Wambo Coal AEMR 2010-2011 - Peabody Energy

2010-2011 AEMRAttended Noise MonitoringGlobal Acoustics was engaged by WCPL to providea summary of the quarterly environmental noisesurveys conducted around the operation and theWambo rail line from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011.Monitoring was delayed several times duringQuarter 2, 2011 due to train scheduling and thearrival of trains coinciding with acceptablemeteorological conditions. As a result of trying tofind a suitable time to undertake monitoring, theQuarter 2 2011 survey was extended into August2011.Attended environmental noise monitoring wasundertaken on a quarterly basis at six sites duringQuarter 3 2010, and five sites during Quarter 4 2010and Quarter 1 & 2 2011 around the mine. Thesurvey purpose is to quantify and describe theexisting acoustic environment around WCPL andWRD and compare results with relevantdevelopment consent conditions or modelled EISnoise levels.Noise levels from WCPL complied with thedevelopment consent criteria or modelled noiselevels at all sites during the 2010/2011 attendedmonitoring, with the exception of N01 in Quarter 42010. At N01, an exhaust continuum was audiblethroughout the measurement, generating an LAeqof 37 dB, an exceedance of 2 dB. A surge in thecontinuum generated an LA1 1min of 41 dB.This exceedance is not considered significant asChapter 11 of the OEH ‘Industrial Noise Policy’deems a development to be in non-compliance onlywhen “the monitored noise level is more than 2 dBabove the statutory noise limit specified in theconsent or license condition.”Noise levels from WRD complied with thedevelopment consent criteria or modelled noiselevels at all sites during the 2010/2011 attendedmonitoring. It is noted that wind speeds and/ortemperature inversion conditions were at levelsgreater than which development consent conditionswould apply for WCPL and WRD activities in someinstances. In most instances, the predicted EISnoise levels were met regardless.For the complete annual report of attended noisemonitoring at WCPL for the reporting period, pleaserefer to Appendix 2F.3.12 Visual Stray LightTo minimise lighting impacts on WCPL’s neighboursthere is a plan depicting all the neighbours ondisplay in the Open Cut Examiners (OCE) office toreference for lighting plant positioning.All mobile lighting plants are strategically positionedto avoid light being directed towards our neighboursand specific lighting fixtures associated with theproduct stockpile area were adjusted in response toprevious community complaints3.12.1.1 Environmental PerformanceIn accordance with Consent Condition 86, Schedule4 of DA305-2033, WCPL completed an assessmentof all external lighting associated with the mine toAustralian Standard AS4282 (INT) 1995 – Control ofObtrusive Effects of Outdoor Lighting. Theindependent audit completed in June 2011concluded WCPL lighting did meet the requirementsof AS4282.However, during this reporting period there werefive community complaints in relation to lighting. Thecomplaints related to mobile lighting plants, whichwere providing safe lighting for night dumpingactivities on overburden dumps. In response tothese complaints, training packages, changes indumping sequences and repositioning the mobilelight plant were undertaken by the Open Cutoperations. For further details regarding communitycomplaints please refer to Section 4.2.3.13 Cultural and NaturalHeritage Conservation3.13.1 Aboriginal Heritage3.13.1.1 Environmental ManagementArchaeology and Cultural Heritage is managed inaccordance with the National Parks and Wildlife Act1974 (NPW Act), the Aboriginal Cultural HeritageConsultation Requirements for Proponents 2010(ACHCRs) and the Environmental Planning andAssessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). The NPW Actprovides protection for Aboriginal objects or places,while the EP&A Act ensures that Aboriginal culturalheritage is properly assessed in land use planningand development. The NPW Act provides statutoryprotection for all Aboriginal heritage, places andobjects with penalties levied for breaches of the Act.This legislation is overseen by the Office ofEnvironment and Heritage (OEH). Part 6 of this Actis the relevant part concerned with Aboriginalobjects and places, with Section 86, 87, 89A andSection 90 being the most pertinent.The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage ConsultationRequirements for Proponents (ACHCR’s) wereissued by OEH on 12th April 2010. Theseconsultation requirements generally replace thePage 69