HVO 2009 Annual Environmental Management Report - Final

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Coal & Allied – Hunter Valley Operations 3.12.3 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Performance There were no incidents involving the disturbance of Aboriginal archaeological or cultural heritage sites at HVO during 2009. Targeted site inspections and condition monitoring audits were conducted by Rio Tinto Coal Australia adjacent to active mining areas throughout HVO North and South and others more generally around the HVO mining leases. AHIMS sites database audits Rio Tinto Coal Australia has continued a comprehensive desk top review and ground truthing audit of all Aboriginal cultural heritage sites located on Rio Tinto Coal Australia lands including HVO leases, initially focusing on areas proposed for development disturbance within the next five years. The purpose of the audit process is to confirm or revise and update the Aboriginal sites data held in the DECCW Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) sites database. Rio Tinto Coal Australia and DECCW agree that there are serious inconsistencies between the AHIMS data and ground truthed data verified by Rio Tinto Coal Australia. These inconsistencies generally relate to errors in site location recording conducted over the last 20 years resulting in incorrect information being recorded in the AHIMS database. DECCW have agreed that upon the completion of Rio Tinto Coal Australia’s comprehensive sites auditing process, and subject to DECCW auditing of Rio Tinto Coal Australia’s results, Rio Tinto Coal Australia’s sites database will replace and supersede the existing AHIMS data for Rio Tinto Coal Australia lands. This process will be finalised in early 2010 and a report submitted to DECCW for review. Cultural Heritage Storage Facility With the agreement of the CHWG and DECCW, Rio Tinto Coal Australia established the Hunter Valley Services Cultural Heritage Storage Facility (CHSF) adjacent to the HVO mine. The CHSF is a combined office and storage shed, with an adjacent sea container, fitted out to allow safe and secure storage of cultural materials such as stone artefacts and scarred trees. It is a central repository for all materials collected during salvage operations on all Rio Tinto Coal Australia mines and other lands in the Hunter Valley including HVO. All cultural materials are deposited there under the authority of Care and Control permit #2863 issued by DECCW. The CHSF also houses all field work, sites management and safety equipment and various associated records, documents and other materials. The CHSF also provides facilities and resources to enable the Aboriginal community to access, examine and research cultural materials. The community also have access to a resource library of studies and reports associated with Rio Tinto Coal Australia leases and lands, and will in the future have access to computer databases and GIS mapping and database software. Community access and use protocols are being developed in consultation with the CHWG and DECCW. The remnant portion of Aboriginal scarred tree C3 (AHIMS 37-2-2080) which was salvaged in 2007 under AHIP s90 consent #2547 is stored at the facility. An annual arborist inspection was conducted in 2009 and a report was subsequently provided to Coal & Allied and submitted to DECCW. Cultural Heritage Management Program Barellan Farm, HVO South: Ground Penetrating Radar Survey In March 2009 Georadar Research Pty Ltd was commissioned by Coal & Allied Operations to conduct a geophysical investigation involving Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) at the Barellan Farm area located in HVO South. The purpose of the GPR survey was to assess the possible location of an historic cemetery on a hill behind the old homestead site. The work was conducted over one day with a field team consisting of two geo-physicists, two Aboriginal community field officers, a Coal & Allied archaeologist/data management officer and site supervisor. The cemetery study grid was comprised of three 70m and five 40m long transects conducted using a handcart mounted GSSI SIR -3000 GPR unit to collect the geophysical data. The GPR data found no conclusive evidence of human burials, however, two features were identified and have been classified as targets of archaeological potential and may be subject to further archaeological investigation in the future. Stock proof fencing has been installed around a 300m x 150m protection buffer area established around the cemetery area. AEMR 2009 141
Coal & Allied – Hunter Valley Operations A GPR survey was also conducted to assess the sub-surface archaeological potential of Aboriginal site Barellan Open Site 37-5-0041. The GPR survey grid was conducted along three 300m long and eight 60m long transects across the area to map the underlying soil structure and presence of sub-surface archaeological deposits and to confirm the general extent of the site. This information will assist in planning for any future excavation of the site if subject to future development activities. Barellan Open Site (AHIMS 37-5-0041) In April 2009, McCardle Cultural Heritage Pty Ltd (MCH) was commissioned by Coal & Allied Operations to conduct an Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment of farming land around an existing Aboriginal archaeological site Barellan Open Site (AHIMS 37-5-0041) following the GPR surveys to assess potential impact and management requirements for a proposed mine water dam and relocation of existing electrical transmission lines and sub-station. An area of approximately 40ha was comprehensively surveyed with a series of 100m wide pedestrian transects. The fieldwork was conducted over one day with a field team of six Aboriginal community field officers, a technical advisor (MCH), Coal & Allied data management officer and site supervisor. A total of six sites were recorded (four isolated finds and two artefact scatters) one of which had been previously recorded as Barellan Open Site (37-5-0041). Two Potential Archaeological Deposits (PADs) were also identified, including the Barellan Open Site: PAD 1 (Transect 90): Horizon A remains intact with little disturbance; and PAD 2 (Transect 86, including Open sites HVO-981 & HVO-982 - 37-5-0041): extends along the creek for more than 225m x 80m. This area is relatively undisturbed. A 500m x 150m buffer area has been fenced off around the Barellan Open Site (37-5-0041). MCH submitted an assessment report to DECCW in September 2009. Plashett Pipeline Assessment: HVO West Pit: In April 2009 MCH was commissioned by Coal & Allied Operations to conduct an Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment of a proposed over-ground poly-pipeline from HVO Parnells Dam to Plashett Dam on behalf of Coal & Allied and Macquarie Generation. The pipeline easement assessment involved the pedestrian survey of a 1.3km x 40m wide transect to find a suitable route that would not disturb any cultural heritage sites. The fieldwork was conducted over one day with a field team of three Aboriginal community field officers, a technical advisor (MCH), Coal & Allied data management officer and site supervisor. The aim of the assessment survey was to identify and avoid disturbing Aboriginal cultural heritage sites, implement zones of management for sensitive areas, and mitigate impacts where avoidance or management is not possible. If avoidance is not possible a s90 consent application will be submitted to DECCW by Macquarie Generation for salvage of the site/s. Sites within close proximity to the proposed route will be barricaded and signposted to mitigate, any potential impacts from the proposed development. A new artefact scatter, identified as site HVO-986, was recorded within the study area. MCH recorded 50 artefacts, including flakes and cores within the extent of site HVO-986. The alignment and installation of the over-ground polypipeline is too conducted to avoid impacting site HVO-986. Xstrata Ravensworth Extension Assessment – Coal & Allied Lands, HVO North: During late May and early June 2009 a comprehensive Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment survey was conducted over approximately 340ha of Coal & Allied owned lands as part of the Xstrata Ravensworth Extension Project Aboriginal heritage assessment was managed by Umwelt Australia Pty Ltd on behalf of Xstrata Coal. Under a land access agreement between Coal & Allied and Xstrata Coal, Umwelt’s sampling survey methodology was modified to ensure compliance with Rio Tinto Coal Australia CHMS procedures that require 100 per cent survey coverage for areas surveyed on Coal & Allied owned lands. The Umwelt survey over the Coal & Allied lands was conducted over 10 days and involved a field team of six Aboriginal community field officers, two archaeologists (Umwelt), a Coal & Allied data management officer and a site supervisor. A total of 133 archaeological sites were recorded within the Coal & Allied land study area which included several scarred trees and artefact scatters, with the greater majority of sites being isolated artefacts. AEMR 2009 142
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HVO 2009 Annual Environmental Management Report - Final

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