BHP Billiton Mt Arthur Coal has accepted responsibility for the February 2014 blast event, which caused community concern by pleading guilty to an offence of omitting an offensive odour in the Land and Environment Court.
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The company also apologises to the community for the incident.
The blast event generated fume and odour, which was carried outside the mine’s premises, to the adjoining Thomas Mitchell Drive industrial estate.
Mt Arthur Coal’s general manager of open cut operations Xavier Wagner said the company regretted any impacts caused by the event and continued to work to improve its blasting activities.
“Since February 2014, Mt Arthur Coal has thoroughly reviewed the factors that contributed to the event and implemented a number of changes and improvements to the way blasting activities are managed on site,” he said.
“In order to ensure the review of our plans and procedures was comprehensive, Mt Arthur Coal engaged a third party blasting expert to conduct the review.
“As a result of the review, we have:
* Changed the explosive products used for blast activities in the northern areas of the mine;
* Amended the processes followed immediately prior to blasting;
* Improved weather forecasting methods; and
* Installed an additional weather station to improve the availability of meteorological data.
“Mt Arthur Coal also updated its Blast Fume Management Plan and stemming practices, and updated its site emergency response plan for blast events.
“We continue to look for improvement opportunities and we will implement changes as required with the aim to ensure that no further odour events occur as a result of blasting at Mt Arthur Coal,” he said.
Justice Pain imposed a penalty of $58,500 for the offence.
In accordance with the decision, Mt Arthur Coal will also meet the NSW EPA’s legal costs.
The amount of $58,500 will be paid to the Muswellbrook Shire Council to fund its Wood Smoke Reduction Program.
This program includes a cash rebate for eligible community members who switch their existing wood fire heater to a cleaner form of heating and will raise greater community awareness of the benefits of cleaner forms of heating.
“Mt Arthur Coal takes its environmental and community obligations very seriously,” Mr Wagner said.
“We again apologise to any community members who were affected by the blast event and would like to assure them of our increased efforts to improve our blasting procedures.”
