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August 18, 2008
Alcoa goes beyond environmental licence conditions in collaboration with community
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With climate change firmly in the spotlight, Alcoa has renewed its public commitment to environmental improvement through energy efficiency, productivity improvements and new technology.
Alcoa has released its second series of Environmental Improvement Plans (EIPs) for the Kwinana Refinery, Pinjarra Refinery, Wagerup Refinery and the WA Mining Operations.
In 2006, Alcoa made Western Australian history when it released the first EIPs to be developed by industry in the State.
The 2008-09 EIPs set clear targets for environmental improvement and outline the actions which will be undertaken in order to achieve those targets.
Alcoa’s General Manager of Western Australian Operations, Simon Butterworth, said the targets and actions were developed through direct input from the communities in which Alcoa operates and are another example of Alcoa’s commitment to community engagement.
“Our EIPs have been endorsed by community representatives, as well as the Department of Industry and Resources and the Department of Environment and Conservation and I think that says a lot about how our operations are run which is in a safe, sustainable, environmentally conscious manner,” he said.
In the Department of Industry and Resources (DoIR) endorsement, it stated: “We applaud the engagement of community representatives and local and State Government stakeholders to ensure that programs developed are endorsed by community members and deliver real benefits to the local environment.
“In an era where local communities are demanding a greater understanding and more of a say in the regulation of the operations of large industries, Alcoa’s continued support for EIP’s should encourage other organisations to engage with their local communities.
“The company’s decision acknowledges that increased community acceptance of industry requires ongoing and meaningful consultation, and government must also play its part.” The DoIR said.
There is no requirement for Alcoa’s Western Australian operations to produce EIPs. Alcoa’s 2008-09 EIPs are delivered voluntarily and many of the targets go beyond the requirements specified in Alcoa’s formal licence conditions. The EIPs cover:
- Air quality, including greenhouse gas and energy efficiency;
- Noise and waste management;
- Water conservation;
- Groundwater management;
- Land management, including visual amenity, rehabilitation and fauna/flora management;
- Community involvement; and
- Environmental regulation.
“External involvement and review against our EIPs will continue throughout the remainder of 2008 and 2009, providing a transparent process to measure Alcoa’s performance against our targets,” Mr Butterworth said.
The 2008-09 WA EIPs can be viewed online at www.alcoa.com.au/EIP.
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