Wambo Coal AEMR 2010-2011 - Peabody Energy

2010-2011 AEMR1.3.3 Environmental ProtectionLicenceWCPL operates under Environmental ProtectionLicence 529 (EPL 529), issued by the NSW Officeof Environment & Heritage (OEH), formerly theDepartment of Environment, Climate Change andWater (DECCW), under the authority of theProtection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.EPL 529 also covers WCPL’s activities at the mineand rail spur.During the reporting period, the OEH varied EPL529 to incorporate two Pollution ReductionPrograms (PRP). The PRP’s included providing theOEH with a Revised Site Water Balance Report,and a Groundwater Trend Report. Both reports werecompleted by WCPL and submitted to the OEH inFebruary 2011.1.3.4 NPW Act ApprovalsWCPL holds a permit under the National Parks andWildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act), for the salvage andimpact on Aboriginal heritage sites prior to grounddisturbance. Consent number #2222 was issuedunder Section 87 and Section 90 of the NPW Act onthe 20 June 2005. In consultation with the OEH andlocal Aboriginal groups, the OEH granted approvalto extend the permit for an additional 5 years,expiring on the 19 June 2015.Consent number #2085 was issued under Section90 of the NPW Act on 14 December 2004 for thesalvage of Aboriginal artefacts along the WamboRail Development. Salvage works for the WamboRail Development were completed and reported inthe 2005-2006 reporting period. There have beenno further salvage works under consent number#2085. Consent #2085 expired in January 2007.For further information regarding Aboriginal Heritageand salvage works undertaken during this reportingperiod, please refer to Section 3.13.1.For further details regarding Permit #3130 for Careand Control of Aboriginal Objects, previouslysalvaged under Section 87/90 permits, please referto Section 3.13. 1.Details of the current water licenses for WCPL arepresented in Table 1.3. The location of theselicensed facilities is shown in Figure 1.3.1.3.6 Mining Operations PlanIn accordance with the Mining Act 1992, WCPLhave prepared and submitted two MiningOperations Plans (MOP’s) for the Open Cut andUnderground.All open cut mining activities were carried outgenerally in accordance with the approved OpenCut MOP. All underground mining activities werecarried out generally in accordance with theapproved Underground MOP.During the last reporting period a new Open CutMOP was approved by the DTIRIS, formerly theIndustry & Investment NSW (I&I NSW) on the 29June 2010. The new Open Cut MOP was preparedin accordance with the DTIRIS Guidelines andFormat for Preparation of Mining Operations PlanVersion 3, January 2006. WCPL consulted with theDTIRIS and provided information to the communitythroughout the development of the MOP. The MOPcovers all aspects of the Open Cut operationincluding mining, rehabilitation and tailingsmanagement, until the year 2016.WCPL sought an interim modification to the OpenCut MOP to raise a larger area of the Wombat dumpto RL160. The request to raise dump levels isconsistent with commitments made in the 2003 EIS.The DTIRIS approved the modification on the 20December 2010. WCPL are planning to apply for amodification to the Open Cut MOP during the nextreporting period, to address proposed operationalchanges.The MOP for the Underground was approved by theDTIRIS in November 2005 for the period November2005 to November 2012. This MOP applies tounderground mining operations and refers to theOpen Cut MOP where applicable. No modificationsto the Underground MOP were sought by WCPLduring the reporting period.1.3.5 Water LicencesWCPL currently holds water licences for a numberof bores, wells and pumps located across the minesite. There were no new water licenses issued bythe NSW Office of Water (NOW) during thereporting period.Page 9