Wambo Coal AEMR 2011-2012 - Peabody Energy

2011-2012 AEMR
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Scope
This Annual Environmental Management Report
(AEMR) details the environmental performance of
Wambo Coal Pty Limited (WCPL) mining,
exploration, construction and rail activities for the
period from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012. WCPL is
required to prepare and submit an AEMR in
accordance with the NSW Trade & Investment –
Division of Resources and Energy (DRE),
Guidelines to the Mining, Rehabilitation and
Environmental Management Process (Guidelines
No. EDG03).
The preparation of this AEMR, also satisfy’s the
Annual Review requirements under Development
Applications (DA) 305-7-2003 and 177-8-2004. The
AEMR also satisfy’s the reporting requirements for
Environment Protection Licence 529, approval
under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC 2003/1138) and the
approved Subsidence Management Plan (SMP) for
Longwalls (LW) 1-6. Table 1.0 display WCPL’s
annual reporting requirements and where the
requirements are addressed within the AEMR.
A recent aerial photo and locality plan of WCPL is
shown in Figure 1.1.
1.2 Background
WCPL is owned by Peabody Energy Australia Pty
Limited (75%) and Sumiseki Materials Co, Ltd (25%
- Net profit B class shares). WCPL is an Open Cut
and Underground mining operation located
approximately 15 kilometres (km) west of Singleton
near the locality of Warkworth. It is bounded by
Wollombi Brook to the east, coal mining operations
to the north, grazing land to the south and north
west and the Wollemi National Park to the west and
south west.
WCPL was granted development consent by Patrick
Plains Shire Council in 1969 with Open Cut and
Underground mining commencing shortly after.
Subsequent development consents issued in 1972,
1974 and 1977 covered a range of early Open Cut
and Underground operations. Singleton Shire
Council (SSC) approved extensions to mining
operations, construction activities and modifications
to road haulage rates in the period between 1980
and 1991.
In July 1991, a Development Application (DA) was
lodged with SSC seeking approval for the expansion
of Open Cut and Underground mining activities and
the consolidation of earlier development consents.
Development consent was granted in February
1992.
The Homestead Underground Mine commenced in
1979 and operated until 1999. In 2003 the mine
entries were sealed.
The Wollemi Underground Mine commenced
production in 1997 and was placed under care and
maintenance in October 2002 after the available
longwall reserves were exhausted.
Open Cut operations were suspended between
March 1999 and August 2001. Following the
closure of the Wollemi Underground Mine, Open
Cut operations were expanded to maintain an
overall production rate of 3 million tonnes per
annum (Mtpa) of product coal. Development of the
North Wambo Underground Mine (the Underground)
commenced in November 2005, with longwall
operations commencing in October 2007.
Coal from the Open Cut and the Underground
operations is washed at the Coal Handling and
Preparation Plant (CHPP). Until June 2006 product
coal was transported by highway rated trucks via
the Golden Highway to the Mount Thorley Coal
Loader for rail transport to the Port of Newcastle.
The construction and commissioning of the WCPL
Rail Development (WRD) in May 2006, which
includes the rail line from Mount Thorley and WCPL
rail spur and coal terminal, allows the direct rail
transportation of all product coal from WCPL to the
Port of Newcastle.
United Colliery (United), owned by Xstrata Coal
NSW, ceased longwall underground mining in the
Arrowfield Seam during the 2009-2010 reporting
period. United underground mining previously
occurred beneath sections of WCPL’s Open Cut
and Underground operations. The last of United’s
coal was loaded by rail on 27 May 2010. United are
currently under care and maintenance, whilst
undertaking further exploration activities within
A444.
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