Risk Assessment Detail

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2 Preliminary Risk Assessment Scope Detail Risk Assessment Detail Date: Title: 06-February-2008 Ulan Coal Mines Continued Operations Assessment Broad Brush Risk Assessment Facilitator: Paul Amidy Team Members and Qualifications: Name Position Company Experience Peter Ostermann XCN Senior Mining Engineer XCN 9 years Underground Coal Mining Jamie Lees Ulan Coal Approvals Co-ordinator XCN 13 years Dave O Brien XCN Group Environment and XCN Co-ordinator Rod Williams Senior Scientist Umwelt 11 years environmental experience Paul Amidy (Co-Facilitator) Senior Scientist Umwelt 6 years mining experience Michelle Kirkman (Co- Facilitator) Associate Umwelt 11 years mining and environmental experience Kirsty Davies Scientist Umwelt 15 months environmental experience Hans Richter Property and Statistics Co-ordinator UCML 18 years mining experience Richard Van Laeren Technical Services Manager UCML Phil English Env and Manager UCML Keith Klegg GW Engineering Ken Mills Senior Geotechnical SCT 28 years experience Engineer/Director Paul Tammetta Associate Hydrogeologist Coffey 15 years experience Cara Danis Hydrogeologist Coffey 2 years experience Erika Blockley Associate Senior Social Scientist Coakes Consulting 13 years experience Scope: UCML proposes to update its development consent obligations by seeking one development consent which covers the continued operations of the UCML complex, under the Part 3A Major Projects provisions of the EP&A Act. The project is known as Ulan Coal - Continued Operations. The environmental assessment to be prepared as part of this process will seek approval for the following broad operational components being the: # Ulan 3 underground mine; # Ulan West Underground Mine; # Central Open Cut Pit associated with Project Waratah; and # Associated support infrastructure with each of the above mining operations. The numerous approvals UCML currently holds for a variety of projects and discrete operational activities which are applicable to the current operations, will be surrendered once the Ulan Coal - Continued Operations project is approved. Objective: Identification of key environmental, social and operational issues/constraints to be addressed in the environmental assessment for the Ulan Coal Continued Operations Assessment. Methodology: THE MAIN PROCESS STEPS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN CONDUCTING AN BROAD BRUSH RISK ASSESSMENT (BBRA) ARE: 1 - FORMING A TEAM OF KNOWLEDGE EXPERTS FROM ALL MAIN OPERATIONAL PROCESSES; 2 - IDENTIFY ALL MAJOR OPERATIONAL PROCESSES AND PROCESS STEPS; 3 - IDENTIFY HAZARDS AND CALCULATE THE RISK OF EACH HAZARD; 4 - PRIORITISE HAZARDS IN ACCORDANCE TO RISK RANKING AND LEVEL OF CONSEQUENCE; 5 - REVIEW EXISTING AND ADDITIONAL CONTROLS REQUIRED; 6 - DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN; AND 7 - IMPLEMENT AND MONITOR THE ACTION PLAN. References: Xstrata Coal Risk Standard 1.02, Assessments. 2423/R05/A4 1

3 Risk Assessment Construction Open Cut Extension Construction of general surface facilities (e.g. roads, conveyors, water management infrastructure, stockpile pads, office and workshop facilities, transport of personnel and equipment). 1.1 European Heritage Disturbance of sites of European heritage significance. will be required for roads and water management infrastructure around open cut mining areas. 5 D-Unlikely 24 European heritage values will be undertaken. 1.2 Ecology Loss of threatened native flora and fauna. will be required for roads and water management infrastructure around open cut mining areas. 1.3 Cultural Heritage will be required for roads and water management infrastructure around open cut mining areas. 2 D-Unlikely Erosion and Sediment Runoff Sedimentation of local waterways. Appropriate erosion and sediment controls will be designed and constructed for all construction areas in accordance with Soils and Construction (Landcom, 2004). 5 E-Rare 25 Due to effective mitigation of the potential impacts further assessment is not required. 1.5 Dust Generation Degradation of air quality & visual amenity. will be required for roads and water management infrastructure around open cut mining areas, however this will not involve significant ground disturbance in the context of open cut mining. Therefore modeling of construction phase impacts of general surface facilities is considered unnecessary. 5 D-Unlikely 24 Due to effective mitigation of the potential impacts further assessment is not required. 1.6 ise Generation While noise emissions from construction activities associated with open cut infrastructure is likely to be minimal, it is within relatively close proximity to private residents within Ulan village and therefore will be considered in the noise assessment for the project. An assessment of potential noise impacts from construction of surface infrastructure will be undertaken. 1.7 Visual Amenity Aesthetics of exposed earthworks and construction works. Open cut operations within the central pit area at Ulan are obscured from view by the surrounding topography. Construction activities are not likely to result in impacts on the visual amenity of surrounding private residents and therefore will not be specifically assessed However a visual assessment of infrastructure and mining operations generally will be 5 D-Unlikely 24 A visual assessment will be undertaken for the project however given operations and associated construction of infrastructure for the open cut will be obscured by surrounding topography, this will not be assessed in detail. 1.8 Traffic Supply of materials for construction project resulting in increased traffic. Traffic is emerging as a key issue for the community. Potential impacts associated with construction and operational traffic will be assessed. A detailed traffic assessment will be Underground - Ulan West Construction of general surface facilities (e.g. roads, conveyors, water management infrastructure, stockpile pads, office & workshop facilities and transport of personnel and equipment, fan sites, service boreholes, power lines, pipelines). 2.1 European Heritage Disturbance of sites of European heritage significance. While the construction of surface facilities for the Ulan West underground will result in some ground disturbance there will be some flexibility to locate infrastructure such that it does not impact on European Heritage site. However, an assessment of potential impacts on European heritage will be undertaken for the project. European heritage values will be undertaken. 2.2 Ecology Loss of threatened native flora and fauna. will be required for dewatering and ventilation infrastructure /R05/A4 1

4 Risk Assessment 2.3 Cultural Heritage will be required for dewatering and ventilation infrastructure. 2.4 Erosion and Sediment Runoff Sedimentation of local waterways. Appropriate erosion and sediment controls will be designed and constructed for all construction areas in accordance with Soils and Construction (Landcom, 2004). Due to effective mitigation of the potential impacts further assessment is not required. 2.5 Dust Generation Degradation of air quality and visual amenity. While dust emissions from construction activities associated with underground infrastructure is likely to be minimal, it is within relatively close proximity to private residents within Ulan village and residents in the northwest of the project area (re dewatering and ventilation) and therefore will be considered in the air quality assessment A detailed air quality assessment will be 2.6 ise Generation While noise emissions from construction activities associated with underground infrastructure is likely to be minimal, it is within relatively close proximity to private residents within Ulan village and residents in the northwest of the project area (re dewatering and ventilation) and therefore will be considered in the noise assessment An assessment of potential noise impacts from construction of surface infrastructure will be undertaken. 2.7 Visual Amenity Aesthetics of exposed earthworks and construction works. The majority of new infrastructure associated with Ulan West will be constructed in areas already dominated by infrastructure associated with current operations, with the exception of dewatering and ventilation infrastructure in the northwest of the project area. An assessment of visual impacts will be An assessment of visual impacts will be 2.8 Traffic Supply of materials and employees for construction project resulting in increased traffic. Traffic is emerging as a key issue for the community. Potential impacts associated with construction and operational traffic will be assessed. A detailed traffic assessment will be Underground - Ulan.3 Construction of general surface facilities (e.g. roads, upgraded conveyors, new conveyor alignments, stockpile pads, ventilation shaft, pipelines, power lines, portal, service boreholes, dewatering bores, staging dam). 3.1 European Heritage Disturbance of sites of European heritage significance. While the construction of surface facilities for the Ulan.3 underground will result in some ground disturbance there will be some flexibility to locate infrastructure such that it does not impact on European Heritage site. However, an assessment of potential impacts on European heritage will be undertaken for the project. European heritage values will be undertaken. 3.2 Ecology Loss of threatened native flora and fauna. will be required for dewatering and ventilation infrastructure Cultural Heritage will be required for dewatering and ventilation infrastructure. 4 B-Likely Erosion and Sediment Runoff Sedimentation of local waterways. Appropriate erosion and sediment controls will be designed and constructed for all construction areas in accordance with Soils and Construction (Landcom, 2004). Due to effective mitigation of the potential impacts further assessment is not required. 3.5 Dust Generation Degradation of air quality. While dust emissions from construction activities associated with underground infrastructure is likely to be minimal, it is within relatively close proximity to private residents within Ulan village and therefore will be considered in the air quality assessment A detailed air quality assessment will be 2423/R05/A4 2

5 Risk Assessment 3.6 ise Generation While noise emissions from construction activities associated with underground infrastructure is likely to be minimal, it is within relatively close proximity to private residents within Ulan village and therefore will be considered in the noise assessment for the project. An assessment of potential noise impacts from construction of surface infrastructure will be undertaken. 3.7 Visual Amenity Aesthetics of exposed earthworks and construction works. The majority of new infrastructure associated with Ulan. 3 will be constructed in areas already dominated by infrastructure associated with current operations, with the exception of dewatering and ventilation infrastructure in the northeast of the project area. An assessment of visual impacts will be An assessment of visual impacts will be 3.8 Traffic Supply of materials and employees for construction project resulting in increased traffic. Traffic is emerging as a key issue for the community. Potential impacts associated with construction and operational traffic will be assessed. A detailed traffic assessment will be Operational Exploration Drilling - Open Cut and Underground Including Construction of Access Tracks 1.1 European Heritage Disturbance of sites of European heritage significance. with a Drilling and Exploration Plan. The location of exploration activities are generally flexible enough to avoid impacts on European heritage sites. The heritage assessment for the project will address potential impacts from exploration activities. European heritage values will be undertaken. 1.2 Ecology Loss of threatened native flora and fauna. with a Drilling and Exploration Plan. The location of exploration activities are generally flexible enough to avoid impacts on significant ecological aspects. The minimal disturbance nature of most exploration activities also minimises the potential impacts on ecological aspects. Ulan will continue to undertake due diligence inspections of proposed exploration areas prior to exploration being undertaken in order to identify any potential ecological impacts A broad assessment of the potential impacts on ecological values will be undertaken and detailed assessment of exploration activities will be undertaken as part of due diligence processes prior to exploration activities commencing. 1.3 Cultural Heritage Ulan currently undertakes exploration activities in accordance with a Drilling and Exploration Plan. The location of exploration activities is often flexible enough to avoid impacts on significant Aboriginal heritage sites. The heritage assessment for the project will address potential impacts from exploration activities. 1.4 Erosion and Sediment Runoff Sedimentation of local waterways. with a Drilling and Exploration Plan. Appropriate erosion and sediment controls will be designed and constructed for all disturbance areas in accordance with Soils and Construction (Landcom, 2004). 5 C-Moderate 22 Due to effective mitigation of this potential impact, further assessment is not required. 1.5 Dust Generation Degradation of air quality & visual amenity. with a Drilling and Exploration Plan, which includes dust management measures. Due to effective mitigation of this potential impact, further assessment is not required. 1.6 ise Generation with a Drilling and Exploration Plan, which includes noise management measures. Due to effective mitigation of this potential impact, further assessment is not required. 1.7 Land Use and Agricultural Productivity Impact on land use, land capability and agricultural suitability. with a Drilling and Exploration Plan and specific access agreements developed with landholders. Due to effective mitigation of this potential impact, further assessment is not required. 1.8 Hydrocarbon Contamination Contamination of soil hydrocarbons. with a Drilling and Exploration Plan, which includes hydrocarbon management measures. Due to effective mitigation of this potential impact, further assessment is not required. 2423/R05/A4 3

6 Risk Assessment Open Cut Mining Including land clearing - stripping, Topsoil - stripping and storage, overburden removal coal extraction and rehabilitation Erosion and Sediment Runoff Appropriate erosion and sediment controls will be designed and Sedimentation of local waterways. constructed for all disturbance areas in accordance with Soils 3 D-Unlikely 17 and Construction (Landcom, 2004). Due to effective mitigation of the potential impacts further assessment is not required. 2.2 Groundwater Depressurisation of aquifers. Water management is a key issue for Ulan. While groundwater make in the open cut has historically been low, open cut and underground mining has the potential to result in depressurisation of groundwater resources and other associated impacts. A detailed groundwater model will be developed for the project to assess impacts on groundwater systems. A detailed groundwater assessment will be 2.3 Water Contamination of clean water. Interaction of stored water and potential inrush issues to underground operations. Unlicensed due to increase water inventory across UCML complex Water management is a key issue for Ulan. Ulan has a net water excess that requires management. This is currently achieved through on site storage, irrigation to the Bobadeen irrigation scheme, treatment via a reverse osmosis treatment plant and discharge to Ulan Creek. The water balance for Ulan will be revised and impacts on surface water systems will be assessed. A detailed surface water assessment will be 2.4 Dust Generation Degradation of air quality. The extension to open cut operations has the potential to result in air quality impacts and will be assessed A detailed air quality assessment will be 2.5 ise Generation The extension to open cut operations has the potential to result in noise impacts and will be assessed A detailed noise assessment will be 2.6 Visual Amenity Aesthetics of mine surface facilities. Views of open cut operations are generally screened from private residents and other viewing areas by the surrounding topography, however an assessment of visual impacts will be An assessment of visual impacts will be 2.7 Energy Use Emission of greenhouse gases. Mining operations will result in the use of electricity, diesel and petrol. An assessment of greenhouse gas emissions will be An assessment of greenhouse gas emissions will be 2.8 Ecology Loss of native flora and fauna. The extension to open cut operations at Ulan will result in the disturbance of previously undisturbed vegetation and may result in ecological impacts Blasting 2.10 Cultural Heritage ise and vibration community complaints. Possible non-compliance. Penalty Infringement tice. Blasting will need to be undertaken in the open cut extension area and therefore an assessment of potential impacts on surrounding private residences will be undertaken. Cultural heritage sites are highly likely to be present in the proposed open cut extension area and a detailed assessment will be completed. 1 B-Likely 2 An assessment of potential impacts from blasting will be undertaken Rehabilitation n-compliance with Mining Operations Plan. Business risks for future approvals. A conceptual final landform and details of proposed rehabilitation will be included in the Assessment A conceptual final landform and details of proposed rehabilitation will be included in the Assessment Underground Mining Ulan West & Ulan Existing Groundwater Impacts on private water bores and impacts on Goulburn River and Talbragar River. Water management is a key issue for Ulan. Open cut and underground mining has the potential to result in depressurisation of groundwater resources and other associated impacts. A detailed groundwater model will be developed for the project to assess impacts on groundwater systems. 2 C-Moderate 8 A detailed groundwater assessment will be 3.2 Surface Water of extracted water from underground operations Contamination of clean water. Water management is a key issue for Ulan. Ulan has a net water excess that requires management. This is currently achieved through on site storage, irrigation to the Bobadeen irrigation scheme, treatment via a reverse osmosis treatment plant and discharge to Ulan Creek. The water balance for Ulan will be revised and impacts on surface water systems will be assessed. 1 1 A detailed surface water assessment will be 2423/R05/A4 4

7 Risk Assessment 3.3 ise Generation ise from surface infrastructure associated with underground mining activities, such as dewatering and ventilation infrastructure, should be minimal but has the potential to impact on private residences, particularly to the northwest of the Ulan West underground. There is substantial buffer land between Ulan. 3 and private residences. A detailed noise assessment will be 3.4 Visual Amenity Aesthetics of mine surface facilities. The majority of new infrastructure associated with underground mining at Ulan will be constructed in areas already dominated by infrastructure associated with current operations, with the exception of dewatering and ventilation infrastructure in the northeast and northwest of the project area. An assessment of visual impacts will be An assessment of visual impacts will be 3.5 Energy use and gas drainage Emission of greenhouse gases. Mining operations will result in the use of electricity, diesel and petrol. Ulan underground operations do not generate significant methane and therefore greenhouse gas generation in ventilation air is not a significant issue An assessment of greenhouse gas emissions will be An assessment of greenhouse gas emissions will be 3.6 Mine Closure Inadequate mine closure leaving post mining liability. Operations A conceptual final landform and details of proposed rehabilitation and mine closure will be included in the Assessment 2 E-Rare 16 A conceptual final landform and details of proposed rehabilitation and mine closure will be included in the Assessment 3.7 Subsidence Impact on Archaeological sites. Impacts on Groundwater. Impacts on residential structures (Ulan West / Bobadeen Homestead). Cracking of overburden and streams. Impacts on creeks/watercourses. Subsidence from underground mining has the potential to impact on surface features such as landform, water resources, buildings, heritage sites and ecological features. Subsidence predictions will be modeled for the project taking into consideration the considerable volume of data collected from current and past underground operations at Ulan. 3 6 A detailed assessment of subsidence impacts will be 3.8 Ecology Loss of native flora and fauna. While the ecological impacts associated with underground mining are expected to be minimal, a detailed assessment will be 3.9 Cultural Heritage Numerous Aboriginal heritage sites are located within the underground mining areas at Ulan. A detailed assessment of the impacts on these sites will be undertaken focusing on significant sites. Operation of Coal Handling Infrastructure OC&UG- - Including Conveyors / Stockpiling / Crusher and Sizing Plant / CHPP / Rail Load Out Facilities. 4.1 ise Generation. ise emissions i from surface infrastructure t including coal handling infrastructure has the potential to impact on private residents and will be assessed 2 3 A detailed noise assessment will be 4.2 Dust Generation Degradation of air quality. Dust emissions from surface infrastructure including coal handling infrastructure has the potential to impact on private residents and will be assessed A detailed air quality assessment will be 4.3 Visual Degradation of visual amenity. The majority of new coal handling infrastructure will be constructed in areas already dominated by infrastructure associated with current operations. An assessment of visual impacts will be An assessment of visual impacts will be 4.4 Energy Use Emission of greenhouse gases. Coal handling infrastructure will result in the use of electricity. An assessment of greenhouse gas emissions will be undertaken An assessment of greenhouse gas emissions will be 4.5 Water Contamination of clean water. The majority of proposed coal handling infrastructure will be located within the water management system of existing operations. The need for further water management controls will be considered in the Surface Water assessment A detailed surface water assessment will be 2423/R05/A4 5

8 Risk Assessment The majority of proposed coal handing infrastructure will be located within areas already disturbed by current operations at 4.6 Cultural Heritage Ulan. Impacts on Aboriginal heritage sites will be associated with the construction of coal handling infrastructure not its ongoing operation. However the Cultural Heritage assessment for the project will consider any further areas proposed to be disturbed for the establishment of coal handling infrastructure. 4.7 European Heritage Disturbance of European heritage sites. The majority of proposed coal handing infrastructure will be located within areas already disturbed by current operations at Ulan. It is unlikely that European heritage sites would be located in areas proposed for the establishment of additional coal handling infrastructure. Impacts on European Heritage site will be associated with the construction of coal handling infrastructure not its ongoing operation.however the European Heritage assessment for the project will consider any further areas proposed to be disturbed for the establishment of coal handling infrastructure. Aboriginal i heritage values will be undertaken. European heritage values will be undertaken. 4.8 Ecology Loss of flora and fauna. The majority of proposed coal handing infrastructure will be located within areas already disturbed by current operations at Ulan. Impacts on ecology will be associated with the construction of coal handling infrastructure not its ongoing operation. However an ecological assessment for the project will consider any further areas proposed to be disturbed for the establishment of coal handling infrastructure. Tailings and Reject OC & UG 5.1 ise Generation. The operation of infrastructure associated with the handling and storage of tailings and coal reject has the potential to result in noise impacts, particularly in Ulan village. A detailed noise assessment will be 5.2 Dust Generation Degradation of air quality. The operation of infrastructure associated with the handling and storage of tailings and coal reject has the potential to result in air quality impacts, particularly in Ulan village. A detailed air quality assessment will be 5.3 Water Contamination of waterways and aquifers. The handling and transport of tailings and coal reject will be considered in the surface water assessment A detailed surface water assessment will be 5.4 Groundwater Impacts on Goulburn River. The potential impacts on groundwater systems from the storage of tailings in old mining voids will be considered in the groundwater assessment 2 D-Unlikely 12 A detailed groundwater assessment will be Storage and Materials Complex - Including waste, hydrocarbons & explosives. 5.5 The propensity for spontaneous combustion due to the Spontaneous Impacts on Air quality & emplacement of coal reject in overburden emplacement areas Combustion o rehabilitation will be addressed in the Assessment e for the project. 5.6 Mine Closure 6.1 Hydrocarbon/Chemical Inadequate mine closure leaving post mining liability. Water/Soil Contamination. Operations A conceptual final landform and details of proposed rehabilitation and mine closure will be included in the Assessment The handling and storage of hydrocarbons and other chemicals will be addressed in the Assessment for the project. 2 E-Rare 16 The propensity for spontaneous combustion due to the emplacement of coal reject in overburden emplacement areas will be addressed in the Assessment A conceptual final landform and details of proposed rehabilitation and mine closure will be included in the Assessment The handling and storage of hydrocarbons and other chemicals will be addressed in the Assessment 2423/R05/A4 6

9 XCN Risk Assessment Matrix Tool 2423/R05/A4 1

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