Binary remediation update - February 2007

To keep local residents, businesses, media and other interested parties fully informed of the remediation of the Narangba Industrial Estate, the department is publishing a weekly update.

The current soil remediation activities are part of the EPA's ongoing cleanup and remediation works on State and local government-owned land adjacent to the Binary factory site.

Activities performed between Monday 12 February 2007 and Friday 16 February 2007 are provided below.

• This week approximately 1700 tonnes of soil from containment Ponds 3 and 4 has been transported by the soil contractor to the Collex Pty Ltd Ti Tree landfill facility this week.
• Since 23 January the total amount of soil removed off site for bioremediation to date is approximately 4900 tonnes.
• The remediation site received approximately 104mm of rainfall during the week ending Friday 16 February 2007.
• Approximately 400,000L of water was pumped from ponds 3 and 4 and transferred to the department's on-site treatment dam.

The department has been supervising all remediation works conducted on the site. Validation soil samples were obtained following the completion of remediation works in specified areas of ponds 3 and 4.

The following measures were implemented to prevent the spread of contamination and minimise nuisance emissions such as dust and odour from the remediation activities:

• Maintaining clean gravel roads to prevent the tracking of mud;
• Weather monitoring and use of stop work policies in response to events including strong wind and rain. No remediation works were undertaken on Tuesday and Wednesday due to rain;
• All of the contractor's trucks were covered when transporting loads of contaminated soil;
• Decontamination of any equipment used on-site when moving from dirty to clean areas;
• Use of odour suppressant sprays in the excavations and on soil stockpiles;
• Covering of soil stockpiles with tarpaulins to prevent rain infiltration during rain events;
• Use of water sprays to minimise dust on the roads, excavations and soil stockpiles;
• Compulsory use of the rubble grid at the site entrance to shake truck wheels (remove excess soil) upon exiting the site; and
• Inspection of all trucks leaving the site.

The contaminated soil is being transported in sealed covered trucks to the Collex Ti Tree Landfill facility for bioremediation. Once this soil has been bioremediated, it will be disposed of in a lined landfill or purpose-built mono-cell at the Collex facility. The department inspected the Ti Tree Landfill facility on 14 February 2007 and obtained bioremediation soil samples.

The department consulted all the businesses in Magnesium Street on 16 February 2007 to ensure there were no concerns regarding the remediation activities.

Anyone with concerns about odour, soil or water contamination from the Estate is advised to contact the department hotline on 1300 130 372.