NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has fined the Yancoal owned Hunter Valley Operations open cut mine near Singleton $15,000 for the licence breach.
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The breach occurred on January 17 this year when a blast at the mine sent a plume over Jerrys Plains and further inland towards Doyles Creek.
Locals described the sight of the plume as being like a bushfire over the village except the odour meant they knew immediately it was from a mine blast plume.
The EPA told the Singleton Argus all licensees must comply with their Environment Protection Licence requirements, including licence limits.
“Air-blast overpressure limits are placed on the licence to protect the community. On this occasion, Hunter Valley Operations exceeded the overpressure limit detailed in their licence resulting in reports from the Community to the EPA’s Environment Line,” a spokesperson for the EPA said.
Hunter Valley Operations is now managed in a joint venture between Yancoal (51 per cent) and Glencore (49 per cent).
The HVO JV will be jointly controlled by Glencore and Yancoal through a joint venture management committee comprising three representatives of both JV participants. An independent management team will run the operations on a day-to-day basis and will report to the committee.
Louise Nichols
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
