November 2004 (PDF 11.6 MB) - Barrick Gold Corporation

Cowal Gold Project – Noise Management Plan1 INTRODUCTIONThe Cowal Gold Project (the Project) is located approximately 38 kilometres (km) north-east of WestWyalong, New South Wales (NSW) (Figure 1). The Project is owned by Barrick Gold Australia Ltd(Barrick).Consent Conditions 6.4(a) and 6.4(b) for the mine and pipeline require the preparation of the enclosedNoise Management Plan (NMP). Consent Condition 8.4(a) specifies noise monitoring and auditingrequirements. The consent conditions and the corresponding sections of this NMP that address theconditions are outlined below:6.4 Noise Control(a)Noise levels - mine operationsConsent ConditionThe Applicant shall ensure that the L A10(15 minute) noise levels due to the normal operationof the mine, when measured or computed at any dwelling in the vicinity of the mine(other than one owned by a mining company), shall not exceed:-– during day time (7am-10pm), an L A10(15 minute ) noise levels of 35dB(A)– during night time (10pm – 7am), an L A10(15 minute) noise levels of 33dB(A).These goals apply under prevailing meteorological conditions except during:SectionSection 3.2• rain; and/or• wind speeds greater than 3 m/s; and/or(b)• temperature inversions.Noise impacts that may be enhanced by temperature inversions shall be addressed by:(i)(ii)documenting noise complaints received to identify any higher level of impacts orpatterns of temperature inversions; andwhere levels of noise complaints indicate a higher level of impact then actions toquantify and ameliorate any enhanced impacts under temperature inversionconditions should be detailed in the noise management plan.Noise management planThe Applicant shall prior to commencement of mining operations prepare a noisemanagement plan in consultation with the EPA and to the satisfaction of the Director-General. The plan shall detail noise strategies and procedures for dealing with noisewhich exceeds the L A10 (15 minute) noise emission limits set out in this consent, includingwhere appropriate exceedances during temperature inversions, or demonstrably disturbsbird breeding, and carry out remedial measures as directed by the EPA, in consultationwith the NPWS if monitoring demonstrates bird breeding is impacted.8.4 Noise and Blasting(a)(Refer condition 8.4 for noise investigation/monitoring details).Noise Investigations and ManagementThe Applicant shall:(i)(ii)prior to mining operations develop a plan to conduct noise investigations at sixmonthly intervals (unless otherwise agreed by the Director-General) to evaluate,assess and report the L A10 (15 minute) noise emission levels due to normaloperations of the mine under prevailing weather conditions, except during rainand/or wind speeds greater than 3 m/s and/or temperature inversions. Themethodologies, including establishing the mine’s operating configuration,determining survey intervals, weather conditions, seasonal variations, selectingvariations, selecting locations, periods and times of measurements, the design ofany noise modelling or other studies, including the means for determining thenoise levels emitted by the mining operations, shall be in accordance with therequirements of the EPA;if required from condition 8.4(a)(i) or if wildlife is significantly impacted as identifiedby monitoring actions undertaken in accordance with condition 3.4(a), survey andinvestigate noise reduction measures from plant and equipment at the conclusionof the first 12 months of ore processing operations in consultation with NPWS oras directed by the EPA; and(iii) arrange independent noise emission investigations as provided in Condition 11.1.A summary of noise monitoring results shall be included in the AEMR.Section 6Sections 10 and 11Sections 7 and 8Section 9Sections 15 and 16Section 17HAL-02-07/1/NMP01-P/17/11/04 1 BARRICK