Binary fire update

July 2006

The Environmental Protection Agency has made significant progress in cleaning up the contamination caused by the fire at the Binary Industries chemical plant in Narangba in August 2005.

The State Government has budgeted $9 million for the containment, cleanup and rehabilitation works for neighbouring areas affected by contaminated firewater. So far, $2.4 million has been spent on emergency works to contain contaminated soil and water to the Binary site and adjacent land to prevent it escaping to Saltwater Creek. Another $1.4 million has been spent so far on the clean up and remediation of contaminated land adjacent to the Binary site.

Contaminated areas are fully fenced to prevent public access. A full-time site manager supervises all activities at the site during the week and security patrols are conducted over the weekends.

The clean up is a massive task with more than 16 megalitres (million litres) of water requiring treatment and disposal. The EPA is working towards having the water treatment finalised by October, before the start of the wet season.

Contaminated soils will be removed and treated soon after the water treatment has been finalised.

About 2 megalitres of contaminated water stored on the site has already been disposed of through Caboolture Shire Council's sewage treatment system.

Council has been monitoring the incoming wastewater and treated effluent from the Burpengary treatment plant and test results have shown the wastewater is being effectively treated to a high standard before it is released.

The remaining 14 megalitres of contaminated water is being treated in two 7-megalitre batches in a treatment dam constructed by the EPA next to the Binary site. Aerators have been installed in the treatment pond to provide oxygen to speed up the natural biological processes that break down the contaminants in the water.

Each batch is expected to take 6-8 weeks to be treated to a point where the water can be disposed of through the sewage treatment system.

Treatment of the first batch is complete and the release of the treated water to the sewer has commenced. The remaining contaminated water will be transferred to the treatment pond as soon as practicable.

The four containment ponds that were built to store contaminated firewater on land adjacent to the site are being progressively emptied as the water is moved to the treatment pond.

Three of these ponds have now been emptied, allowing the EPA to test the soil at the bottom of the ponds. Analysis of the soil samples from two ponds is helping to determine the best way to remediate the contaminated sediments

The last pond will be progressively emptied to allow the EPA to push forward with soil remediation at the bottom of these ponds and elsewhere on the areas adjacent to the Binary site that were affected by contaminated water.

The bunding structures (containment dams) will remain in place until all the contaminated water and sediment is either removed or remediated.

Since the Binary fire, the EPA has monitored Saltwater Creek and its Magnesium Street tributary for pesticides by sampling water and sediments at a series of locations between the Binary site and Hays Inlet. The most recent samples collected on 28 April 2006 showed water quality in Saltwater Creek is within national guideline levels.

The EPA, along with other State and local government agencies, has worked hard to get to this point in the clean up works. The community can be assured that the remediation is progressing as quickly and as safely as possible. The EPA is working hard to ensure the cleanup is complete before the summer wet season. However, any wet weather over the next few months may cause some delays in these works.

Testing will continue throughout the cleanup works to ensure that the site is remediated to the highest level of safety.

After the contaminated water is removed from the containment ponds, the contaminated soil will be removed for remediation and replaced with clean fill. The area will then be revegetated.

March 2006

Clean up works continue at the Binary site

The Environmental Protection Agency has constructed a 15-megalitre dam for use as an on-site water treatment plant as part of ongoing cleanup works at the Binary site in Narangba.

The construction of the dam is part of the State Government’s commitment to ensuring contaminated water is treated and removed from the site, significantly reducing the threat to the surrounding environment.

The new dam will be used to treat contaminated water and also to create extra water storage capacity during heavy rain events.

A water treatment plant, designed in-house by EPA experts, will be installed in the coming weeks to treat the remaining contaminated water stored in containment dams on land adjoining the Binary property.

The EPA is working in close collaboration with Caboolture Shire Council on the clean up. Council has assisted the project by carrying out earthworks in the early stages and now with the release of contaminated water to council’s sewerage system.

More than 1.3 megalitres of contaminated water has already been removed and treated by the Caboolture Shire Council’s sewage treatment plant. Monitoring of council’s sewage treatment plant effluent has shown the contaminated water is being effectively treated.

The EPA’s on-site water treatment plant will further reduce the amount of contaminated water stored on the site and will allowing the Agency to focus on treating contaminated soil on State and council-owned land adjoining the Binary site.

A strategy is currently being developed for the treatment of contaminated soil from the area impacted by the fire. The feasibility of a number of soil treatment options is being investigated.

The Agency appreciates the Caboolture Shire Council’s assistance with clean up and containment works at the Binary site. Council has and will be reimbursed for any costs it incurs for works related to the clean up.

The Agency’s program of clean up works for land adjoining the Binary site is expected to be complete within 12 months.

January 2006

EPA committed to cleaning up Binary contamination

The State Government is committed to protecting community interests and has invested $5 million to ensure the site is cleaned up as quickly as possible and in the most environmentally sound manner.

The State Government stepped in to manage the environmental impacts from the Binary fire, and has had strong support and cooperation from local government, including Caboolture Shire Council.

The State Government has conducted an extensive program of containment and cleanup works to stabilise the site to reduce the risk of harm to the surrounding environment, including Saltwater Creek.

Thanks to these combined efforts and the flushing of the creek from heavy rain, latest water quality test results from samples taken on 6 December 2005 show no substances in Saltwater Creek exceed the relevant ANZECC water quality guidelines.

The removal of remaining contaminated water stored on land adjoining the Binary site is a priority to ensure it is no longer a threat to the surrounding environment, including Saltwater Creek.

A number of options to treat and dispose of the remaining contaminated water are currently being explored.

The treatment and disposal of a portion of this water through the Caboolture Shire Council's sewerage system is one option currently being trialled by the Agency, with Caboolture Shire’s agreement.

The aim of this is to lower the levels of contaminated water currently stored in dams on land adjoining the Binary site. This is designed to prevent overflows to Saltwater Creek during heavy rain events.

There is currently no final cost estimate for the clean-up as the most environmentally sound and cost effective options are still being investigated.

The EPA expects clean-up works planned for the site to be completed within the next 12 months.

The Agency appreciates the quick action and assistance of the Caboolture Shire Council on the night of the fire that limited the amount of contaminated firewater that entered Saltwater Creek.

Information updated: 5 January 2006.

November 2005

Cleanup status
Cleanup priorities
What chemicals escaped in the fire?
Cleanup and containment - work so far
Who is conducting the cleanup?
Saltwater Creek
What about the factory site itself?
What happens next?
I have more questions
Environmental concerns
Health concerns

Binary Fire clean-up brochure

Cleanup status

The Queensland Government, with assistance from Caboolture Shire Council, is overseeing the environmental cleanup at the Narangba Industrial Estate and surrounding areas, following a large fire at the Binary Industries factory on 25 August 2005. The fire resulted in pesticides, including insecticides and herbicides, escaping onto the factory site and into the environment immediately adjacent to the factory.

Initial emergency works undertaken as part of the fire fighting effort prevented a substantial chemical flow running directly into nearby Saltwater Creek.

There is however, significant contamination and environmental damage to the areas between the Binary factory site and 700 metres of creek bed along the length of Magnesium Street. Most of the chemical run-off was captured in a creek bed to the east of the factory site along Magnesium Street. These areas are outlined in the map below.

Cleanup priorities

Since the incident, additional work has focused on preventing the spread of contamination on the Binary site and off-site areas. The current work priority is to manage contaminated areas effectively by:

removing as much contaminated material as possible from the affected areas
containing remaining contaminated materials within the already affected areas, to prevent further spread by placing barriers or bunds.
continuing environmental monitoring.

Despite these containment measures, contamination run-off from the Binary site still presents a potential risk of environmental harm to Saltwater Creek and the estuary into which it discharges.

What chemicals escaped in the fire?

Investigations show a wide range of chemicals were stored at Binary Industries.

The majority of chemicals were pesticides commonly found in domestic and agricultural applications. Examples of chemicals detected in monitoring results include chlorpyrifos, 2,4-D, glyphosate and diuron. There will be a natural breakdown of the chemicals over time. However, this will depend on the environmental factors, such as high temperatures, which help speed up the chemical break down; and high rainfall, which would dilute the chemicals.

A small amount of copper chrome arsenate (CCA) was also released.

Cleanup and containment – work so far

What is being done?
To date much has been done to clean up and manage contaminated soil, water and chemical sludges from the affected areas. Significant containment work has already been completed, and more work to isolate and manage the contaminated areas is planned.

Work completed to date includes:

Immediately following the fire, pumping out contaminated fire fighting water from the Magnesium Street creek bed and from the area immediately beyond the dam at Potassium Street
Construction of earth dams along the length of the creek bed beside Magnesium Street to contain contaminants within the affected areas and allow for subsequent treatment and disposal
Construction of a rock-lined stormwater diversion to allow clean stormwater flows to by-pass contaminated areas if heavy rain occurs
Construction of a catch pond to collect any contaminated rainwater from the Binary site itself
Scraping and removal of soil from accessible areas next to the factory site
Removal of trees inside the contaminated areas to provide site access for earthworking machinery
Construction of a temporary dam in Saltwater Creek at the corner of Boundary and Lipscombe Roads to minimise any threat of environmental harm by slowing down the flow of low-level contamination in the creek until natural processes and heavy rainfall sufficiently dilutes the contaminants.
Environmental monitoring of the affected areas and downstream in Saltwater Creek.
Clean up of contaminated materials and sludges from the Binary site and securely store them until appropriate treatment or disposal can be undertaken
Work to raise and upgrade a dam wall on the Binary site has been completed, to securely store contaminated water until it can be treated on site, or safely removed.

Who is conducting the cleanup?

The Queensland Government stepped in to take over the cleanup effort from Binary Industries in September 2005. A multi-agency group is overseeing the cleanup, comprised of the Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland Emergency Services, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, Queensland Health, Department of State Development and Innovation and Caboolture Shire Council. The State Government has also engaged environmental engineers GHD to provide professional support to the project.

Saltwater Creek

Is there contamination in Saltwater Creek? The water in Saltwater Creek has been regularly tested at a number of locations between Potassium Street and Lipscombe Road. Testing has shown that some of the chemicals had escaped into the upper reaches of Saltwater Creek from the creek’s headwaters near Magnesium Street to where the creek reaches Neon Street.

While the levels of chemical detected in the upper reaches of the creek may have some environmental impact, Queensland Health advises the levels do not indicate a human health risk from small exposures to the water.

Water sampling in the lower reaches of Saltwater Creek near Lipscombe Road indicate water quality has not been significantly affected in this area at this point at this time. Water sampling will continue to monitor for potential further spread of chemicals, as this is still a possibility. These water quality tests will also gauge the environmental harm to the creek and will show the rate at which chemicals are diluting and naturally degrading.

Should people stay away from Saltwater Creek?
Yes. As a safety precaution, people are advised to stay away from Saltwater Creek upstream of Lipscombe Road. Signs have been erected to advise people to stay away. Water testing in the upper reaches of the creek shows the presence of some chemical contamination. This testing indicates small exposures to the water are not a significant human health risk. However, as a precautionary measure, people should not drink or swim in water from Saltwater Creek. Residents should keep their pets away from the area. Because the mixture of chemicals in the creek includes herbicides, creek water should not be used for agricultural or domestic purposes.

What testing for contamination is being done?
Water and soil monitoring has occurred and periodic testing is ongoing. These tests show that the Binary Industries site, the area between the factory site and the creek bed along Magnesium Street, and 700 metres of the creed bed itself is contaminated. These areas should be avoided and have been partially fenced to prevent public access.

Air quality monitoring at the Binary Industries site shows that air quality at the site is well within accepted workplace health and safety limits.

Would dead fish or birds in the creek mean it is contaminated?
To date there have not been significant numbers of dead fish in Saltwater Creek and no dead birds, however a fish kill or bird deaths is still a possibility. A fish kill or bird deaths may not necessarily indicate a human health hazard, but would require further water testing to establish the exact cause, and to find out if there was a potential human health risk.

Fish kills may occur because of contamination, but fish are more sensitive to many chemicals than humans, and are continuously exposed because they live in water.

If you see dead fish or birds in the area please immediately call the Environmental Protection Agency’s Pollution Hotline on 1300 130 372.

Is groundwater affected?
Initial testing shows groundwater in the immediate vicinity of the Binary Industries site has been moderately affected. Further testing of groundwater will establish the extent of the contamination. Should you have any concerns about groundwater usage, please contact the EPA for further advice by contacting the Pollution Hotline on 1300 130 372 .

What about the factory site itself?

Should people stay away from areas near to the Binary Industries site?
Yes. Unauthorised people must not enter the contaminated areas near the Binary Industries site, including the partially fenced creek bed that runs along Magnesium Street. Signs have been erected to alert people of unsafe areas. The area south-west of the Binary Industries site has been fenced off.

Is the odour from the site a health risk?
The presence of odour is not necessarily an indication of a risk to health. While the odour of the chemicals involved in the fire is unpleasant and can cause discomfort in some people, Queensland Health advises the odour does not indicate a toxic health impact.

If there is no health risk, why are workers at the site wearing protective suits?
Authorised workers involved with the cleanup operation will be wearing white overalls and face masks over part of the faces while they work on site.

While this may look dramatic, the equipment is commonly used to protect workers in the chemical cleanup industry. These workers, in their day-to-day duties, have frequent and long-term occupational exposure to hazardous chemical substances, and for this reason routinely wear protective equipment. The community should not have direct contact with the contaminated areas, and therefore the risk to the community is significantly lower.

What happens next?

The works to date are designed to contain and stabilise the site to prevent further spread of contamination. The next step will be to develop a longer-term remediation strategy to clean up the affected areas.

I have more questions

Further information regarding cleanup of this area is available during office hours (9.00am to 5.00pm) as follows:

Environmental concerns

Environmental Protection Agency
Pollution Hotline on 1300 130 372
www.epa.qld.gov.au

Health concerns

Queensland Health
Central Public Health Unity
Network, Brisbane Northside
on (07) 3624 1111