Magellan Metals operations halted

Magellan Metals has suspended its mining operations at Wiluna following the discovery of lead-contaminated soil found on a shipping container that reached Fremantle Port.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion has ordered a full investigation into the source and extent of the contamination and said there would be no further shipments of lead through the port until the State Government was satisfied there was no health risk to residents.

"The State Government's primary concern is community health and, as such, I have asked the Department of Environment and Conservation to send the Pollution Response Unit (PRU) to carry out further testing at the container terminal at Fremantle and the railyard at Leonora," Mr Marmion said.

The Minister said he received confirmation last night that soil found on the outside of containers containing lead carbonate from the Magellan Metals mine site was highly likely to have come from Magellan.

"It is not yet known whether the soil came from the Magellan mine site or the rail yard at Leonora. I have ordered regulatory agencies to find out so that appropriate action can be taken," he said.

"The Government has completely lost confidence in the ability of the company to meet its obligations and operate to the high standards expected by both the Government and the community.

"I am extremely disappointed with Magellan but it is important to note they have shut down their operations." 

The Office of the Environmental Protection Authority was advised on April 4 that soil had been detected on the exterior of a shipping container in Fremantle port.

Testing of the soil by the ChemCentre yesterday returned a value of 2,800 mg/kg, which is almost double the background level for soil samples. Isotope testing indicated a high probability that some or all of the lead in the sample was originally from the Magellan mine.

"Magellan notified the OEPA last night that it had voluntarily stopped the transport of lead concentrate. Soil has now been identified on four other containers at the Port of Fremantle and samples have been taken for analysis," Mr Marmion said.

Magellan has initiated a clean-up of the soil from the containers by Tox-free to be commenced tomorrow in consultation with the OEPA. The PRU will check the container area to confirm this has been done properly.