OneSteel Sustainability Report 2010 (PDF) - Arrium

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OneSteel
Sustainability
Report 2010
Community
1 2 3 4
Consultation and Engagement
Red Dust Action Group Dissolves
The Whyalla Red Dust Action Group
(WRDAG) announced that it was
officially dissolving on May 26 2010,
after having successfully worked with
OneSteel Whyalla to address the red
dust related issues at East Whyalla.
Spokesperson for the WRDAG, Ted
Kittel, said that the group’s objectives
had been fulfilled and that over
the past three years, a strong and
valuable partnership based on trust
and goodwill had developed between
the group and OneSteel Whyalla.
He said that OneSteel Whyalla is
now setting benchmarks in the way
it engages with the community in
respect to environmental issues and
also through the positive new and
innovative way it’s tackling these
issues in the workplace.
“No longer are homes and property
stained and ruined by continual
coatings of red iron ore dust, and
the quality of everyday life for east
Whyalla residents has improved
because of this very positive
outcome,” Mr Kittel said.
“Living without red dust impacts
now can only be described as truly
marvellous. Having the knowledge
and understanding of the dedication
that the company now has pledged
to continually improving its
environmental performance augurs
well for me, and it augurs well for the
future residents of east Whyalla.”
This outcome is the culmination
of Project Magnet, which saw the
pelletising plant converted from a
dry to a wet process and paved the
way for the removal of redundant 10.0
equipment and stockpiles at the
pelletising plant.
7.5
5.0
2.5
Community Dust Target
The OneSteel Whyalla community
dust target was established in 2008 in
conjunction with OneSteel, the South
Australian Environment Protection
Agency and local community.
The system is designed to not
only monitor fugitive dust levels
originating from OneSteel’s
operations and ensure OneSteel’s
accountability, but ultimately to also
provide locals with reprieve from high
levels of fugitive dust.
The Steelworks agreed that fugitive
dust impacts related to its operations
would not exceed a certain level of
fine particulate matter in the air
(50ug/m3) on a defined number of
days. This was originally set at 10
days in 2008, followed by eight days
in 2009, before gradually decreasing
to five days in 2011. This gradual
decrease aimed to reflect the stepchanges
anticipated as a result of
Project Magnet.
As can be seen below (graph), 2008
saw three exceedence days (compared
to a year-end target of 10) and none
in 2009. The excellent result in 2009
led to voluntary advancement of the
target by OneSteel to five exceedence
days in 2010 ahead of the original
target set for 2011.
OneSteel continues to monitor dust
levels with 24 hour automatic devices
located around our operations.
Environment Consultation
Group (ECG)
Whilst the WRDAG has finalised
its collaboration, the Whyalla
Environment Consultation Group
continues to remain a strong alliance
between local government, regulatory
associations (such as the EPA), the
community (including schools and
businesses) and OneSteel.
Over the past three years, OneSteel
has worked with the ECG to improve
the amenity buffer between OneSteel
and the community. The Whitehead
Street development project
included a park with barbeque,
plants and walkways. The park was
officially opened on July 4 2010 to
align with Whyalla Council’s 40th
birthday celebrations.
Community Dust target
10
8
5
3
0 0
2008 2009 2010
0.0
Images show imrpovement in fugitive
dust levels at Whyalla between
December 2006 and September 2009.
Dust Exceedance Days
Target for Total Days of
Dust Exceedance