WA EPA releases scoping document for Alcoa’s bauxite mining

The WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has released its environmental scoping document (ESD) for Alcoa’s bauxite mining on the Darling Range in southwest WA for 2022-2026 and 2023-2027.

While both mining and management programs (MMP) are referred separately, the EPA is considering them under a single ESD as they relate to Alcoa’s mining operations within the Huntly and Willowdale areas, about 100km southeast of Perth.

They also include the production, processing and transport of wet bauxite ore, the abstraction of water, exploration drilling and rehabilitation works.

EPA deputy chair Lee McIntosh says a “bespoke approach” to scoping has been necessary due to the complexity of the proposals.

“Noting that there is an exemption order (issued under section 6 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986) in place that permits the proponent to continue mining activities within the proposal areas, the EPA has decided to provide alternative pathways for assessment if all relevant information isn’t supplied in the stipulated timeframe,” she said.

“At this stage, however, we are on target to publish the environmental review document (ERD) for a 10-week public consultation in January.”

This ESD follows EPA’s determination in December last year that parts of Alcoa’s plans should be assessed and includes an indicative timeline that estimates the agency’s final report and recommendations in Q3 CY25.

The WA Environment Minister will then make a final decision on the assessment.

Separate environmental assessment: Alcoa’s future mining regions

The EPA is separately considering another proposal by Alcoa to increase production at its Pinjarra refinery and transition mining at the existing Huntly Mine to the Myara North and Holyoake regions.

The Pinjarra Alumina Refinery Revised Proposal is being assessed at the level of public environmental review.

Ms McIntosh says it is the EPA’s preference for the public review for both the Pinjarra Alumina Refinery Revised Proposal and the MMP proposals to be progressed simultaneously.

“It’s our hope that all these proposals will both be published in January for public review at the same time,” she said.

“And for the sake of efficiency and the consideration of cumulative impacts to the Northern Jarrah Forest, that the EPA’s assessment could be delivered in a single report with a single set of recommendations.

“However, amalgamating them into a single proposal is a course of action (under the EP Act) for the proponent.”

The scoping document for the MMPs also highlights the EPA’s desire for future Alcoa mining operations to be considered as amendments to longer term mining proposals rather than referred in as individual new proposals.

“This will avoid the need for incremental and annual assessment of MMPs which is not consistent with the efficient, modern environmental assessment processes that can consider cumulative effects,” Ms McIntosh said.

Alcoa committed to working with the WA EPA

Alcoa interim vice president operations for Australia Tanya Simmonds says the company remains committed to working with the EPA and other stakeholders to reduce approvals complexity and to ensure thorough and timely environmental impact assessments of its current and future bauxite mining in the State.

“We are focused on modernising the approvals framework for our bauxite mining in WA and securing certainty for our operations and all stakeholders,” she said.