Assessing the environmental impact of water discharge in a sensitive near-shore marine environment
Katrina Hall A and Scott Chidgey BA ExxonMobil Australia
B CEE Consultants
The APPEA Journal 53(1) 301-312 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ12026
Published: 2013
Abstract
Esso’s Long Island Point facility has been operating for more than 40 years beside Western Port in Victoria, and has discharged treated wastewater and storm water to the bay for most of these years. The 2001 State Environment Protection Policy Schedule F8 for Waters of Western Port is part of Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) legal framework for licensing discharges to the waters of Victoria, and requires that discharges ‘cause no detrimental change in the environmental quality of the receiving waters, as determined by an environmental monitoring program’.
As part of Esso’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, a major upgrade to the water treatment facility was completed to further improve the quality of waters discharged to Western Port. In conjunction with this upgrade, Esso is undertaking a study on the effects of the discharge on the environmental quality of Western Port.
This peer-reviewed paper presents an example of the practical application of managing discharges to ensure that the stated environmental values of a receiving environment are protected.
The environmental study focuses on four key aspects of marine-environment quality relevant to key Western Port ecosystem values in the vicinity of the facility’s effluent discharge, which are: ambient water quality; seagrass biomass; jetty pile epibiota; and, ecological risk through toxicity testing.
The study demonstrates the implications of basing regulatory requirements on the quality of the site-specific environmental characteristics, rather than merely effluent quality and generalised water quality objectives. Furthermore, it validates the need for sound science to underpin regulatory limits and industry practices when operating in sensitive environments.
Katrina Hall holds degrees in Environmental Engineering (Hons), and Commerce from the University of Melbourne. She is the Environment Supervisor, Production for Esso Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd. Katrina has worked for ExxonMobil for 11 years in various roles including production engineering and reservoir engineering, but has spent the majority of her career in the environmental team. In her capacity as environmental specialist Katrina has been involved in environmental aspects assessments and energy efficiency assessments, prepared environmental management and monitoring plans, and environmental business plans. Katrina has managed Esso’s relationship with environmental regulators, prepared for and advocated on carbon emissions reporting, and provided environmental advice to Esso’s operating facilities. Katrina represents ExxonMobil on APPEA’s Environmental Affairs Committee. katrina.l.hall@exxonmobil.com |
Scott Chidgey holds an MSc from the University of Melbourne, and is Principal Marine Environmental Scientist and Director of Consulting Environmental Engineers in Melbourne. Scott has more than 30 years’ consulting experience in applied multidisciplinary marine studies throughout Australia, including oil and gas projects in Bass Strait, the Timor Sea, and Gulf of Papua. He works closely with engineers and other scientists from a range of organisations, and maintains close contacts with research colleagues. Scott has particular expertise in developing and interpreting risk-based, integrated marine scientific programs for regulatory approvals and compliance purposes. He is responsible for risk-based monitoring programs for more than 20 licensed wastewater discharges in Australian states. Member: Australian Water Association, and Australian Marine Sciences Association. chidgey@cee.com.au |
