Berrima Colliery - Closure Working Group Meeting #2 >Welcome Mittagong RSL 8 October 2018
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 Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545 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? Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545 ● 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 Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
Review of Actions ● CWG Terms of Reference and that it is not the only way Boral will engage with the Community Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
Terms of Reference Minor change to clarify that the CWG will not be the only way Boral engages with the Community. Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
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) = Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545 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 Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
Site and surrounding environment Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
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 Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
Water Quality Trends - pH & EC Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
Water Quality Trends - Iron and Manganese Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
Water Quality Trends - Nickel and Zinc Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
Water Quality Trends along the treatment path - Iron example ● 400 D12 Sump - Pump pick up location Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545 ● 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 Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545 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 Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
Interim Sealing Plan - Location in respect of workings Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
Bulkhead Seal design - Explained Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
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 Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545 ○ 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 Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545 ● 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 Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
Loch Catherine Update Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
General business Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
Next meeting date Proposing: Monday 11 February 2019 9am – 1pm Location – Berrima Colliery (including a pit top site inspection) Titlefefefefeffff4g45g4545
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