berrima colliery - closure working group meeting #2 · environmental protection licence/ mine...

Berrima Colliery -

Closure Working

Group

Meeting #2

Mittagong RSL 8 October 2018 >Welcome

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Agenda

1. Welcome and Apologies

2. Review of minutes & actions

3. Terms of Reference

4. Groundwater storage volume

5. Water Quality Trends and Preliminary Macroinvertebrate Comments

6. EPA Presentation – Ecotoxicology Study

7. Bulkhead Seals Explanation

8. EPL/MOP Updates

9. Communications Plan

10.Loch Catherine Update

11.General business

12.Next meeting


Welcome - CWG Representatives, Apologies & Guests

● Boral - Fabio Colusso, Greg Johnson, David Spears,

● Resource Regulator - Greg Kininmonth, Will Mitry

● Environment Protection Authority - William Dove, Andrew Couldridge

● WaterNSW - Ravi Sundaram

● Wingecarribee Shire Council - Barry Arthur (apologies), Proxy?

● Western Sydney University - Dr Ian Wright

● Community - Clive West, Alan Lindsay, Graham Kelly, Ray Nolan, Julian Brophy

● Independent chair - Brad Mullard

● Minute taker – Rob Byrnes ● Guest - Pamela Klioufis


Review of Minutes – suggested amendments


Review of Actions

● CWG Terms of Reference and that it is not the only way Boral will engage with the Community


Terms of Reference

Minor change to clarify that the CWG will not be the only way Boral engages with the Community.


Estimated volume of water contained in the workings

548ML

(Based on: Mine ceasing discharge on

1/09/2015 and free draining on 21/03/2016.

203 days X 2.7ML = 548ML)

There was also a question in relation to the size of the

mine void in total:

5.5 million m2 x 2.2 m (seam height) x 0.4 (% recovery) =

4.8 Million cubic metres

This equates to around 7 Million tonnes (using SG of

1.45).

Or 4,800 ML if all the void could be filled with water, which

wouldn’t happen


The underground treatment was installed in 3 stages from early December

2017 until mid January 2018


Site and surrounding environment


Discharge Volumes

● Additional pumping commenced

early August 2018

● Water level has now dropped 800-

900mm

● Sufficient level to install bulkheads

● Additional pumping has ceased and

will revert to likely levels of 2.7ML

average


Water Quality Trends - pH & EC


Water Quality Trends - Iron and Manganese


Water Quality Trends - Nickel and Zinc


Water Quality Trends along the treatment path - Iron example

● 400 D12 Sump - Pump

pick up location

● 400 C8 - After

aeration, treatment

through lime bed and

filtered through goaf

● Adit Discharge - V -

Notch sample


Macroinvertebrate study update - Preliminary findings

Based on (two sampling occasions in Autumn 2018) similar story to what was observed previously (2017), although

thorough analysis not been completed at this stage.

● There was a loss of sensitive order mayflies (families Baetidae, Caenidae and Leptophlebiidae) and riffle beetle Elmidae upto

1km d/s of the adit.

● Stonefly Gripopterygidae was observed to be impacted 100m downstream (in 2017), however at 300-500m d/s this was not as

evident and appears to have recovered 500m d/s.

● There was some caddis missing (Philopotamidae) 500m d/s however they were present in good numbers 1km d/s.

● In general there appears to be an impact up to 1km downstream, however the macroinvertebrate fauna appear to be recovering

at this distance downstream.

● At 2km downstream the aquatic fauna appears to have fauna that were missing at sites 500m d/s and 1km d/s and I suspect

closer to upstream reference condition.


EPA Presentation – Ecotoxicology Assessment


Interim Sealing Plan - Location in respect of workings


Bulkhead Seal design - Explained


Environmental Protection Licence/ Mine Operations Plan Updates

EPL 608

● Background - Special Condition R3 was added to the EPL late last year as a means to monitor the

performance of the underground treatment trial. The condition requires water quality summary reports

to discuss effectiveness of the trial every 2 - 6 months and annual scientific reports including

sediment and macroinvertebrates due annually on 31 Jan 2019 and 31 January 2020.

● Boral difficulties

○ The Special Conditions were agreed prior to the installation of the complete system.

○ The full treatment system was not operational until mid January 2018.

○ Weather and other conditions (bushfire) can vary time of month sampling

○ Laboratory results can take 7+ days from sampling to be received

○ Macroinvertebrate numbers even longer

○ Time required to analyse and assess trends

● Administrative request submitted to the EPA to vary submission dates by 6 weeks

“to allow more time for the licensee's consultants to complete and synchronise the in-situ water quality, sediment and macro-

invertebrate sampling and report preparation as required in the Performance Monitoring Program”.


Environmental Protection Licence/ Mine Operations Plan Updates

MOP - Stage 1 Mine Closure Plan

Background - The current approved closure plan dated January 2018 excludes detail on the proposed

bulkheads. Post the last CWG Boral provided the Resources Regulator a letter update on the bulkheads as

an attachment to the Stage 1 Plan.

● The RR requested feedback from Water NSW and the NSW EPA.

● The RR also requested evidence from Mine Safety they were satisfied with proposed designs

● WaterNSW and the EPA requested how waters will be monitored during and post installation of

bulkheads.

Boral Actions

● Boral has agreed to an updated sampling plan that will be included in a letter amendment to the

MOP.

● Once the final bulkhead designs are finalised, Boral will further consult with Mine Safety and provide

correspondence with the RR


Communication Plan - Workshop

Pamela Klioufis


Loch Catherine Update


General business


Next meeting date

Proposing: Monday 11 February 2019

9am – 1pm

Location – Berrima Colliery (including a pit top site inspection)

berrima colliery - closure working group meeting #2 · environmental protection licence/ mine...

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