Wambo Coal AEMR 2011-2012 - Peabody Energy

2011-2012 AEMR
2.0 Operations During the
Reporting Period
2.1 Exploration
Surface exploration throughout the reporting period
consisted of a total of 147 boreholes at
approximately 34,150 meters drilled. Exploration
drilling occurred in the following
areas;
23 x boreholes within A444 with a total of
3,350 m drilled;
61 x boreholes within CCL743 with a total of
19,500 m drilled;
63 x boreholes within CL397 with a total of
11,300 m drilled; and
Drilling is required to further define coal reserves,
coal quantity and gas content of the Whybrow,
Redbank Creek, Wambo, Whynot, Arrowfield and
Bowfield coal seams. All exploration boreholes were
fully grouted upon completion.
It is expected that exploration activities over the
coming twelve months will continue within A444,
CL397, CCL743 and EL7211. WCPL is anticipating
drilling approximately 360 boreholes (approximately
28,700 m) during the next reporting period. A444
and EL7211 are both pending confirmation of
renewal.
2.2 Land Preparation
In accordance with the Open Cut MOP and DA 305-
2003, all land clearing at WCPL is carried out under
approved management plans and procedures. One
such approved management plan is the Flora and
Fauna Management Plan (FFMP), which includes a
Vegetation Clearance Protocol (Figure 2.1). In
accordance with the FFMP, a Surface Disturbance
Permit (SDP) procedure and checklist has been
developed. The SDP requires the approval of
WCPL’s environmental department prior to any
clearing activities taking place. The SDP aims to
identify any environmental issues such as Cultural
Heritage sites, flora and fauna communities, surface
drainage, threatened species, and the identification
of any seed or timber resources that can be
salvaged.
In addition to the FFMP, WCPL have developed a
Timber Management Plan (TMP). The TMP has
identified a number of options regarding the
management and salvage of timber resources,
dependent on the characteristics of the vegetation
to be cleared, and is determined on a case by case
basis.
Nominally, a minimum of 100 millimetres (mm) of
topsoil is recovered from the surface prior to mining
an area. The actual volume of topsoil recovered is
dependent on the depth of insitu soil conditions (e.g.
deeper in alluvial areas and shallower on ridge
lines), and the quality of the material.
Where possible, direct placement of stripped topsoil
onto re-profiled areas is preferred to stockpiling, in
order to avoid rehandling and reduce the potential
for further topsoil degradation or loss. However, due
to lack of available area, this was not possible
during this reporting period. If a re-profiled surface is
not available, the topsoil is stockpiled. The
treatment of the topsoil stockpiles is dependent on
the planned timeframe between construction and
use. If these stockpiles are to be left for longer than
three months, they are generally shaped into
elongated mounds and seeded with pasture to keep
the soil fertile, stop weeds from growing and to
reduce soil loss.
Due to a change in dump plan for the RL 160 dump,
approximately 14.2ha of previously rehabilitated
land was re-disturbed during the reporting period.
The topsoil and established pasture vegetation was
recovered from the re-disturbed area prior to
dumping.
2.3 Construction
During the reporting period there were a number of
major projects completed or commenced across
WCPL operations, these included:
Maingate 8 High Wall Stabilisation: The project
included meshing and rock bolting of the high wall
above the new portal entries in the former
Homestead Pit. The project also completed
stabilising the wall behind the main Homestead
Ventilation Fan. The box culvert portal entries in the
former Homestead Pit have now been placed into
final position on the established hardstand pad.
Ground shaping for internal drainage above the
Homestead Pit at the entry to Maingate 8 has been
completed, with drain overpass design to be
completed during the next reporting period.
Finalised plans of adjacent infrastructure areas
including the electrical enclosures are due to be
finalised in July 2012.
North Wambo Creek Diversion (Stage 3):
Construction works were nearing completion on the
final stage (i.e. Stage 3) of the North Wambo Creek
Diversion program. At the end of the reporting
period approximately 800,000 m 3 of excavation had
been carried out to construct the permanent creek
line around the old Wollemi Underground Portal
area, in conjunction with revegetation works.
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