THE proposed site for the new Biomass power plant in Manjimup is part of a lease currently used for the WAPRESS Diamond Timber Mill located about 10 kilometres to the south of the town.
The Environmental Protection Authority has recommended environmental approval for Western Australia (WA) Biomass Pty Ltd to build and operate a 40 Megawatt biomass power plant, fuelled by up to 380,000 tonnes per annum of plantation waste. The recommendations have been released to Environmental Minister David Templeman.
The EPA had concluded that the proposal could be managed to meet its environmental objectives, according to chairman Paul Vogel who said that this could be achieved by the satisfactory implementation of the recommended conditions.
“The proposal uses best practice technology, has low emissions, would result in greenhouse gas savings of approximately 280,000tpa of carbon dioxide-equivalent units and contributes to achieving the 20 per cent renewable energy target set in the Premier’s climate change action statement,” Dr Vogel said.
‘The controlled combustion of plantation waste would produce significantly less emissions, when compared to current open burning practices, decreasing the pollutant load currently emitted to the region’s airshed.”
In a document released this month by the EPA, it is stated that concerns raised in submissions about air quality modelling methods have been addressed in the report.
Toxikos Pty Ltd undertook a health risk assessment which concluded that direct health risks from primary and secondary exposure to emissions, including Nitrogen Dioxide, Particulate matter of 10 microns and 2.5 microns respectively, together with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Dioxins, (known as the dirty dozen of the persistent organic pollutants), are low.
The Department of Health advised that it agrees with this conclusion provided that the proponent satisfactorily implements management measures set out in the Public Environmental Review and Response to Submissions.
A review of the potential impacts of the biomass power plant emissions on grapes and wine by Smart Viticulture found that the predicted ground level concentrations of these emissions are so low as to be orders of magnitude lower than the sensory threshold concentrations in wine. The EPA’s report is available for viewing at www.epa.wa.gov.au
The final decision will be made by the Minister for the Environment, David Templeman.