All 16 open cut coal mines in the Upper Hunter had submitted a blast fume management strategy to the department and three strategies had been endorsed by last November, the department said.
The endorsed strategies are for Coal & Allied’s Hunter Valley operations and Mt Thorley-Warkworth mines and BHP Billiton’s Mt Arthur mine.
“During 2012, the department’s Singleton compliance office has been meeting with the Upper Hunter mining industry, including at a workshop in June, to find solutions to reduce the number and size of blast fumes,” it said.
“Mine blasts can, from time to time, result in a large orange-coloured fume that drifts outside the mine site. There are a range of causes for these blast fumes, including water penetration into the blast hole, unfavourable ground conditions or use of the wrong product. They can cause significant concern among the community.
“There has been genuine goodwill and action from the mining companies to better manage this issue.”
In August 2012, the department requested coal mines in the Upper Hunter to provide a blast fume management strategy. These strategies outline the procedures the mines will take to reduce blast fume issues.
The Singleton office received 27 complaints during November, including 18 for noise, six for dust, one for blasting and two for other compliance issues.
The department of planning contacted the relevant mines in relation to these complaints, but none led to a warning or advisory letter or fine.
