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NSW Coal Mining Benchmarking Study for DECCW
There is growing community concern regarding both the health and amenity impacts associated with particle emissions from coal mining in NSW.
Katestone Environmental was commissioned by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) to conduct a review of coal mining activities in the Greater Metropolitan Region of NSW. The primary focus of the review was to:
- Identify the major sources of particles from coal mines (i.e. TSP, PM10 and PM2.5) and rank them in terms of the cause of offsite impacts
- Identify current operational practices and emission controls for minimising particle emissions from coal mining
- Research and identify international best practice to prevent and/or minimise particle emissions from all activities associated with coal mining including land rehabilitation
- Evaluate the practicality of implementing best practice at coal mines in the Greater Metropolitan Region
“ There is growing community concern regarding both the health and amenity impacts associated with particle emissions from coal mining in NSW.”
The objectives of the study were to:
- Review international best practice measures to prevent and/or minimise particle emissions from all activities associated with NSW coal mines, including land rehabilitation
- Compare international best practice measures to prevent and/or minimise particle emissions with those currently used at NSW coal mines
- Make recommendations regarding the adoption of international best practice measures that could be practicably implemented in NSW at existing and proposed coal mines
- Estimate the likely reduction in particle emissions associated with adopting each international best practice measure at NSW coal mines
- Estimate the costs associated with adopting each international best practice measure at NSW coal mines
Katestone Environmental has produced a report detailing the findings of the review and benchmarking study. The report, NSW Coal Mining Benchmarking Study: International Best Practice Measures to Prevent and/or Minimise Emissions of Particulate Matter from Coal Mining, can be obtained from the DECCW website.