THE monitoring of lead dust emissions is being question as a leading metals miner gears up to export lead from Fremantle port in Western Australia later this year.
Megallan Metals received approval to transport resources from its Wiluna mine to the Freemantle port on 02 February 2009. However, no limits have yet been set on the amount of dust it can emit in transit.
Activists are pushing the need to stringently monitor lead dust emissions, and say excessive outputs could compromise the health and safety of surrounding communities and the environment.
Magellan will transport 150,000t of lead carbonate concentrate to Fremantle each year from its Wiluna project, some 800km away, in double-laminated bags inside locked shipping containers.
Magellan says the company will conduct soil monitoring every 10km in transit, with residential areas to be observed in 500m intervals. The company will also make the results publicly available.
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