A Fine for Dirty Water Discharge
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Business
Wollongong Coal has been fined $30,000 after its Russell Vale coal mine discharged dirty water into Bellambi Gully in December last year
Peter Bloem, EPA manager for the Illawarra region said the pollution happened when a faulty water sprinkler used for dust suppression and an unsealed inspection portal in a coal stockpile area enabled coal fines to discharge from the operation into Bellambi Gully. The two fines, for both the pollution of waters and inadequate maintenance of plant and equipment, equated to $30,000.
Bloem added that the penalty was in addition to the clean up direction the EPA issued to the company immediately after the incident.
“Water management at this mine is critical given its sensitive location on the foothills of the Illawarra escarpment and its discharge through residential areas of Bellambi Gully to Bellambi Beach,” he said.
“The onus is on Wollongong Coal to demonstrate to the EPA and the local community that they have taken and continue to undertake all practical measures to prevent water pollution,” Bloem added.
Apart from penalty notices, the EPA can also use license conditions, mandatory audits, formal warnings, legally binding pollution reduction programs, and prosecutions to achieve environmental compliance.
Source: Australian Mining
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- Pollution
- Water Management
- Pipeline Installation & Maintenance