Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ...............................................................................................1 1.1 Registration Requirements ..................................................................................................1 1.2 Proponent Information ........................................................................................................1 1.2.1 Business Principles and Policies.............................................................................3 1.3 Context and Background.....................................................................................................5 1.3.1 Historic Coal Mining in Sydney Coal Field............................................................5 1.3.2 Exploration Agreement and License.......................................................................6 1.4 The Project ..........................................................................................................................7 1.4.1 Project Location and the Resource Block ...............................................................7 1.4.2 Land Holdings.........................................................................................................8 1.4.3 Project Parameters ..................................................................................................8 1.4.4 Existing and Proposed Site Infrastructure...............................................................9 1.4.5 Completion of Tunnel Dewatering .........................................................................9 1.5 Project Justification ...........................................................................................................10 1.6 Spatial and Temporal Boundaries .....................................................................................11 1.7 Regulatory Context ...........................................................................................................11 1.7.1 Provincial ..............................................................................................................11 1.7.2 Federal...................................................................................................................13 1.7.3 Municipal ..............................................................................................................14 1.8 Study Team .......................................................................................................................14 1.9 Structure of the Document ................................................................................................15 Chapter 2 The Project ..............................................................................................17 2.1 Evaluation Process ............................................................................................................17 2.1.1 Coal Quality and Quantity ....................................................................................17 2.1.2 Geotechnical .........................................................................................................17 2.1.3 Gas Regime...........................................................................................................18 2.1.4 Hydrology .............................................................................................................18 2.1.5 Underground Work Conditions.............................................................................18 2.2 Physical Components ........................................................................................................18 2.2.1 Continuous Mining Equipment and Infrastructure ...............................................19 2.2.2 Coal Handling Infrastructure ................................................................................22 2.2.3 Civil Works and Utilities ......................................................................................23 2.2.4 Trucking on Public Roadways ..............................................................................26 CBCL Limited Land Use and Environment Division 081235 – Donkin Exploration Class 1 EA - Contents 1 2.3 Sustainable Development Framework...............................................................................28 2.3.1 Health and Safety..................................................................................................28 2.3.2 Environmental Management System ....................................................................29 2.3.3 Monitoring ............................................................................................................30 2.3.4 Training.................................................................................................................30 2.3.5 Public Information / Community Engagement .....................................................30 2.4 Project Activities ...............................................................................................................30 2.4.1 Site Preparation and Construction.........................................................................30 2.4.2 Operation and Maintenance ..................................................................................32 2.4.3 Decommissioning and Reclamation......................................................................34 2.5 Project Schedule................................................................................................................35 2.6 Anticipated Emissions and Waste Streams .......................................................................36 2.6.1 Dust.......................................................................................................................36 2.6.2 Site Run-off...........................................................................................................36 2.6.3 Underground Tunnel Water ..................................................................................36 2.6.4 Sanitary Sewage....................................................................................................37 2.6.5 Solid Wastes..........................................................................................................37 2.6.6 Hazardous Materials .............................................................................................37 2.6.7 Noise .....................................................................................................................37 2.6.8 Light......................................................................................................................38 Chapter 3 Environmental Work Program..................................................................39 3.1 The Environmental Assessment Process...........................................................................39 3.2 Research and Field Work Undertaken...............................................................................40 3.2.1 Secondary Data Research......................................................................................41 3.3 Field Programs ..................................................................................................................44 3.3.1 Physical Environment ...........................................................................................44 3.3.2 Ecological Environment........................................................................................52 3.3.3 Socio-Economic Programs....................................................................................58 Chapter 4 Environmental Baseline...........................................................................61 4.1 Context ..............................................................................................................................61 4.2 Regional and Local Setting ...............................................................................................61 4.3 Physical Environment........................................................................................................62 4.3.1 Climatology and Meteorology ..............................................................................62 4.3.2 Topography and Physical Characteristics .............................................................65 4.3.3 Surface and Subsurface Geology ..........................................................................65 CBCL Limited Land Use and Environment Division 081235 – Donkin Exploration Class 1 EA - Contents 2 4.3.4 Site Hydrogeology ................................................................................................66 4.3.5 Hydrology .............................................................................................................73 4.3.6 Air Quality ............................................................................................................77 4.3.7 Noise .....................................................................................................................80 4.4 Ecological Environment....................................................................................................81 4.4.1 Terrestrial Habitats and Site Vegetation ...............................................................81 4.4.2 Wetlands ...............................................................................................................84 4.4.3 Species at Risk and of Conservation Concern ......................................................87 4.4.4 Birds......................................................................................................................89