On this occasion, the Muswellbrook-based company was penalised $11,500 for allegedly failing to conduct noise monitoring of its activities and providing the EPA with a false or misleading annual return.

The quarry is required under its licence to undertake regular noise monitoring to ensure that activities being carried out comply with noise limits, and reduce the impact on surrounding neighbours.

EPA acting director Hunter Amiette Wakenshaw said the operator of East Quarry had been fined for the same issue in 2018, stating the EPA had made their expectations clear.

"It is disappointing that the quarry operator appears to have again failed to undertake the required noise monitoring after being penalised for the same offence just one year ago," she explained.

In addition to the noise monitoring, the operator of the East Quarry provided false or misleading information to the EPA regarding compliance in their annual return.

"The operator provided the EPA with their most recent annual return indicating that they had complied with all conditions of their licence when the EPA alleges they had not done so," Ms Wakenshaw said.

"The provision of false or misleading information is a matter that the EPA takes seriously."

Penalty notices are one of several tools the EPA can use to achieve environmental compliance including formal warnings, official cautions, licence conditions, notices and directions and prosecutions.

For more information about the EPA's regulatory tools, see the EPA Compliance Policy at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/legislation/prosguid.htm