Government laboratory tests confirm no risk from Magellan containers at Fremantle Port

An independent laboratory analysis of surface swabs from Magellan Metals containers and soil and drains near where they are being kept at Fremantle Port has confirmed that the containers pose no threat to public health or the environment.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion said the Stop Order on shipments from the mine to Fremantle would remain.

"The Stop Order on the transport of Magellan lead carbonate from Wiluna to Fremantle will remain until Magellan has fully complied with the requirements of the order and the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority is satisfied there were rigorous monitoring and reporting processes in place," Mr Marmion said.

The Minister today released the Department of Environment and Conservation's (DEC) final report into sampling at the port on January 4-7 and subsequent laboratory analysis by the WA ChemCentre.

"After interpreting the laboratory results and consulting with the Department of Health, DEC has concluded that the low concentrations of lead dust identified on the outside of containers in the port, including Magellan containers, are indicative of lead traces that can be found in any built environment," he said.

"DEC has gone through a scientifically rigorous process to arrive at its conclusion that the levels of lead do not pose a risk to public health or the environment.

"Lead dust concentrations on external surfaces of Magellan shipping containers in the port were all 450 times below the DEC clean-up criterion for lead dust on external hard surfaces at ports. Testing has also shown that Magellan mine lead forms part of the make-up of these residues. As there is no indication of any leakage from within the containers, the detected lead residues may be from general wind blown dust at the mine site or the small amounts that would remain after container cleaning.

"Lead dust concentrations in soil samples taken from within the container storage areas were all 11 times lower than the National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) ecological investigation level and 28 times lower than the NEPM health investigation level for commercial and industrial sites.

"The containers are safe to export and they should be shipped as soon as is practicable."

A copy of DEC's final report is available at http://www.dec.wa.gov.au