Bridge Road Forestry Quarry Expansion - EPA Website...Bridge Rd forestry quarry in the Plenty River Valley on 26 July 2011. The proposal is defined as a ‘level 2 activity’ under

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REPORT

Bridge Road Forestry Quarry Expansion Bridge Road, Styx State Forest Block, Derwent District

Forestry Tasmania

Report and recommendations of the EPA Division Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment to the Board of the Environment Protection Authority October 2011

Environmental Assessment Report – Bridge Road Forestry Quarry

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Environmental Assessment Report

Proponent Forestry Tasmania

Proposal Forestry Quarry intensification of use

Location Bridge Rd, Styx Forest Block, Derwent Valley

NELMS no. EPN 8652/1

DA number n/a

File 112314

Document Class of Assessment

G:\EEO_Enviro_Ops\EAS_Assessments\EAS_Projects\Bridge Rd\Bridge Road Quarry EER 2A

Assessment process milestones

26/7/2011 Notice of Intent submitted

16/8/2011 Application received by Board

3/9/2011 Start of public consultation period

17/9/2011 End of public consultation period

Acronyms

Board Board of the Environment Protection Authority

Director Director, Environment Protection Authority

EER Environmental Effects Report

EMPC Act Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994

EPN Environment Protection Notice

FPC Forest Practice Code 2000

FPP Forest Practices Plan BDH0204-01

FPS Forest Practices System

QCP Quarry Code of Practice 1999

SD Sustainable development


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Table of Contents

1 Approvals process .................................................................................... 4

2 SD objectives and EIA principles .............................................................. 4

3 The proposal ............................................................................................ 5

4 Evaluation of environmental issues .......................................................... 9

5 Conclusions ........................................................................................... 13

Appendix 1 Environment Protection Notice 8652/1 .................................. 14


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1 Approvals process As required by 27(1) of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPC Act), Forestry Tasmania submitted a Notice of Intent to the Board in relation to the proposed Bridge Rd forestry quarry in the Plenty River Valley on 26 July 2011. The proposal is defined as a ‘level 2 activity’ under Schedule 2 Subsections 5(a) and 6(a)(ii) of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 (EMPC Act), being the intensification of use of a forestry quarry, currently operating as a level 1 activity.

The assessment has been undertaken by the Director, Environment Protection Authority, under delegation from the Board.

The proponent submitted an Environmental Effects Report (EER) in support of the application consisting of Forest Practices Plan No BDH0204-01 (FPP) with a cover report. An application to vary the FPP to reflect the proposed intensification of use was made by the proponent to the Forest Practices Board on 16 August 2011.

The EER was released for public inspection for a 14-day period commencing on 3 September 2011. Advertisements were placed in the Mercury newspaper and on the EPA web site. No public submissions were received.

2 SD objectives and EIA principles The proposal must be considered by the Board in the context of the sustainable development objectives of the Resource Management and Planning System of Tasmania (RMPS), and in the context of the objectives of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control System (EMPCS) established by the EMPC Act. The functions of the Board are to administer and enforce the provisions of the Act, and in particular to use its best endeavours to protect the environment of Tasmania, and to further the RMPS and EMPCS objectives.

The Board must undertake the assessment of the proposal in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Principles defined in Section 74 of the EMPC Act.


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3 The proposal The proposed capacity increase at the quarry is due to an expected expansion of harvesting in the region in the next 5 years. The EER states that the site has been selected to allow efficiencies in costs associated with the maintenance and construction of the existing road network on likely cart routes.

The main characteristics of the proposal are summarised in Table 1. A detailed description of the proposal is provided in the EER. The information contained in Table 1 also includes details presented in the Natural and Cultural Values Assessment conducted for the FPP in accordance with the Forest Practice System (FPS). Table 1: Summary of key proposal characteristics

Activity Extraction of a maximum of 9,000m3 of rock and crushing of a maximum of 7,000m3 of extracted rock.

Location and planning context Location Bridge Road, Plenty Valley, Styx Forest Block, Derwent District, as shown in figures 1, 2

and 3.

Land tenure State Forest.

Site area 3ha

Existing site

Land Use Regrowth forestry.

Topography Moderately sloping with an easterly aspect.

Geology Jurassic dolerite.

Soils Red brown stony soils of low erodibility.

Hydrology The nearest watercourse is a class 1 steam located 600m to the south east.

Fauna No potential threatened species habitat was identified on the site.

Flora Tall Eucalyptus delegatensis wet sclerophyll mixed forest regrowth since logging in 1992.

Local region

Climate Annual rainfall is approximately 1000-1250mm.

Surrounding land and uses

State Forest managed by Forestry Tasmania and Private Forest managed by Norske Skog. The EER states that the nearest residences are in Moogara, Fielton, Mt Lloyd and New Norfolk. The nearest residence is located approximately 7km distant.

Species of conservation significance

Species identified that may occur within the region were: Mt Managana Stag Beetle; Australian Grayling; Tasmanian Devil; Masked Owl; Swift Parrot and Quoll.

A database search of eagle nests determined the nearest known nest to be located more than 4km distant.

Inputs & Infrastructure

Major equipment Mobile crushing plant, excavators and front wheeled loaders. Drilling will be required

Water n/a

Energy Fuel may be stored on site during operations.


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Wastes and emissions

Liquid Stormwater runoff from disturbed areas.

Atmospheric Dust.

Solid General litter and oily wastes and scrap from maintenance.

Noise Noise will be generated by drilling and blasting as well as general operations.

Greenhouse gases

Not discussed directly in the EER. It is stated the quarry is located close to the road network to be maintained with quarry product.

Commissioning and operations

Operating hours 6:00am - 5:00pm 5 days a week during periods of planned harvesting and road construction. This usually occurs from October through to June.

Project timetable The quarry is currently operating as a level 1 quarry thus no commissioning period is required.

Figure 1: Site regional location (marked by star)

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Figure 2: Site location


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Figure 3: Site Plan


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4 Evaluation of environmental issues The FPP was prepared in accordance with the Forest Practice Code 2000 (FPC) and has been developed on the basis of a natural and cultural values assessment of potential impacts on flora and fauna, geomorphology, cultural heritage, landscape, soil and water. The natural and cultural values assessment has been conducted in the context of Tasmania’s FPS specified under the Forest Practices Act 1985. The FPC references the Quarry code of Practice 1999 (QCP) where relevant.

It is noted that FPPs are regulated by forest practices officers appointed under the Forest Practices Act.

The cover report provided as part of the EER provides a description of proposed operations and summarises the environmental context and the environmental aspects identified in the FPP.

Management measures and evaluation The FPP details management requirements in relation to environmental and other aspects of the operation that Forestry Tasmania must comply with. The environmentally relevant management measures are summarised and evaluated below.

Forest Practice Code Management measures • All mandatory requirements under the FPC apply to the conduct of the operation

Evaluation The FPC provides a comprehensive set of guidelines for the protection of environmental values consistent with best practice environmental management principles. Although the QCP is referenced, compliance with the QCP is not mandatory, therefore condition G4 is recommended.

Area of disturbance Management measures • Approximately 3ha of the site (the entire site) may be worked.

Evaluation The quarry is a hard rock quarry in the midst of a regrowth forestry area. Soils are of low erodibility and the nearest waterway is a significant distance from the site. Restriction of the area of disturbance to less than 3ha is not considered merited.

Stripping and stockpiling Management measures • All topsoil stripping and overburden will be stockpiled above or beside the quarry face for

rehabilitation activities.

Evaluation This is consistent with the QCP (condition G2).


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Drainage and Erosion Control Management measures • Sediment control sumps will be established downslope and in combination with existing

drainage structures on Bridge Rd. • Runoff from the quarry floor to be directed into the sumps via culverts. • Sediment fences will be used where necessary. • Overflow from sumps will be directed into vegetation downslope of the quarry.

Evaluation No design standard for sediment pond retention capacity is provided. The required measures are consistent with the acceptable standards detailed in section 6.9 of the QCP. It is considered that direction of drainage to vegetated areas will mitigate the potential for sediment to be released to waterways (conditions G2, G4).

Quarry development plan Management measures • Boundaries of the site will be marked with red tape. • No machinery will be operated outside the site perimeter track. • No new access road will be constructed however Bridge Rd may be redirected to allow for

quarry expansion. • The quarry will be developed in a series of benches no more than 15m in height.

Evaluation Measures to ensure operations are confined to the site are supported. The limiting of bench heights to 15m is consistent with the QCP (conditions G2, G4).

Flora Management measures • Washdown procedures will be implemented in accordance with the Tasmanian Washdown

Guidelines for Weed and Disease Control 2004. • Procedures will be implemented to ensure any offsite material imported for rehabilitation is

free of Phytophthora cinnamomi and where practical weed free. • The quarry will be monitored for weeds and action taken where infestations occur.

Evaluation No priority species or sites of potential significance for flora were identified on the Natural and Cultural Values Evaluation Sheet for Biodiversity. No exotic species were identified. The evaluation sheet was reviewed by the Forest Practices Authority Biodiversity Program.

Fauna Management measures • None

Evaluation The prevention of sediment discharge to waterways was recommended on the Biodiversity Evaluation Sheet to protect the Australian Grayling (Prototroctes maraena). Appropriate sediment control measures have been required as discussed elsewhere. In relation to all other species of concern it was concluded that no habitat was within the potential zone of impact. The evaluation sheet was reviewed by the Forest Practices Authority Biodiversity Program.


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Geoscience Management measures • None

Evaluation According to the Geoscience Evaluation Sheet the operation is not considered to fall within a karst area or catchment.

Cultural heritage Management measures • The responsible Forestry Tasmania Forest Officer will be notified in the event a heritage

site is located. • Advice from the FPA Senior archaeologist will be obtained prior to continuing operations in

the vicinity of any identified site.

Evaluation According to the Cultural Heritage evaluation sheet relevant databases and maps were consulted and the density of sites in the region is likely to be low.

Noise and dust Management measures • Dust will be controlled on the quarry site to ensure safe working conditions for quarry

operators.

Evaluation The distance to the nearest residence is significant. Traffic that may pass residences on the route to the quarry site would include all traffic associated with forestry operations in the region. No particular measures are necessary to prevent noise or dust nuisance.

Fuels and lubricants Management measures • Fuels and lubricants will be stored in an earthen bunded area during operations. • Used containers will be removed from the quarry to an approved disposal site. • Forestry Tasmania will be contacted where a spill occurs. • Forestry Tasmania’s “Emergency Response Procedure for Oil and Fuel Spills” will be

implemented.

Evaluation The required management measures are considered appropriate (conditions G2, G4).

Fire prevention Management measures • Fire prevention procedures will be in accordance with the Forestry Tasmania guideline “Fire

Prevention at Forest Operations”

Evaluation It is accepted that the proponent has general fire management procedures in place for their operations.


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Site rehabilitation Management measures • Benches will be recontoured to a maximum height of 5m • Bench edges will be profiled, loose material removed and the quarry floor ripped where

practical • Soils will be respread to a depth of approximately 200mm • A suitable local seed mix will be used for revegatation

Evaluation The procedures are consistent with the QCP (condition G4).

Recommendations It is recommended that the following conditions be required, as detailed on draft EPN 8652/1 shown in appendix 1 to the report.

G1 Quantity limits for the volume of rock extracted and the volume of rock processed.

G2 Operations must to be conducted in accordance with the FPP.

G3 The Director must be made aware of any changes to the FPP.

G4 Operations must be conducted in accordance with the QCP.


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5 Conclusions The EPA Division is of the view that:

(i) the RMPS and EMPCS objectives have been duly and properly pursued in the assessment of the proposal; and

(ii) the assessment of the proposal has been undertaken in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Principles; and

(iii) the recommendations set out in this report accord with the Board’s responsibilities in relation to these objectives and principles.

This assessment has been based upon the information provided by the proponent in the EER including the relevant FPP.

It is concluded that the proposal is capable of being managed in an environmentally acceptable manner such that it is unlikely that the RMPS and EMPCS objectives would be compromised, provided that the recommendations made in this report are satisfactorily implemented, including the prescriptions made in the FPP.


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Appendix 1 Environment Protection Notice 8652/1

Documents

Bridge Road Forestry Quarry Expansion - EPA Website...Bridge Rd forestry quarry in the Plenty River Valley on 26 July 2011. The proposal is defined as a ‘level 2 activity’ under