EXPLANATION FHMB01 12/04/2011 FHMB01 04/12/2011 FHMB01 05/02/2012 FHMB02 12/04/2011 FHMB02 04/12/2011 FHMB02 05/02/2012 FHMB03 12/04/2011 FHMB03 04/12/2011 FHMB03 05/02/2012 FHMB04 04/12/2011 FHMB04 05/12/2011 FHMB05 04/12/2011 FHMB05 05/12/2011 FHLAKE 12/04/2011 FHLAKE 04/12/2011 FHLAKE 15/05/2011 FHLAKE 03/06/2011 FHLAKE 28/01/2012 FHLAKE 04/03/2012 FHLAKE 11/03/2012 FHSW01 28/01/2012 FHSW01 19/02/2012 FHSW02 03/06/2011 FHSW02 19/02/2012 FHSW02 04/03/2012 FHPIT 09/07/2011 FHPIT 13/12/2010 THPIT 13/12/2010 FHPIT 06/01/2011 FHPIT 06/02/2011 0 100 100 0 CATIONS 0 100 100 0 0 100 100 0-0 100 ANIONS 100 0 Monitoring and Reporting Regulatory Requirements and Implementation Fountain Head 2011/2012 2- SO 4 + Cl - Ca 2+ + Mg 2+ Mg 2+ Na + + K + CO 3 2- + HCO3 2- SO4 Ca 2+ Cl - Michael Fogg Department of Resources Environmental Compliance
Topics covered by this presentation Requirements Northern Territory legislation Mining Management Plan Implementation Difficulties with monitoring in the Northern Territory Protocols and equipment used to overcome difficulties Reporting and the presentation of monitoring results
Requirements The Mining Management Act (MMA) requires mine operators to publicly report their site s level of environmental performance annually Environmental Mining Report (EMR) forms a component of an operator s annually submitted Mining Management Plan (MMP) The EMR will be released to the public following approval of an operator s MMP Commercially sensitive information will be retained by the Department of Resources and not released
Requirements The Mine Management Plan (MMP) summarises previous years activities and highlights changes to mine management for the upcoming year The MMP includes a Water Management Plan (WMP) which contains the bulk of the environmental monitoring, including: Statutory and non statutory monitoring programs for: Surface water Ground water Biological (macroinvertebrate/fisheries data) Presentation of the data Interpretation (trend analysis, ratios and comparison to triggers) Details of incidents affecting water quality Details of actions to address water quality issues Commitments to specific areas for improvement for next reporting period RAW data is forwarded to the Department of Resources Quarterly or as agreed
Implementation - Field Mine sites present difficult conditions Contaminants Access within the mine site (large trucks, explosives unstable rock) Remote locations Northern Territory presents difficult conditions Extreme heat Extreme rainfall and flood events Crocodiles Snakes (and other things that bite!)
Implementation - Field Department of Resources environmental monitoring unit (EMU) EMU have developed a comprehensive range of procedures and equipment to overcome difficulties and ensure the highest possible QA/QC including: Samplers do not wear insect repellent, sunscreen, perfume or make up Produce their own de-ionised water Provide the lab their own sample bottles Operate with a minimum of two staff in the field Have created a variety of devices to sample water from a distance (Crocodiles!) and to prevent exposure to air Use equipment such as helicopters and quad bikes to access difficult locations Have the LAB TRUCK to perform field analysis and sample preparation
Implementation - Field The Lab Truck Filtered, air conditioned Secure Powered Water Contains all field equipment (meters, preservatives, filters)
Implementation - Reporting Departmental officers assess: Monitoring Programs Monitoring locations and frequency need to meet statutory requirements but also facilitate identification of impacts to water quality Quality Control QA/QC data needs to be analysed and interpreted to ensure field procedures and laboratory analysis are adequate Water Quality Trigger Values Surface water triggers determined in accordance with the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality 2000 (ANZECC 2000) Ground water triggers determined based on surrounding and/or future land use, connectivity between surface and ground water ecosystems and baseline data Water quality data and how it is presented
Implementation - Reporting
Implementation - Reporting
Summary Select appropriate monitoring locations, sampling frequency and analysis to identify impacts Develop sampling procedures and provide suitable equipment to ensure: Safety Efficiency QA/QC Ensure reporting contains: Analysis using time series, major ion ratios and comparison to most appropriate trigger values Clearly identify areas of concern and focus on actions to address the issues Serious incidents are required to be identified as soon as practicable
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