WA: Fremantle lead export recommendation slammed

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2007
WA: Fremantle lead export recommendation slammed

PERTH, Dec 10 AAP - A recommendation by Western Australia's environmental watchdog
to allow lead concentrate to be shipped through Fremantle has been slammed by the port
town and a conservation group.

Magellan Metals, the company at the centre of the Esperance lead contamination crisis,
had applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to export the lead from its Wiluna
mine through Fremantle.

Magellan was stopped from shipping the product through Esperance after if was discovered
lead dust was escaping into the town and leading to high lead blood levels among parts
of the population, including some children.

The EPA today gave its in principle go ahead for the export through Fremantle, subject
to environmental conditions.

Fremantle mayor Peter Tagliaferri said the shipments would greatly increase the amount
of hazardous cargo going through the port.

"This intensifies the risk profile significantly, it's too big a risk to take," Mr
Tagliaferri said.

The lead would be sealed in bulk bags and loaded into shipping containers, while an
independent inspector would check whether lead dust was escaping from bags as they left
Magellan's mine in Wiluna.

Mr Tagliaferri said the town of Fremantle had not been consulted about an Emergency
Response Plan flagged by the EPA.

Conservation Council of WA director Chris Tallentire said Magellan had a shocking history
with lead exports and should not be allowed to export the product at all.

"The EPA doesn't take a look at the bigger picture, doesn't take a look at cumulative
impacts, doesn't look at the history of companies like Magellan," Mr Tallentire said.

"It seems to be locked in a mindset that allows it to look at each individual proposal
as it comes through."

Mr Tallentire said the EPA needed to send a clear message that Magellan's behaviour
was unacceptable.

The EPA report will be sent to Environment Minister David Templeman, who will make
the final decision on the proposal.

AAP np/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: MAGELLAN NIGHTLEAD

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