OneSteel’s red dust emission targets are on track since Project Magnet came on line, according to the mining company.
OneSteel said they have only recorded one exceedence since the targets were implemented earlier in the year.
According to OneSteel’s Executive General Manager Mark Parry, the solitary exceedence is proof Project Magnet is well worth the investment.
“Not only has Magnet delivered economic benefits for the company, but the effect it has had on reducing our negative environmental impact is enormous,” he said.
“This is a fantastic sign for us, but even better for the community who are no longer being coated in fugitive dust on a regular basis.”
However according to Red Dust Action Group chairperson, Ted Kittel, the OneSteel dust measurements don’t paint the whole picture.
“The Community Dust Target is not the total dust load, but is the result of subtracting the naturally occurring dust from the recordings at Walls Street EPA TEOM monitor,” he said.
“It is the total dust load measured at Walls Street that the exposed community inhales, and which has the potential for health impacts upon some members of the community according to the Environment Protection Authority and the Department of Health.
“Thus far in 2008 the National Environment Protection health standard target, which measures the total dust load, has been exceeded eight times at Walls Street.
“When the Community Dust Target is promoted in isolation it gives the exposed community a false sense of security because it does not reveal the total dust load to which the community is exposed.”
However, Mr Kittel recognised that OneSteel is putting a lot of work into reducing the impact of red dust on Whyalla.
“I’m not saying that OneSteel aren’t doing a good job, they are,” he said.
“There is no doubt that the since the inception of Project Magnet the red dust problem has dramatically reduced, and this does augur well for the future.”
Mr Parry said that the dust measurements are another step towards increasing OneSteel’s transparency and accountability.
“Despite being pleased with recording only one exceedence, we are still keen to learn from that incident and strive to continually improve,” he said.
“We are genuinely dedicated to minimising our negative impact on the Whyalla community and will continue to introduce initiatives to make this a reality.”