Government of Western Australia

Department of Mines and Petroleum

To: Louise Middieton

Via Email: Iouiseullah @yahoo.com

Dear Louise
Re: Environmental management concerns regarding Buru Yulleroo site
Thank you for attending the Department of Mines and Petroleum's (DMP) presentation held
at Notre-Dame University on 5 December 2013, in relation to regulation of onshore
petroleum activities.
During the presentation you raised several concerns relating to Buru's Yulleroo site and
advised departmental officers about you having observed dead ducks, overflowing ponds
and pipes discharging to nearby vegetation. The officers in attendance committed to
following up your concerns, and I now provide a response to your concerns.
When this issue was first raised earlier this year, the Broome office of Department of
Environment Regulations DER (formerly known as Department of Environment and
Conservation DEC) sent officers from their Broome office to the site on 10 April 2013. The
officers were unable to verify the presence of any dead ducks or significant problems with
water management.

The DER officers did confirm that there was evidence of overflow of the mud containment
pond onto the surrounding well pad - but assessed the risk of environmental impact as low.
Mud leachate laboratory tests revealed no chemicals of concern were present.
The DMP also subsequently directed Buru to ensure that the pond design and fluid
management processes were rectified to prevent future overflows.
In response to your concerns expressed that these incidents may have gone unreported,
DMP has contacted Buru reminding them of their statutory requirements on incident reporting
and to enquire if these incidents occurred more recently.
Buru Energy has advised DMP that it has employed someone to undertake regular
inspections of all Yulleroo well sites, and that the Yulleroo well sites are inspected between
two and three times a week for security and environmental issues associated with the sites.
We are advised this has been occurring since May 2013 and the company has reported that
during this time there have been no instances of:
o Dead ducks in evaporation ponds;
o Overflow of cuttings sumps; or
,, Discharges to the environment, including run off from the well site.
A senior DMP Petroleum Division officer and Department of State Development personnel
also visited the site with Buru's Senior Environmental Scientist on Monday, 9 December.

O00727.jean.stewart - Perth

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Mineral House 100 Plain Street East Perth Western Australia 6004
Telephone +61 8 9222 3333 Facsimile +61 8 9222 3862
www.dmp.wa.gov.au
www.wa.gov.au

ABN 69 410 335 356

Buru has advised it will continue to monitor the Yulleroo well sites and will notify DMP of any
breaches of their Environment Plan performance objectives/standards in accordance with its
obligations under the PGER Regulations 2012 and any environmental management issues in
general.

Further, DMP notes that it is not unusual for the mud ponds to become discoloured and
release an odour as they dry out without posing any risk to the surrounding environment.
You advised our communications staff and others present at the presentation that you have
photographic evidence of the issues you raised.
If you are able to provide that to the department with details of the location, the name and
contact details of the person who took the photo and the date and time the photo was taken,
this would assist us with any investigation of these matters.
As the regulator of petroleum activities, DMP has the powers to immediately access the
petroleum site and investigate any potential incidents without interference by the operator.
Please note that petroleum exploration sites can be potentially hazardous and are not to be
accessed without the approval of the operator who will ensure all safety conditions are
adhered to.
If in future you become aware of such evidence of any potential petroleum incidents, please
do not hesitate to notify us by email to petroleum.environment@dmp.wa.gov.au or phone on

(08) 9222 3333.

Yours sincerel,

/m Griffir

DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL

18 December 2013

O00727.jean.stewart - Perd]

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