HVO 2009 Annual Environmental Management Report - Final

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Coal & Allied – Hunter Valley Operations Deeds of Agreement Since 2006, all Deeds of Agreement between HVO and neighbouring property owners have ceased. The Cheshunt property has been purchased by Coal & Allied, the Montrose and Oaklands properties were purchased by neighbouring mining companies. Blasting Investigations Within 24 hours of a blast being ‘fired’ the Drill and Blast Engineer interrogates the results across relevant blast monitors. Should any results on regulatory compliance monitors record a reading higher than 115dB(L) or 5 mm/s then an investigation is conducted. This investigation analyses the results by correlating the distance from the blast with the relevant peaks in the vibration and overpressure wave forms. From this analysis, an assessment is made as to the monitor reading at the time of the arrival of the blast vibration and overpressure. Should the peak reading correspond to the arrival time of the blast this may be deemed to be an ‘Actual Blast’ and further analysis may be performed to confirm that the result is representative of the blast and to determine the cause of the exceedance. However, if the blast arrival time does not correlate with the peak reading on the blast wave form, a scale value is then calculated to determine the actual blast reading. The predominant cause of extraneous blast readings is high wind events or electrical interference with the blast monitor during the recording period. Strong westerly winds can generate monitor readings above 120dB(L) even in the absence of a blast. During 2009, HVO forwarded six blasting results for further independent investigation using the above mentioned method. The results of these investigations are discussed in Section 3.9.2 and the independent analysis and investigation reports are available upon request. Blasting and Community Considerations HVO ensures that key residences are given notification prior to all blasts. These residences are neighbours who are likely to be affected by blast vibration or neighbours who have requested notification prior to blasting. Notification is typically by phone or email. Firing of a blast may involve the positioning of a sentry at or near the residence, if the blasting occurs in close proximity. To assist in minimising the impact of blasting on the surrounding community, HVO has implemented blasting goals which include vibration and overpressure targets, wind speed and direction restrictions, and blast management system improvements. The voluntary meteorological restrictions, limit blasting when the wind speed and direction have a high potential to cause annoyance or impact. Permission to blast must be given by the Drill and Blast Superintendent if conditions are unfavourable. This has occurred on several occasions where shots have been delayed until weather conditions permit. The meteorological limits for each pit are presented in Table 43. Table 43: HVO Internal Meteorological Limits Location Wind direction Wind speed Conditions All pits 0 o – 360 o 10m/s Do not blast if wind speed above 10m/s. Cheshunt Pit 260 o – 315 o 4m/s 315 o – 325 o 6m/s Do not blast if wind speed and direction above 4m/s (1 minute and 10 minute averages). Do not blast if wind speed and direction above 6m/s (1 minute and 10 minute averages). Road Closures A road closure is required if blasting is within 500m of public roads. HVO required 38 road closures on Jerrys Plains Road for the purposes of blasting during the reporting period. Road closures were performed in accordance with the SSC and the RTA approved Road Closure Management Plan. AEMR 2009 125
Coal & Allied – Hunter Valley Operations 3.9.2 Environmental Performance During the reporting period 441 blasts were initiated at HVO. On 5 May 2009, blasting results for two blasts were not recorded at the Warkworth monitor due to the monitor being off line. All other blasts for the year were captured. One blast recorded an overpressure reading higher than the 120dB(L) EPL limit at the Warkworth and Maison Dieu monitors. The same blast recorded a reading above 115dB(L) at the Wandewoi monitor. Results of this blast were submitted to the DECCW and an investigation into the blast was conducted. Details of this incident are available in Section 3.21 and in Appendix 11. HVO received a warning letter from the DECCW in relation to the blast exceedance. HVO also received a community concern from the Jerrys Plains area regarding the blast. There were a total of 14 blasts which recorded an overpressure reading higher than 115dB(L) during the reporting period. Upon investigation, 10 of these blasts were found to be due to wind reinforcement and as such were not exceedances of the EPL. Six blasting results were sent for independent investigation. Two of these were found to be within the EPL limits, with four blasts exceeding the 115dB(L) EPL limit during 2009. This represents 0.91 per cent of blasts, which falls under the 5 per cent limit specified in the EPL. Blasts that exceeded the 115dB(L) occurred on 21 January, 13 May, 6 July and 24 December 2009. No community concerns where received in relation to these blasts. There were no exceedances of the 5mm/s or 10mm/s ground vibration criteria over the reporting period on any properties outside Coal & Allied owned land. In accordance with Condition nine, Schedule 3 – HVO South blasting consent, no blasts recorded ground vibrations greater than 5mm/s at St. Philip’s Church or the outbuildings of Archerfield. During the reporting period there were eight community concerns relating to blasting with only one blastrelated complaint received in 2008 compared with three in 2007 and nine in 2006 (refer to Section 4.1). Results of blast monitoring at privately owned residences during the reporting period are shown in Figure 71 to Figure 76 and detailed in Appendix 10. Wind affected result Moses Crossing 130 11 120 10 Overpressure (dB) 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Ground Vibration (mm/s) 40 0 Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Overpressure dB(L) EPA Overpressure Limt for Max 5% of Blasts EPA Ground Vibration Limit EPA Overpressure Limit Ground Vibration (mm/s) EPA Ground Vibration Limit for Max 5% of Blasts Figure 71: Moses Crossing Blast Monitoring Results 2009 AEMR 2009 126
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HVO 2009 Annual Environmental Management Report - Final

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