Wollongong Coal reports environmental incident

Wollongong Coal has initiated environmental response procedures following a reportable incident at Russell Vale coal mine in New South Wales, Australia.

According to a company press release, a malfunctioning stockpile spray resulted in water containing traces of coal to enter Bellambi Creek. The water supply was isolated and mitigation measures undertaken, the company said, including water diversion.

The New South Wales Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was notified and has attended the site, taking a number of water samples. Wollongong Coal has also engaged specialist consultants to undertake a ‘rapid ecological assessment’, which will identify any impacts.

In a statement, the EPA said it was investigating the incident to determine potential breaches of environmental legislation and has directed Wollongong Coal to provide an incident report.

The agency has also notified Wollongong City Council and Health Australia as a precaution, although it considered the risk to human health to be very low.

The Russell Vale coal mine is a metallurgical coal mine in the Southern Coalfields region of New South Wales.

Edited by Jonathan Rowland.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/mining/10122015/wollongong-coal-reports-environmental-incident-3266/