Lead Carbonate Transport
Lead Carbonate Transport Bag
I’ve been thinking a lot about the freight train derailment on Tuesday. It’s an unfortunate and unusual event but nevertheless it happened. Accidents are always unexpected, it’s their nature.
So it’s starting to bother me that lead carbonate is being transported in bags through Fremantle.
A bag, even if it is double laminated, water-proof, sieve-proof and designed to withstand pressure six times its own filled weight, could split in a derailment.
As a precaution the lead carbonate within the bags is kept damp and has the consistency of damp sand, it’s safer because it doesn’t dust. I’d speculate that during the summer months this could dry out pretty quickly and the Fremantle Doctor would easily scatter the contents of a split bag over the city before any Emergency Response Plan is initiated.
Update 31/07/09: Make sure you read the comment on this post from John Yeates of Magellan Metals.
Update 06/04/11: Lead-contaminated soil was discovered on a shipping container that reached the Port of Fremantle.
Oria,
You’ve detailed most of our sealed shipment process, but it’s worth noting that the bags containing our lead carbonate are also packed and locked inside steel shipping containers. As you say, accidents of this type can of course happen, but are in fact very rare. Our process is the safest method used anywhere for transporting lead carbonate, and has been independently assessed by all of the relevant decision making authorities as very safe. For any material to spill, the containers would have to break and the UN-approved bags would have to rupture. Even then, as a Ministerial condition on our project, the material must contain enough moisture that it will sit on the ground like damp sand, meaning it can be quickly cleaned up using standard equipment. Remember, it does not explode, burn, gasify, or readily dissolve. There will be emergency response equipment and trained personnel along the transport route and we have consulted with the relevant officers at all 22 local Government Authorities along the transport route (including the City of Fremantle) to ensure our plans are appropriate. In the minor derailment the other day near South Beach the containers stayed on the train, so it takes a very unique accident to create a sequence of events that could result in material being spilled.
John Yeates, Magellan Metals
Hi John, Thanks for taking the time to respond to my thoughts. It does make me feel a bit better but naturally I can’t help worrying as I live very close to the rail line in Fremantle.
HI,
I share your concerns. I too live very close (meters) from the railway line and have three children. I would have preferred the transport of ingots as opposed to the current arrangement. I used to enjoy the sound of the train going past, and often run to watch it with the kids to count the containers. This decision has led to a sinking feeling each time I hear the boomgates now. I’m sure there will be an impact on the property prices close to the line as a consequences. To fork out a small fortune to live here for the location, and now find myself on a lead transport route has been most disappointing. Many people will never vote Liberal again because of this decision.