In August Peabody was fined $A13,000 and ordered to pay $24,000 in legal costs after it pleaded guilty in a Singleton court case over a blast fume incident in mid-2012.

The EPA, which championed this court win, has started a new case against Wambo in the Land and Environment Court based on the fumes from a May 14, 2014,blast.

“Almost immediately following the blast the EPA received reports from the community concerning the blast,” EPA said last week.

“In response to the incident the EPA commenced an investigation and requested an immediate report from the mining company as well as video footage of the blast.”