The monthly audit of the Singleton Compliance office shows 21 complaints were received about mining practices in February.

Twelve inspections were conducted, 12 surveillance were conducted and 10 meetings with mining operators were held. Four advisory letters and one warning letter were sent out.

During February compliance officers started conducting regular surveillance inspections which involved driving past the mines or observing them from a location off-site. Where dust was observed, the officers conducted an on-site mine inspection, without notice, to determine the source of dust.

As a result of the surveillance the compliance officers conducted three individual mine site inspections.

In addition to one site being required to shut down equipment, water carts were required to be re-allocated at another and the third site was found to be satisfactory with no breaches in relation to dust levels.

A further nine scheduled mine site inspections were conducted in relation to blasting, dust, water run-off and noise.

A follow-up inspection where a haulage road had been contributing to dirty water run-off observed some improvements, and the officers will follow up that further improvements are made.

Another inspection in response to a noise complaint found unacceptable noise levels and the mine operator was required to relocate noisy machinery away from a neighbouring property.

The Department of Planning is continuing to work with Xstrata Coal and other mines in the reduction of fume associated with blasts and on February 16 observed minimal fume from a blast at their Bulga mine.

• Coal & Allied fume page 3