UNDERGROUND OPERATION INTEGRA COAL UNDERGROUND NOISE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (NMP) EMS Incorporating a Noise Monitoring Protocol

Transcription

1 UNDERGROUND OPERATION INTEGRA COAL UNDERGROUND NOISE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (NMP) EMS Incorporating a ise Monitoring Protocol 1: March 2007

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1 INTRODUCTION Background Purpose and Scope ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY RESPONSIBILITIES General Manager Environmental Advisor Implementation Document Management NOISE CRITERIA Environmental ise NOISE MONITORING PROTOCOL Monitoring Procedure Monitoring Locations Complaint Response DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTING Data analysis Reporting Quarterly Reporting Exceedance Reporting Annual Reporting... 10

3 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND Integra Underground (previously Glennies Creek Colliery) is an underground coal mine located approximately 12km north of Singleton in the Hunter Valley, NSW. Integra Underground abuts the northern boundary of the Integra Open Cut Coal Lease with access to the underground lease (CL 382) provided from the north-western highwall of the former Open Cut rth Pit. Support facilities are located adjacent the highwall entry area within the rth Pit and the surface facilities area is adjacent to the former Oak Park School (both within ML 1437). All coal produced from the mine is transported to, processed through and despatched from the Integra Open Cut facilities. Within the surrounding vicinity of Integra Underground four other active mines exist, aside from the aforementioned Integra Open Cut, other active open cut coal mines within the local area include the Ashton Mine (5 km west), Mt Owen Mine to the north-west and Rixs Creek Mine (5 km south). On the 31 st January 2007 a Section 3(A) modification was approved by the Department of Planning for Glennies Creek Colliery (now Integra Underground). In accordance with Clause 9 in Schedule 3 of this approval a ise Monitoring Program has been developed to satisfy the above condition. This management plan describes monitoring, analysis, and reporting procedures required to ensure compliance with consent conditions relating to operational noise. Attended noise monitoring is chosen as the proposed monitoring method as it allows accurate determination of the contribution, if any, to measured noise levels from the source of interest. 1.2 PURPOSE AND SCOPE \\pmsap01\netapps\docs\ems ise Management Plan.doc Air Quality Monitoring Program 1 of 12

4 The ise Monitoring Program has been designed to provide a noise monitoring protocol to determine compliance with noise impact assessment criteria listed in Section 4. 2 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY Integra Underground has, and is committed to, and Environmental Policy which states: At Integra Underground, we are committed to the development of a positive culture where we are responsible and accountable for our actions at all levels of our business. We are committed to operating in an environmentally responsible and safer manner through the application of our Operating Philosophy and Environmental Management System by; Complying with applicable environmental laws, regulations and statutory obligations; Communicating regularly with stakeholders; and Making environmental considerations an integral part of our activities. \\pmsap01\netapps\docs\ems ise Management Plan.doc Air Quality Monitoring Program 2 of 12

5 3 RESPONSIBILITIES GENERAL MANAGER Accountable for ensuring a system with minimum performance requirements exists for the management of noise at Glennies Creek Colliery ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISOR The Environmental Advisor is responsible for; providing consultative advice and procuring the services of qualified consultants where required for noise monitoring at Integra Underground; ensuring employees and contractors in their respective areas are committed to the implementation and consistent application of control procedures and related inspections. 3.3 IMPLEMENTATION This plan is to be implemented by the site Environmental Advisor. Implementation involves the planning and co-ordination of monitoring, and following monitoring, ensuring reporting occurs as per the requirements listed in Section DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT It is the responsibility of the site Environmental Advisor to maintain this document. \\pmsap01\netapps\docs\ems ise Management Plan.doc Air Quality Monitoring Program 3 of 12

6 Internal document review is to be undertaken by site environment and management personnel. If routine monitoring is undertaken by an external organization it is recommended they be consulted about any changes to this document. This is to ensure only practical and effective modifications are made. This document should be reviewed as follows: After the first year of operation; and As required in response to significant changes (i.e. to operations, land ownership, or other). Reviews of this document should be undertaken in conjunction with an analysis of, at least, all data gathered since the last review. Some changes may be based on identified trends. In this way resources can be optimized, for example, monitoring could be discontinued at sites that have been acquired, or, have a history of nil impact. The site Environmental Advisor is to ensure monitoring and reporting described in this document occurs as required and correct procedures are followed. \\pmsap01\netapps\docs\ems ise Management Plan.doc Air Quality Monitoring Program 4 of 12

7 34 NOISE CRITERIA ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE Clause 7 in Schedule 3 of the consent specifies noise limits for receptors and is reproduced below. The proponent shall ensure that noise generated by the project does not exceed the noise impact assessment criteria presented in Table 1 and any residence on privately owned land. Table 1Table 1 ise Impact Assessment Criteria db(a) L Aeq(15min) Location Day/Evening/Night Mordey, Lambkin, Donellan, Hardy, ble 38 Watling, Oxford, G. Hall, Proctor, Richards, Burgess 39 Egan, Payne, Moore 36 tes: (a) The noise criteria do not apply to residences within the Zone of Affectation for the Camberwell coal mine (Dulwich and Tisdell), or to properties where the Proponent and the affected landowner have reached a negotiated agreement in regard to noise, and a copy of the agreement has been forwarded to the Director-General and DEC. (b) ise from the project is to be measured at the most affected point or within the residential boundary, or at the most affected point within 30 metres of a dwelling (rural situations) where the dwelling is more than 30 metres from the boundary, to determine compliance with the L Aeq(15minute) noise limits in the above table. (c) Where is can be demonstrated that direct measurement of noise from the project is impractical, the DEC may accept alternative means of determining compliance (see Chapter 11 of the NSW Industrial ise Policy). The modification factors in Section 4 of the NSW Industrial ise Policy shall also be applied to the measured noise levels were applicable. The noise emission limits identified in the above table apply under meteorological conditions of: Wind speeds of up to 3 m/s at 10 metres above ground level; or Temperature inversion conditions of up to 3 0 C/100m. \\pmsap01\netapps\docs\ems ise Management Plan.doc Air Quality Monitoring Program 5 of 12

8 45 NOISE MONITORING PROTOCOL 5.1 MONITORING PROCEDURE To adequately sample the noise environment surrounding Integra Underground quarterly monitoring will be conducted. Each quarterly noise survey will comprise three (3) night measurements at each location; this equates to approximately one night per month. Monitoring is only conducted during night time periods due to atmospheric conditions frequently enhancing noise propagation during that time period. As a result offsite noise levels are most likely to be at the highest levels during this time. Furthermore the same noise criterion applies to this time as for day and evening times. The results of this monitoring therefore allow a worst case scenario to be measured. All noise investigations will be carried out in accordance with NSW EPA s Industrial ise Policy (INP) guidelines and Australian Standard AS 1055 Acoustics, Description and Measurement of Environmental ise. For each individual site the attended noise survey shall include measurements undertaken in one-third octave bands (from 16Hz to 12KHz inclusive) for three 15 minute intervals. If, at any time during monitoring, meteorological conditions exceed the conditions identified under te (c) of Table 1, monitoring and reporting will still be carried out, however it will be outlined within the report that meteorological conditions were in exceedence of applicable levels, and as such the limits identified within Table 1 will not apply to the results obtained under such conditions. \\pmsap01\netapps\docs\ems ise Management Plan.doc Air Quality Monitoring Program 6 of 12

9 MONITORING LOCATIONS Monitoring locations are listed below and shown on Figure 1: NM1, Payne, 3 Middle Falbrook Road; NM2, Moore, Middle Falbrook Road; NM3, near ble, 596 Glennies Creek Road; NM4, near Hardy/Donellan, 518 Glennies Creek Road; NM5, Richards, 322 Glennies Creek Road; and NM6, Hall, Lot New England Highway. The above locations have been chosen with regard to proximity of residences identified within Table 1. As such the above sites will be representative of the maximum amount of noise audible at each residence. The actual measurement position at any site can vary but will comply with the requirements of Clause 6.2 of AS COMPLAINT RESPONSE As per Schedule 4 of the consent, the site Environmental Advisor will arrange monitoring at or near the complainants residence if the Director General (DoP) deems the complaint to be valid. The complainant is to be advised of these arrangements once made. This monitoring will be undertaken in accordance with the procedures as described in Section 5.1. \\pmsap01\netapps\docs\ems ise Management Plan.doc Air Quality Monitoring Program 7 of 12

10 Figure 1 \\pmsap01\netapps\docs\ems ise Management Plan.doc Monitoring Locations Approved Date Air Quality Monitoring Program Review Date: Page: 8 of 12

11 6 DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTING DATA ANALYSIS Received levels from various noise sources should have been noted during attended monitoring and particular attention paid to the extent of the Integra Underground contribution, if any, to measured levels. For each receptor location, the mine s L Aeq (in the absence of any other noise) should be quantified. This would usually be from direct measurement, or, determined by frequency analysis. Assessment of impact is to include consideration of mining activity and atmospheric conditions during each measurement REPORTING Quarterly Reporting Each quarterly report will clearly state the objective of that monitoring, the relevant criteria, and, if results are in compliance or otherwise. If a noncompliance is identified it is expected the report will detail why this happened and if possible, provide guidance on preventing a repeat occurrence Exceedance Reporting In accordance with Clause 3, Schedule 5 of the consent, any exceedance shall be reported to the Department of Planning (and any relevant agency). Information to be provided about the exceedance will include the following: (a) (b) (c) (d) date, time and nature; the cause (or likely cause); action taken to date; and proposed measures to address. \\pmsap01\netapps\docs\ems ise Management Plan.doc Air Quality Monitoring Program 9 of 12

12 Annual Reporting Clause 4, Schedule 5 of the consent requires annual environmental reporting. Integra Underground will continue to submit an Annual Environmental Management Report each year, which will include the results of the noise monitoring conducted during the year. \\pmsap01\netapps\docs\ems ise Management Plan.doc Air Quality Monitoring Program 10 of 12