Port Pirie (Nyrstar)
The Port Pirie lead and multi-metal smelter has been in operation for more than 130 years.
Nyrstar holds a licence under the Environment Protection Act 1993 (the Act) for several activities of environmental significance.
2023 licence renewal
On 30 June 2023 the EPA issued Nyrstar with a new 5-year licence. The licence has been developed after extensive review and assessment by the EPA to further strengthen licence conditions.
This longer-term licence reflects Nyrstar’s current performance, enables improved environmental outcomes, and allows Nyrstar to achieve its long-term commitment and investment in lead emission reduction.
See 'community updates' for further information.
Monitoring lead in air (LiA)
The EPA undertakes verification monitoring at 4 locations in Port Pirie: Ellen Street, Pirie West Primary School, Oliver Street and Frank Green Park.
This monitoring data is not used to assess Nyrstar’s compliance against the LiA limits however, it informs the EPA on the overall air quality in Port Pirie, on a long-term basis.
The EPA also regularly reviews airborne monitoring results conducted by Nyrstar. This monitoring is important in controlling operations on site and is used to assess Nyrstar's compliance against its licence conditions.
2023 licence renewal − progressive LiA limit and target reductions
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Annual average LiA limits are only applied at Nyrstar's Oliver Street and Pirie West Primary School monitoring stations and will reduce in a stepwise manner during each year of the licence down to a level of 0.32µg/m³ (micrograms per cubic metre) of air in December 2027, measured as total suspended particulates (TSP): December 2023 0.38 µ/m3 TSP lead December 2024 0.36 µ/m3 TSP lead December 2025 0.34 µ/m3 TSP lead December 2026 0.32 µ/m3 TSP lead December 2027 0.32 µ/m3 TSP lead In addition, LiA targets (based on 3-month and 12-month rolling averages) have also been tightened and will reduce over the 5-year licence period, with an exception to this at Ellen Street. The challenges faced by Nyrstar at this monitoring location have been recognised in the updated licence, with no changes being made to the 12-month average targets at the Ellen Street location, until December 2025. Exceeding LiA limits would result in a regulatory response from the EPA. However, LiA target exceedances are intended as an opportunity for Nyrstar to reflect on, and improve operations, and demonstrate to the EPA that it has implemented appropriate responses. The 12-month average goals, which if not met, provide the EPA with the opportunity to require a review and/or amendment of the Environment Improvement Program (EIP) for the site. The licence references June 2028 as the timeframe within which Nyrstar should demonstrate that the 12-month average goal of 0.25 µg/m³ TSP lead will be achieved. The LiA goal is where the EPA expects Nyrstar to be in the longer term. |
Monitoring results – lead and sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Nyrstar recently complied with its annual average TSP LiA limit of 0.4 µg/m3 at both the Pirie West and Oliver Street monitoring stations.
However, the 12-month average TSP LiA target at the Ellen Street monitoring station which is the closest monitoring location to the smelter operations was exceeded in the 12-month period prior to 30 June 2023. The EPA acknowledges the performance at Ellen Street as well as the contributing factors to the exceedance and actions taken or to be taken. The EPA continues to focus on ensuring continuous environmental improvement at the Port Pirie Smelter.
Despite achieving a significant reduction in sulfur dioxide (S02) emissions in recent years, the EPA is aware that Nyrstar has been experiencing intermittent emission events associated with operation of its Acid Plant. Under its EPA licence, Nyrstar must do everything reasonable and practicable to control SO2 emissions and impacts to the residents of Port Pirie.
The EPA is working with Nyrstar to ensure this situation is addressed and timely information is provided to the community on the issue moving forward. The licence is now aligned with the updated National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure. For real-time emissions data, please visit the Nyrstar website.
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Data is until 20 September 2023 |
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Data is until 3 September 2023 |
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Data is until 30 June 2023 where exceedances are calculated against limit value of 0.2 ppm. From 1 July 2023 onwards, the exceedances will be calculated against new limit value of 0.1 ppm. Archive of EPA lead in air results EPA data are not used to assess Nyrstar’s compliance against the licence limit(s). |
