Air quality in Mount Isa - Mount Isa Mines

About sulfur dioxideSulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) is an odorousgas generated through natural andindustrial processes. In nature, it is thegas released by volcanoes or hot springsand is also produced when vegetationon land, in wetlands or oceans, decaysor breaks down.In Australia, the largest source of SO 2 inthe air is industrial activity that processesmaterials containing sulfur, such as theelectricity generation from coal, oil or gasthat contain sulfur. Sulfur dioxide is alsopresent in emissions from cars, buses andtrucks as the result of fuel combustion.Initiatives like the introduction of nationalfuel quality standards, tighter vehicleemission standards and alternative fuelshave helped reduce the amount of sulfurdioxide produced in our communities.Sulfur dioxide is widely used tomanufacture a number of householdgoods: Added as a preservative in dried fruitsbecause of its antimicrobial properties(preservative 220) In wine making as an antibiotic andantioxidant As a bleach or reducing agent whenmixed with water (e.g. laundry bleachand bathroom cleansers) In chemical processes, for example,as a feedstock in making fertiliserHealth effects ofsulfur dioxideOur senses easily detect SO 2 atconcentrations, SO 2 can irritate the throat,lungs, eyes, and to a lesser extent, the skin.The effects of SO 2 can be felt very quickly,with most people feeling the worst symptomsSymptoms can include: Coughing, wheezing, or shortness Dry or irritated throat Watery, itchy eyesWhen there are higher levels of SO 2 in the airand a person feels their airways or health arebeing affected in some way, they should limittheir physical activity, particularly outdoors,as this increases the volume of air breathedin. If possible to move indoors, people canalso close windows and doors, and useair conditioning on recirculation mode (ifavailable) until outside air quality improves.Unless consistently exposed to veryhigh concentrations, in most instances, 2 does not create long-people may be more sensitive than others 2 in the air.Those who have lung conditions such asasthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema 2 .If you experience respiratory effects from SO 2 , please consult a medical professional.Air quality in Mount Isa1

How do we manageair quality?The copper and zinc-lead ores found in ourregion contain sulfur, and when they areprocessed, sulfur dioxide is released. Mostof the copper smelter gases are capturedand transferred to the Acid Plant, whichtreats the SO 2 to produce sulfuric acid.Our operations are managed under theQueensland environmental regulatoryregime and we have numerous air qualitymanagement systems in place to minimisethe impacts of our operations on ourcommunity. Our new EnvironmentalAuthority was granted in December 2011and a Transitional Environmental Program(TEP) for Air was approved in April 2012.We are bound to comply with the strictconditions of our licence.For more information on how we manageof this brochure.Air QualityControlMount Isa has one of the mostintensive air quality monitoringsystems of any city in Australia.Established in 1975, our Air QualityControl (AQC) uses real-time air quality data tomonitor emissions and observe emerging weatherpatterns. AQC works both proactively, throughdaily forecasts and reports, and reactively,by monitoring and responding to real-timeair quality data, to minimise impacts to ourcommunity and ensure compliance with ourregulatory limits.If you experience respiratory effects from SO 2 ,please consult a medical professional.What does Air QualityControl do?Analyse and predictweather conditionsProvide advice tosmelter operationsMonitor and respondto real-time air qualitydata and groundconditionsHow doesthat effectour smelteroperations?AQC collaborates withsmelter operators and theacid plant to reduce orstop production.2 Air quality in Mount Isa

Winddirection inMount IsaAcross a year, Mount Isa receives the majority of windfrom the east and south-east. This means the windblows emissions away from Mount Isa to the west,limiting impacts to the community and town.During summer and spring, the incidence ofwesterly winds (blowing emissions to the east) canincrease the potential impacts to our community.During these months, AQC works proactively toreduce smelting operations.The windrose diagrams (right) show wind speedand direction on an annual and quarterly basisin Mount Isa.Annual (2011)N20%12%4%WESWind Speed (m/s) Jan-Mar20%12%4%Apr-JunAQC alert process4%12%20%UnrestrictedoperationStandbyReducedoperationShutdownJul-Sep20%12%4%In 2011, AQC restrictedour smelting operations(complete and partialshutdowns) overcopper smelter and !lead smelter.Oct-Dec20%12%4%

If you experience respiratory effects from SO 2 ,please consult a medical professional.Mount IsaGolf ClubAcidPlantIncitec PivotMine Access R dCopperSmelterOld Mica Creek RdOpal StParkside FlatsDiamantina Development RdSelwyn ParkFourth AveLEICHHARDT RIVERRailway AveSpinfex State SchoolKruitschnitt OIsa StBridgeCredit UnionGraceBridgTwentythird AveTransmission StMount Isa Duchess RdSuter RdHealy State SchoolBrett AveKookaburra StAir quality monitorsin the communityCorella StLegendHigh Volume MonitorsSO 2 MonitorsDust MonitorsUntil 2013RemainingNewRoadsRailwayNetwork ofreal-time airquality monitorsWe are expanding our airquality monitoring network toimprove coverage of Mount Isaand the surrounding district.4 Air quality in Mount Isa

LeadSmelterBlack StarOpen CutSTAR GULLYXstrataMount IsaMinesKING GULLYBarkley HighwayWau StvalSteRSLErap StLEICHHARDT RIVERMary StMiles StRacecourseBREAKAWAY CREEKCemeterySWNSunset State SchoolEFor most of the year,wind from the Eastand South-East blowsemissions away fromMount Isa to the West.Monitoring type Current By 2016Real-time SO 2 monitoring stations 10 12Passive monitoring stations 5 6High-volume dust samplers 9 14Continuous dust monitors* 2 6* We also have a numberof monitors and gaugeswe can deploy atoperations to monitorour performance andtarget improvements.Dust depositional gauges* 10 10Air quality in Mount Isa5

Inside AQCAQC employees are trained inmeteorology to understand and predictOur people have extensive experience inunderstanding the interaction of weatherpatterns with our operations and acrossour community.Our AQC employees are responsible forminimising air quality impacts to our localcommunity and ensuring our environmentalobligations are met.AQC operates seven days a week betweencoverage to manage unfavourable weatherconditions and potential community impacts.What does AQC do? Analyse weather forecasts Predict air quality conditions at Provide daily reports on weatherpredictions and likely impacts Monitor our comprehensive network of Provide ongoing advice to smelteroperations on real-time weatherAQC collaborates with smelter operators andthe Acid Plant via an internal alert systemthat advises of any potential requirements toreduce or stop production.If you experience respiratory effects from SO 2 , please consult a medical professional.6 Air quality in Mount Isa

AQC alert processUnpredictedchanges to airqualityAt times, weather conditions can changerapidly from our forecasts to createunanticipated impacts to air quality withinour community. We aim to react to thesesituations as quickly as possible and alertplant operators of a change to smeltingproduction advice to minimise immediateimpacts as much as we can.If you experience discomfort as aresult to exposure to SO 2 , reduceyour exposure by moving indoors.In general, an improvement shouldrespond to the situation.No restrictionsWeather conditions indicate nochanges required to operationsStandbyPotential need to reduce operationsor shut down due to pendingchange in weather conditionsReduce operationsPlants ordered to reduce operationsto lower emissions and prepare topotentially facilitate an immediateshutdownShutdownPlants ordered to cease immediatelyas weather conditions show smelteroperations may impact the town orare approaching regulatory limitsAir quality in Mount Isa 7

Five-year action planof improvementsAs part of our Transitional EnvironmentalProgram (TEP)action plan in place from 2012–2016 toimprove our air quality standards andreact faster.To achieve these improvements, we areundertaking a number of key actions: Enhance existing network of air Review operating procedures Complete statistical review of Develop faster responses to Establish an improvedforecasting model Upgrade atmospheric Collaborate more closely with Continue implementing SmelterEmissions ProjectFor Xstrata Copper North Queensland,our long-term vision to sustain theoperations includes expanded mining andconcentrate production, while phasing outoperations in Townsville. The coppersmelter is planned to close in 2016.For more information on our Air QualityAction Plan, visit our Environmentalinitiatives page under CommunityHealthwww.mountisamines.com.au.We have committed approximately$360 million to continue improving ourenvironmental performance, includingPre-2012Previous regulations2012–16Annual improvementprogram (TEP)2017Transition completeSO 2 Limits 3(3 hour average) 3(1 hour average) 3(1 hour average) 3 = micrograms per cubic metre.This refers to the concentration of a substance,such as sulfur dioxide, in the ambient airIf you experience respiratory effects from SO 2 , please consult a medical professional.8Air quality in Mount Isa

out more?Contact usCall our Community FeedbackHotline on 1800 982 982Our dedicated Community Relationsand honestly with our stakeholders, as wellas responding to all community enquiriesand complaints.hotline if you have any questions, concernsdioxide in your area.Email our teammountisamines@xstrata.com.auWrite to us atCommunity Relations TeamOther resourcesDepartment of Environment andHeritage ProtectionWe provide information from our airmonitoring stations to the QueenslandDepartment of Environment and HeritageProtection. For more information on airquality monitoring in Mount Isa,visit www.ehp.qld.gov.au.Australian Department of Sustainability,Environment, Water, Population andCommunitiesSulfur Dioxide fact sheet –www.environment.gov.au(search ‘Sulfur Dioxide’)Queensland Health hotlineIf you experience respiratory effects from SO 2 , please consult a medical professional.