1

SUMMARY

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AIR QUALITY

The Hume Coal project has considered and minimised air quality impacts from the initial design phase of the project’s development. The results of the dust modelling conducted for the construction and operational phases of the project indicate that the predicted levels of dust due to the project will “be below applicable air quality assessment criteria, and minor relative to existing ambient conditions”.

When these incremental increases in concentrations are combined with those from neighbouring emission sources, the “combined concentrations are well below applicable impact assessment criteria”.

Analysis of the cumulative effects of the project, neighbouring emission sources and ambient background levels shows that the potential for exceedance of applicable NSW EPA assessment criteria as a result of the project is very low.

Associate Professor David McKenzie, who conducted the health assessment of the project, concluded that given the minor incremental increase in particulate matter and dust generated by the project - over and above ambient levels “the health impact is so small as to be immeasurable and well below the regulatory criteria”.

Ongoing management and reporting of dust monitoring results will be undertaken throughout the project life.

KEY FINDINGS

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SUMMARY

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AIR QUALITY

Particulate matter is typically measured in three size fractions:• Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) - this refers

to all particulates suspended in the air, but they are typically less than 100 micrometres (or microns) in diameter (a micrometre is one thousandth of a millimetre i.e 100 micrometres equals 0.1 mm)

• PM10 (up to 10 micrometres in diameter); and• PM2.5 (up to 2.5 micrometres in diameter).

It is important to note that PM2.5 is a subset of PM10

so the reported concentrations of PM10 contain all of the PM2.5 present. Similarly, PM10 is a subset of TSP.

Annual average concentrations of particulate matter in the Southern Highlands are typically:• TSP - 37.6 micrograms per cubic metre• PM10 - 14.3 micrograms per cubic metre, and• PM2.5 - 6.3 micrograms per cubic metre.

A microgram is one-millionth of a gram.

The potential effects of the Hume Coal project on air quality were investigated in the Air Quality Impact Assessment (AQIA). A further assessment was undertaken using the results of the AQIA to examine whether the project will have any adverse health effects on people living in the local area.

The AQIA considered the full range of potential weather conditions based on weather data from both Hume Coal weather instruments as well as the Bureau of Meterology weather station in Moss Vale.

It also took into consideration the management and mitigation measures proposed by Hume Coal, including:• Covering of all rail wagons • Use of the latest generation of locomotives which

emit less particulate matter than older generations of locomotive

• Enclosed coal conveyors• Enclosed coal processing plant and train loading

facility• Returning coal reject material underground• Use of stacker/reclaimers rather than bulldozers• Proactive management of dust suppression on

stockpiles.

INTRODUCTION

EXISTING AIR QUALITY IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS

Natural Sources: • Sea salt, • wind erosion, • plants, • bushfires,• volcanoes

Man-made sources:• Farming, • wood fires,• motor vehicles• industrial plants• earthworks

Particulate matter (PM) - or dust - is always present in the atmosphere. Sources of dust can be natural or man-made:

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SUMMARY

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AIR QUALITY

The assessment identified a number of potential sources of dust from the Hume Coal project, including:• Wind erosion from coal stockpiles• Ventilation air from the underground operations• Conveyor belts and transfer stations• Coal handling and preparation plant• Stacking and reclaiming of coal• Rail loading• Movement of vehicles• Emissions from mobile plant and locomotives

The fact the Hume Coal project is an underground mine is a significant mitigating factor when it comes to air quality, compared to the dust impacts from open cut mines.

The chart below shows how underground mines compare to open cut mines in terms of dust emissions, normalised to the annual production volume. It also shows that the newer mines like Dendrobium and Mandalong tend to have lower dust emissions than some older operations.

POTENTIAL DUST SOURCES FROM HUME COAL PROJECT

PM EMISSIONS PER MILLIONS

TONNES OF ANNUAL

PRODUCTION

PM10

PM2.5

OPEN CUT MINES UNDERGROUND MINES

HUME COAL PROJECT

Reference: Katestone Environmental Pty Ltd (2011), NSW Coal Mining Benchmarking Study: International Best Practice

Measures to Prevent and/or Minimise Emissions of Particulate Matter from Coal Mining, Prepared for the NSW Office of

Environment and Heritage.

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SUMMARY

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AIR QUALITY

An air quality model was developed for the project in order to predict the potential effect on air quality of the project. This model was developed according to the standards set down by the Environmental Protection Agency, and utilised weather data (at 10-minute intervals) from local Hume and Bureau of Meterology weather stations, as well as local and regional base-line air quality monitoring. The model includes:• the dust emissions generated by activities at the

project;• emissions from neighbouring sources of dust;• local weather patterns (such as wind speed/

direction and temperatures), particularly calm and adverse conditions;

• local topography (such as the locations of hills and valleys); and

• emission reduction measures that will be used (such as watering exposed surfaces)

The model considered the potential for air quality impacts during both construction and operations, using two sets of weather station data - Hume Coal’s weather station, and the Bureau of Meteorology weather station in Moss Vale. A full 12 months’ worth of weather data from each weather station was used

in the modelling, at ten minute recorded intervals. The worst-case was then used for the assessment.

The modelling results were compared to air quality criteria, the maximum permissible particulate matter levels set by government policy. The model also considered Hume Coal project emissions in combination with neighbouring developments and naturally occurring emissions to find out if adding the project to the existing background levels would lead to the criteria being exceeded more frequently.

The figures below show the predicted worst-case annual average concentrations at the individual receptor (i.e. measurement location) which would receive the worst possible effect from Hume Coal activities. The figures include both the construction and operation phases. The figures show the maximum allowable concentrations (i.e. permitted by government), the contribution from Hume Coal activities, the impact of other industry sources, the background (or ambient) levels, and the totals.

The assessment predicted that the cumulative annual average concentrations to be below the applicable assessment criteria (i.e. maximum allowable levels) even at the most affected locations.

ASSESSMENT

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Other Industry Sources

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Maximum Allowable Concentration

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MAXIMUM IMPACT CASE FOR HUME COAL ACTIVITIES

ANNUAL PM10

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MAXIMUM IMPACT CASE FOR HUME COAL ACTIVITIES

ANNUAL TSP

Figure 2 Predicted annual average PM10 at the location most affected by Hume Coal activities during construction and operation.

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SUMMARY

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AIR QUALITY

Figure 1 Predicted annual average total suspended solids (TSP) at the location most affected by Hume Coal activities during construction and operation.

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MAXIMUM IMPACT CASE FOR HUME COAL ACTIVITIES ANNUAL PM2.5

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SUMMARY

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AIR QUALITY

Figure 3 Predicted annual average PM2.5 at the location most affected by Hume Coal activities during construction and operation.

The health impact assessment was carried out by Associate Professor David McKenzie, of the University of New South Wales. Dr McKenzie reviewed the air quality, noise and vibration assessment and undertook an assessment to addresses the likely impacts on community health from exposure to air emissions and noise from the project, considering the direct health effects from both short-term and long-term exposure.

The relevant goals for ambient air quality are set by the National Environment Protection Council. The standards for air quality referred to in the health impact assessment are from the National Environment Protection Measure - NEPM.

The health assessment concluded that:

“the predictions for the highest levels of PM10, PM2.5 and gaseous pollutants from the project, both during peak construction and peak operation, show the project’s emissions will be small compared with background levels and that the cumulative levels will be well below the applicable regulatory criteria. The NEPM standards are unlikely to be exceeded other than when they are due to external events such as dust storms or bushfires. The health impact is so small as to be immeasurable and well below the regulatory criteria”

HEALTH ASSESSMENT

The Hume Coal project has considered and minimised air quality impacts from the initial design phase of the project’s development. The results of the dust modelling conducted for the construction and operational phases of the project indicate that the predicted levels of dust due to the project will “be below applicable air quality assessment criteria, and minor relative to existing ambient conditions”.

When these incremental increases in concentrations are combined with those from neighbouring emission sources, the “combined concentrations are well below applicable impact assessment criteria”.

Analysis of the cumulative effects of the project, neighbouring emission sources and ambient

background levels shows that the potential for exceedance of applicable NSW EPA assessment criteria as a result of the project is very low.

Associate Professor David McKenzie, who conducted the health assessment of the project, concluded that given the minor incremental increase in particulate matter and dust generated by the project - over and above ambient levels “the health impact is so small as to be immeasurable and well below the regulatory criteria”.

Ongoing management and reporting of dust monitoring results will be undertaken throughout the project life.

CONCLUSION

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Hume Coal Main OfficeUnit 7-8, Clarence House 9 Clarence StreetMoss Vale, NSW 2577Phone 02 4869 8200

Berrima Community ShopPost Office CornerShop 3/30 Old Hume HighwayBerrima NSW 2577Phone 02 4877 2481

Hume Coal Pty. Ltd.ABN 90 070 017 784

Engagement HQ www.yoursay.humecoal.com.au E info@humecoal.com.au

flty

SUMMARYAIR QUALITY

Hume Coal will use extensive air quality management and mitigation measures to minimise dust emissions:• using stackers and reclaimers on coal stockpiles

rather than dozers;• maintain coal stockpiles above the “dust

extinguishing moisture” level of the coal;• covering or fully enclosing major fixed plant on

the surface such as crushers, coal preparation plant and conveyor transfers;

• using coal reject for the partial backfilling of underground workings, rather than in permanent surface emplacements;

• revegetation of disturbed surfaces such as topsoil stockpiles as soon as practicable following construction;

• using water sprays on coal stockpiles, which react to real-time wind monitoring; and

• covering rail wagons.

An air quality and weather monitoring network in and around the project area measures dust and weather conditions in real-time and monitoring will continue throughout the project’s construction and operation.

An air quality monitoring plan will document the monitoring locations, methods and reporting requirements. The daily and annual average PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations and monthly average dust levels will be made publically available.

AIR QUALITY MITIGATION, MONITORING AND REPORTING