Question NW628 to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

(1) Whether she was consulted prior to her department granting an emergency permit which allowed the Chinese ship, NS Qingdao, to dump its 1500 tons of reactive cargo in the coastal waters of the Republic; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether her department has conducted an environmental impact assessment that would give the necessary reassurance that the waste will not impact the marine life in the coastal waters of the Republic; if no, why not, if so, what are the relevant details?