Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) imposed conditions on the felling of the Anglesea power station to ensure short-term dust emissions were away from local residents during yesterday’s demolition activity.
EPA required Alcoa to conduct dust monitoring south of the power station in the residential zone and to undertake asbestos monitoring at locations around the perimeter of the power station site’s exclusion zone.
The monitoring was undertaken by an independent company that is National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA) accredited.
As required by EPA, Alcoa released the independently conducted dust and asbestos monitoring results on Wednesday evening 3 October following the demolition. The results show no dust or asbestos issues of concern for the community.
Monitoring results can be found at: https://www.alcoa.com/australia/en/news/releases.asp?id=2018/10/anglesea-power-station-safely-felled-as-part-of-alcoa-of-australias-decommissioning-of-the-anglesea-power-station-and-min&year=y2018
Approval conditions were also imposed to ensure that the controlled implosion could only occur during strict weather conditions, including southerly winds so that dust was directed away from residential areas.
Alcoa was also required to apply large amounts of water to the work site to minimise dust emissions.
EPA required that Alcoa inform the community of its plans, and Alcoa held drop in community information sessions on Wednesday 26 September and Sunday 30 September, which were attended by EPA and WorkSafe representatives.
EPA also understands that Alcoa is due to hold its regular bi-monthly community meeting next Monday 8 October and will provide further feedback to the community then.
EPA officers observed the implosion to ensure the requirements of the EPA approval were met during yesterday’s demolition.