conditions of Environment
Protection Licence 2148.
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SOUTHLANDS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT UPDATE
Stage 2
As previously advised, Orica is selling Stage 2 of Southlands and any use of these parcels will
require separate development approval. Orica can notify the OBLC of a purchaser of Stage 2 once
a commercial agreement has been settled, and subject to the approval of the purchaser.
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CAR PARK WASTE ENCAPSULATION (CPWE) PROJECT UPDATE
Reuse of Treated Soil
On 11 August 2015 Orica submitted an application to the Department of Planning and Environment
(DPE) to permit ancillary works associated with the already approved reuse of the treated soil from
the CPWE. Ancillary works include the relocation of an existing internal BIP private access
roadway, removal of some trees in the vicinity of the existing treated soil stockpile, and building of
some retaining walls. Works are expected to occur in the first half of 2016.
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DIVESTMENT OF OTHER SURPLUS LAND
There is no change to the information as previously presented in relation to divestment of surplus
lands. A Development Application will need to be prepared by the purchaser for use of the property
fronting Denison Street that was sold at the end of March 2015.
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COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS
Since the August 2015 OBLC meeting, a community newsletter has been prepared and is being
distributed from 6 October 2015.
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COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
Applications in the second round of the 2015 Orica Botany Community Investment Program closed
on 28 August. Orica received a number of strong applications and has decided to support the
following two recipients:
Windgap Foundation Ltd E Learnability Literacy & Numeracy Program
The Windgap Foundation was founded in 1953 and provides services to individuals with intellectual
disabilities in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. Windgap improves the lives of individuals by
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supporting them to reach their full potential and raising community awareness as to their needs
and aspirations. Refer to www.windgap.org.au for more information.
Orica at Botany will invest $6,900 toward the purchase of iPads and learning Apps for an ongoing
literacy, learning and numeracy training program.
Pagewood Public School Science & Technology Resources
Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 at Pagewood Public School will benefit from new science
and technology resources to the value of $2,000.
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Attachment A
Executive Summary of VMP Progress Report No. 20
REPORT No: EN.1591.61.PR065
Rev: 0
VOLUNTARY MANAGEMENT PROPOSAL PROGRESS REPORT NO. 20
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This document is the twentieth report submitted since regulation of the project via a
Voluntary Management Proposal (VMP) under the Contaminated Land Management
Act 1997 and includes progress on the revised Groundwater Remediation and
Management Plan (GRAMP) (Orica, 2015). It provides a progress update on
groundwater monitoring, Groundwater Treatment Plant (GTP) performance, related
environmental management activities and community outreach initiatives. The
reporting interval for this report is 1 April 2015 to 30 June 2015, however if more
recent and relevant information is available it is also included.
Scheduled maintenance shutdowns of the GTP were undertaken between 2 March
and 25 March 2015 and between 22 June and 3 July 2015, therefore no groundwater
was extracted during these periods.
Hydraulic Monitoring
Assessment of hydraulic data for the June 2015 monitoring event indicates that,
although hydraulic containment of the target capture zones was inconsistently
achieved during the period, overall the Botany Groundwater Cleanup (BGC) Project
remedy objectives were met. The effects of reduced groundwater extraction due to
the GTP shutdowns, pipeline pigging and well maintenance operations were
compounded by high rainfall during the period. Maintenance operations completed
during the period have since resulted in improved performance of the hydraulic
containment system, largely mitigating the effects of the shutdown periods.
Chemical Monitoring
The June 2015 sampling program represents a quarterly monitoring event and as
such, chemical sampling was focused on assessment of volatile chlorinated
hydrocarbon (CHC) concentrations in surface water at Penrhyn Estuary.
Reported CHC concentrations in surface water were generally consistent with, or
less than, those reported in previous monitoring events. Key contaminant
concentrations were less than the relevant ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000) Trigger
Values at all surface water sampling locations. No historical maximum
concentrations for key contaminants were reported in surface water samples during
the June 2015 monitoring round.
Human Health Risk Assessment
There are no additional data presented in the June 2015 monitoring round that affect
the conclusions of the Consolidated Human Health Risk Assessment (CHHRA)
(EnRiskS, 2010).
GTP Operation
The approximate total volume of groundwater treated since pump and treat activities
commenced in 2005, including this period, is 16,660 ML. The estimated total mass of
chlorinated hydrocarbons destroyed in the thermal oxidiser, including this period, is
1,260 tonnes.
Community Consultation
Ordinary meetings of the OBLC were held on 16 June and 25 August 2015.
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