Adopted Minutes
Thursday 13 July 2000
PRESENT
Robin Saunders
CICCC Chair person
Deborah Macfarlane
community rep./ CICCC committee
Ian Thomas
community rep./ committee
Ted Towson
community rep./ committee
Carlo Fasolino
Op. Manager Terminals P.Ltd./committee
Dr Peter Brotherton
Combined Enviro. Groups / committee
John Luppino
City of Maribyr, GM City Dev /committee
Faye Simpson
community rep./ committee
Cathy Aktypis
Kensington Ass. rep / committee
Frank Fichera
community rep./ committee
Murray Frank
Dept. Human Serv, W Region / committee
Peter Reddie
Gen Manager Terminals / committee
Ian Swann
Plastics & Chemicals Ind Ass / committee
Michael Isaachsen
community member
Cuc Lam
City of Maribyr. Councillor/committee
George Horman
Terminals Pty Ltd / committee
Greg Twitt
Environ. Protection Authority/committee
Marilyn Olliff
Environmental Protection Authority
Denis Marchetti
community member
Mark Cahill
consultant
Jarrod Edwards
WorkCover / committee
Vanessa Richardson
minute taker
ITEM 1. WELCOME BY THE CHAIR
The chairperson welcomed John Luppino, General Manager City Development, City of Maribyrnong to the Committee, (John is replacing Ian Gibson), and other committee members and observers in attendance.
ITEM 2. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Trevor Perkins, Robert Glavich, Matthew Wylie, Gordon Harrison, Robert Clarke and Jim Clements.
ITEM 3. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA
The Draft Agenda was adopted.
To Other Business:
- Committee membership numbers and the role of the City of Maribyrnong CICCC member
ITEM 4. CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING 15 JUNE 2000
- Include Cathy Aktypis as present.
- Item 7 to be circulated when it has been written up. The minutes were accepted with these changes.
- Item 13, second paragraph: amend to “…and he would seek to get further examples…”
Action Items
4.1 Press release, web site and editorials in local papers (Robin).
The press release has been circulated to everyone.
The web site was down (except for the home page) for the first 2 weeks in June but it is now operating again.
Contact was made with some local papers re the possibility of editorials.
4.2 Report on articles/advertisements in local papers (Ian Swann and Ian Gibson’s replacement).
Ian Swann has checked with his work place to find that they only collect relevant articles from national papers and radio stations and not from local or regional sources of the print and broadcast media. They are looking at the additional cost of collecting from the regional and local outlets. If it is affordable, copies of relevant information in all of the above media will be made available regularly to the CICCC.
ACTION. Ian Swann to report on the above matter at the next meeting.
ACTION. John Luppino (City of Maribyrnong) all will make available all relevant media material to CICCC.
Deborah said that she recently saw the press release and the advertisement for CICCC in the Western News and in the Community News.
4.3 Risk values for 1994, 1997 and 2000 (see Item 6).
4.4 Confirmation that the Works Approval application is on the Terminals’ web site (see Item 6).
4.5 Tools used by industries to communicate with neighbouring communities (Ian Swann)
Ian said that the Community Advisory Panel are collating this information.
ACTION. Ian Swann will make the above information available to the CICCC.
4.6 Advice from DHS on morbidity risk profile data availability (Murray Franks).
Murray tabled a copy of two reports providing burden of disease information (mortality and morbidity data) for Victoria. It is expected that the updated Burden of Disease study will be available shortly. The Morbidity report can be found on the web on www.dhs.vic.gov.au/phb/9909065/foreword.htm and the Mortality report can be found on the web on www.dhs.vic.gov.au/phb/9903009/index.htm
ACTION. Faye Simpson will provide a presentation summary of these reports to the CICCC.
ACTION. A copy of each report will be kept in the CICCC library (City of Maribyrnong) and John Luppino will check with Roberta regarding the storage place for the CICCC library.
Robin Saunders has the CICCC copy of the Longford Report for borrowing. He asked if anyone was aware of a study and report made on the effects of benzine and other chemicals in the Altona district.
Faye suggested that the local community library or the Altona Community Consultative Community Group may have copies.
ACTION. Murray and Ian Swann will try to obtain copies of the above report.
The Committee also requested information on benzene studies.
4.7 Emission monitoring (see Item 6)
4.8 Residual Risk Matrix (see Item 12)
4.9 Operator error (see item 6)
ITEM 5. CORRESPONDENCE IN.
5.1 Letter dated 3 July 2000 from WorkCover inviting representation at a briefing on the new Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations
See Attachment 2
ACTION. Vanessa to mailout to all CICCC the 2nd reply from Dave Horseman (EPA) and the Ian Thomas letter.
ACTION. CICCC to consider all points raised in the letters. Peter Brotherton in consultation with Ian Thomas will develop a CICCC draft proposal in response.
See Attachment 1
ACTION. CICCC members who will attend the briefing are Robin Saunders, Ian Thomas and Faye Simpson. Michael Isaachsen also expressed interest in attending.
5.2 Letter dated 30 June 2000 from WorkCover attaching summaries of public comment (and WorkCover responses) on the draft MHF Regulations and Regulatory Impact Statement
This letter and report was tabled. Robin advised that the attached reports did not specifically address the issues that CICCC had raised, was vague and self-justifying. He did not believe it was worth copying for members, but would be pleased to share it with any Committee member who was interested. The CICCC will receive a presentation form WorkCover about this issue at the August meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE OUT
5.3 Letter to Mr Bracks dated 16 June 2000 re government policy on the availability of legal advice. See Attachment 3
ITEM 6. TERMINALS’ WORKS APPROVAL APPLICATION (TERMINALS)—RISK VALUES FOR 1994, 1997 AND 2000; CLASSIFICATION OF HAZARDOUS ZONES; EMISSION MONITORING; OPERATOR ERROR; CLARIFICATION ABOUT STAGES 2 & 3; AVAILABILITY OF APPLICATION (WEB SITE AND HARD COPIES); FORMULATING A CICCC RESPONSE.
The Dangerous Goods Application was lodged with the WorkCover on 11 July 2000.
The Works Approval application is a large document of about 1,000 pages. The main text (Volume 1) consists of about 200 pages. Volumes 2 & 3 contain drawings and performance assessment details. Volume 4 is the MSDS.
It will be made available on the web site. There will be a link to the document on the CICCC web site. It can be down loaded in the volume sections mentioned previously. EPA has asked for further information, and Terminals are still working on some aspects (e.g. the Greenhouse study).
Emission monitoring has not yet been addressed, and will be an outcome of the Works Approval. Committee members commented on the need for proof monitoring at various distances, and for information on the impact on the community of the total load of emissions.
ACTION. The CICCC will look at the monitoring proposals in the Terminals Works Approval application, and make comment.
Robin said that Peter Reddie had advised at the Forum that the Works Approval covers stages 1,2 and 3.
ACTION. Terminals to make a presentation at the next meeting, of the proposed upgrade for stages 2 and 3.
George said it would entail 6 new tanks on the BP site that will result in a slight increase in storage capacity for the whole site. The increase is 7.7%.
Greg Twitt said that it would be 2 or 3 weeks before the Works Approval document would be publicly available.
Robin said that the submissions from referral authorities did not close for a further three weeks after public submissions, and EPA would normally take this time to set up their Compulsory Conference. In his view, a more detailed CICCC submission might go in to the EPA after the 21 day public comment period, if necessary.
Peter Reddie said Terminals have told the CICCC about most of the changes they propose for the upgrade. He reminded the CICCC that to be open about what’s proposed at this stage in the licence application process is not a regulated requirement. He said that once the proposal is accepted, Terminals will make the full proposal available to the CICCC.
MOVED. Notwithstanding differences on some technical issues, the CICCC commended Terminals for its efforts over the past 3 months in briefing the Committee prior to them submitting the Works Approval application for the upgrade. . This commendation was adopted unanimously.
ACTION. Terminals will present their proposal for stages 2 &3 at the next meeting.
See Attachment 4
George Horman presented information about the Hazardous Zones on the Terminals site at Coode Island. (See Attachment 4 for detailed notes)
Jarrod Edwards said that the catastrophic events proposal (Dangerous Goods Licence) will require sensors (for gas, etc) and protective devises (like vapour walls).
Peter Brotherton suggested that Terminals include a statement of this kind in their Works Approval report.
Ian Thomas added that a detailed statement about the lightning arrester technology proposed would also be useful in the report.
Peter Reddie said that the above issues described by Peter and Ian would be dealt with in the process when the Hazard Operations proposals are reported to the authorities.
Ian Thomas said that he thought that just informing the public of the proposed plans for environmental protection (Works Approval Application) was not sufficient. He said he thought the public will be wanting to know at this early stage about some safety matters too.
Robin summarised the Committee’s view that an initial comment on the sensors and protective devices was necessary in the Works Approval application, while the Committee did not feel so strongly on the issue of the lightning arrester .
CICCC sought assurance from Terminals that adequate safety measures such as additional gas detectors and vapour barrier wall would be incorporated into the detailed design. Terminals gave an assurance that suitable “rare event” mitigation measures would be incorporated into the upgrade.
George said he knew of only 2 incidents where combustors were involved. One was a result of localised human error and he could not remember the details of the other incident.
Peter Brotherton said that the Works Approval would be the prime vehicle for public consultation, but the CICCC has to deal with a broader set of specific information on behalf of the public.
Robin said the CICCC needs to develop a plan of action to develop their submission that includes addressing the following issues-
Drawing out the stages at which specific information will become available (in subsequent stages and approvals, such as the Dangerous Goods Licence, the Major Hazards Facility approval, the Planning approval, detailed design and the EPA Licence), and how our submission can cover those things that are not yet known.
It seems that the Works Approval application stage is the only statutory process where community comments will be formally sought, and offering appeal rights. The submission should draw attention to this unsatisfactory situation.
George said it was proposed that there will be 2 combustor towers. One will be a backup for the other so that a build up of vapour pressure cannot occur. If both combustors are shut down for some reason, all operations (such as product transfer) will cease, and any residual emissions will vent to the atmosphere. There are no flammable sources in the local vicinity of the combustors. Terminals are in a priority zone for back up in the case of electricity failures.
Peter Reddie said that there is a proposed upgrade for management and procedures on the site. It involves external training and certification of employees so that performance practises can be maintained. They already routinely test employees for chemical exposure.
ACTION. Peter Reddie will provide information to the CICCC regarding the proposed processes for dealing with an operator who may be cognately impaired (while still working on the site) after inhaling dangerous vapours.
George said that if the computer system fails (and a fire or other incidents were to occur) there is protective equipment in the Zone 2 areas and the Zone 1 areas are very small.
ACTION. Robin and Peter Brotherton to prepare a press release from Terminals and the CICCC publicising the Works Approval public consultation launch date.
ITEM 7. EFFECTIVENESS REVIEW (IAN SWANN)
Professor Bill Russel, Melbourne University will do the review. The review will be completed by the August 10 meeting.
ITEM 8. CONFIDENTIALITY PROCEDURES PAPER—ATTACHMENT 8, 27 APRIL MINUTES (PETER BROTHERTON)
ACTION. The CICCC adopted this proposal.
ITEM 9. TERMINALS CONSIDERATION OF THE OPTION OF RELOCATING PROPYLENE OXIDE STORAGE TO CORIO (PETER REDDIE)\
See Attachment 7
Peter Reddie said that the 10-7 profile indicates that it there were an incident with the propylene oxide storage tanks, the residential areas would be well away from the area for concern. At the moment the P&O Pty Ltd Container Storage facility is covered by the 10-5 profile. This will not be the case following the upgrade.
Faye asked about the impact on the populations at Coode Island and Corio should the propylene oxide tanks explode.
Peter Reddie said the 10-7 line indicated that it would not be such a risk if it occurred at Coode Island, as the heat and explosive effects reduced very quickly with distance. Community risks resulted more from the spread of toxic material.
Ian Thomas said that Terminals have stored the mono-iso-propylamine (MIPA) at Corio and as there is plenty of room at Corio, why couldn’t the propylene oxide be moved there? He said he thought that propylene oxide was a potential dangerous ‘on site’ material and that the danger dropped off rapidly as distance from the storage facility increased.
Peter Brotherton said he was not aware of any reports that had stated road transporting of propylene oxide was dangerous.
George said that the mono-iso-propylamine at Geelong as not as hazardous as propylene oxide (fires cannot be extinguished) and there was far less of it by volume.
Peter Reddie said that the possibility of using of the Geelong site was rejected earlier in the process of the upgrading of the Terminals storage facility. He said that Terminal’s customers for propylene oxide were their second largest customer and accounted for about 20% of the value of Terminals financial turn over.
Peter Brotherton said the Coode Island Review Panel (C.I.R.P.) did not want to agree to the upgrade on Coode Island.
The CICCC discussed the possible response from the Geelong community and the government should such a proposal be reconsidered.
ACTION. Ian Thomas to discuss the new risk profiles (with propylene oxide removed from Coode) with Huw Jones (DNV Technica).
ACTION. Ian Thomas and Carlo will check the measurements of the distances that are disputed.
ACTION. Terminals will make available copies of the Works Approval Application to
- Local public libraries and the Maribyrnong City Council on the web
- Seven hard copies of Volume 1, one for each of the Committee Members listed in 5 below and one for the CICCC library)
- One hard copy of Volume 1 available for loan in public libraries including Hobson Bay, Moonie Valley and Melbourne. The Maribyrnong library will have six hard copies of Volume 1 and one hard copy of the complete document. All copies will include a note stating the timelines for public comment.
- There will be a complete hard copy document available at the Terminals Pty Ltd office.
- Each CICCC member will be given a hard copy of the Executive Summary .
ACTION. The following CICCC members will assess the Works Approval document:
Robin, Peter Brotherton, Cathy, Deborah, Ian Thomas and Ted Towson.
ITEMS 10 – 15 HELD OVER TO CICCC SPECIAL MEETING THURS 27 JULY, 2000.
ITEM 16. AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING ( 27 JULY 2000)
To include Items 10-15 of tonight’s proposed agenda.
ACTION. Defer to the next meeting discussion about committee member numbers.
ITEM 18. OTHER BUSINESS
Ian Thomas said that the next HSE sub committee meeting will be held on the 17 July.
Close 11.00pm
Next Meetings
** EXTRA MEETING 27 July, 2000
Meeting Thursday 10 August, 2000
Meeting Thursday 14 September 2000
CICCC ATTACHMENTS TO DRAFT MINUTES 13 July 2000
Attachment 1 Correspondence from Barry Durham (WorkCover) 3 July 2000
Attachment 2 Correspondence from Dave Horsman (EPA)
Attachment 3 Correspondence from Steve Bracks (Premier) 16 June 2000
Attachment 4 Notes from Coode Island Hazardous Zones presentation – George Horman.
Attachment 5.1 Terminals Monthly Operations report – April 2000
5.2 Terminals Monthly Operations report – May 2000
5.3 Terminals Monthly Operations report – June 2000
Attachment 6 Transcript for ABC 3LO Radio Interview with Ian Thomas and Peter Reddie, 29 June 2000.
Attachment 7 Notes from Propylene Oxide Storage Coode Island presentation – Peter Reddie.
** These attachments will be sent by post to those who have received e-mailed minutes.