Showing posts with label pollution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pollution. Show all posts

Wednesday, 8 June 2016

Calls To Fill Hunter Valley Open Cut Mine Voids

BY IAN CROUCH

There are calls for the state government to force mining companies to fill open cut mine voids once mining has wrapped up.

A report has found at least 45 final voids are planned or approved across NSW covering an area larger than Sydney Harbour, with the Four largest in the Hunter Valley.

It's feared ground and surface water could turn the voids into gigantic salt water lakes, causing permanent damage to the environment.

However, mining companies are reluctant to back-fill the massive holes as it can cost hundreds of millions of dollars

Photo Courtesy theconversation.com

Thursday, 21 January 2016

EPA Continues Bengalla Investigation

The Environment Protection Authority is continuing its investigations in to the Rio Tinto owned Bengalla mine, near Musswellbrook.

The overflow follows heavy rainfall in the Hunter earlier this month.

EPA officers began interviews on Monday, while also carrying out an inspection and gathering water and sediment samples for testing.

So far, no pollution to water sources has been found.

EPA Hunter General Manger, Adam Gilligan says both parties have been able to coperate.

"Our officers worked with the mine on Monday and were pleased to see that they commenced dewatering of those dams so that they could get the water levels down.

"Particularly that's important before any further rainfall or storm event that might cause further overflowing."
A section of Bengalla's sediment dam

The EPA have also confirmed they are looking for additional information from the mine operator, including monitoring records and incident response details.

It's the third Hunter mine this month which has seen overflowing, with Warkworth mine (also Tinto owned) and Wambo mine being investigated for potential pollution.

"Certainly [it's] a concern to us that we've had a spade of these issues arising following the recent heavy rainfall" said Mr. Gilligan.

"What concern's us is making sure the sediment dames, etc on mine sites are constructed properly."

Image courtesy of John Crey, via The Singleton Argus (LINK).