Mod 3 - Extension

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I was around in the early nineties when Mt Pleasant was first proposed. According to an article in the SMH at the time (A copy I might still have), the mine (Mt Pleasant) was going to be ROM (run of mine) production of 10.5 million tons of coal a year. This was the equivalent of 2/3rds the total annual production of UK open cut mining. I think in England they referred to it as open cast mining. The number of open cast mines in the UK was about 132. Since the nineties the Australian mines have become bigger, greenhouse level contributions from this industry has sky rocketed and several ex politicians involved in the planning and tendering of mines have been chucked in jail. The increasing northern position of the Mt Pleasant mine will insure the town of Muswellbrook will be in the firing line of dust emissions caused by the mining process. Coal is not the only form of dust (contributor of black lung and other problems) but the dust (silica) from the actual mining process in open cuts is usually ignored. (Not mentioned). A typical hot north westerly summer wind will ensure Muswellbrook will be covered in the stuff and the late winter westerlies will make their contribution also. Would not do much for the future Muswellbrook real estate, let alone the health of its children

Silicosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in tiny bits of silica, a mineral that is part of sand, rock, and mineral ores such as quartz. It mostly affects workers exposed to silica dust in occupations such mining, glass manufacturing, and foundry work. Even low exposure levels can cause chronic silicosis. Silica dust particles act as tiny blades on the lungs. These particles create small cuts that can scare lung tissue when inhaled through the nose or mouth.

The fact open cut mining can run at a ratio of 1 to 7. ie; for every ton of coal mined you are moving, stacking and dumping into a void seven tonnes of overburden. There is also the need to form onsite transport roads etc. To think approximately a billion tonnes of overburden is created in NSW through coal mining alone is not unrealistic. Potential for an awful lot of trouble

http://www.hugoneighborhood.org/ELUT%207A1b%29%281%29%20Silica%20Dust%20-%20Gravel%20Pit%20Flyer.pdf

Another issue that concerns me is the term "Rehabilitation" used to describe the returning of the mining site to its original pre mining state. To use that term on a so called restored mining site is actually misleading. How can one use the term "rehabilitation" when 150/200 mtrs of underground geological strata is smashed during mining and then thrown back down into the void along with unsaleable coal as I witnessed several years ago during the coal glut.

In situ the original geology can hold separated, different water types, ie Alkaline, salty and drinking quality water and also contain in place heavy metals etc. To say one can rehabilitate that part of a major mining site is incorrect. Hence the word rehabilitation is a furphy.



Best Regards
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refer to attached

Please see uploaded submission

Please find attached the HTBA's submission on the Mount Pleasant Modification 3 Environmental Impact Assessment

Please find attached Godolphin Australia's submission on the Mount Pleasant Modification 3 Environmental Impact Assessment.

Please find attached Scone Equine Hospital's submission