May 2015 Independent Environmental Audit - Metropolitan Coal Trevor Brown & Associates APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS REPORT: MC/REV2/JANUARY2016 Independent Environmental Audit May 2015 Metropolitan Coal Project Independent Environmental Audit Metropolitan Coal Project May 2015 trevor brown & associates applied environmental management consultants REPORT: MC/REV3/JANUARY2016 trevor brown & associates 1 | P a g e Independent Environmental Audit May 2015 Metropolitan Coal Project DISTRIBUTION Copies Recipient Copies Recipient 1 pdf Electronic Copy This document was prepared for the sole use of Peabody Energy and Helensburgh Coal Company Pty Ltd, the regulatory agencies that are directly involved in this project, as the only intended beneficiaries of our work. No other party should rely on the information contained herein without the prior written consent of trevor brown & associates. by trevor brown & associates ABN: 65 850 181 279 42 Skiff Street Vincentia NSW 2540 18 January 2016 Trevor Brown Principal Environmental Consultant/Auditor trevor brown & associates 2 | P a g e Independent Environmental Audit May 2015 Metropolitan Coal Project Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ 7 1. ............................................................................................................................................ Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 11 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................... 11 1.2 Scope of Work ....................................................................................................................... 11 1.3 Structure of the Report .......................................................................................................... 12 1.4 Compliance Table ................................................................................................................. 12 2. ................................................................................................ Metropolitan Coal Project Development .............................................................................................................................................................. 13 2.1 Historical Outline of Metropolitan Colliery Development ....................................................... 13 2.2 Metropolitan Colliery Current Operations .............................................................................. 13 3. ....................................................................................... Metropolitan Coal Project Status – May 2015 .............................................................................................................................................................. 15 3.1 Surface Facilities Area .......................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Underground Mining .............................................................................................................. 16 4. ....................................................................................................... Consents, Approvals and Licenses .............................................................................................................................................................. 18 4.1 Development Consents and Project Approvals .................................................................... 18 4.1 Project Approval .................................................................................................................... 18 4.2 Extraction Plan Approval ....................................................................................................... 18 4.3 Environment Protection Licence ........................................................................................... 19 4.4 Mining Leases ....................................................................................................................... 19 5. ................................................................................................. Review of Environmental Management .............................................................................................................................................................. 20 5.1.1 Environmental Management ................................................................................................ 20 5.1.1 Environmental Management Strategy .............................................................................. 20 5.1.2 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 20 5.2 Environmental Management Plans .................................................................................. 20 5.2.1 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 25 5.3 Catchment Management ....................................................................................................... 25 5.3.1 Performance Measures .................................................................................................... 26 5.3.2 Catchment Monitoring Program ........................................................................................ 26 5.3.3 Environmental Assessment Predictions ............................................................................ 27 5.3.4 Environmental Assessment Commitments ....................................................................... 28 5.3.5 Commitments in Catchment Monitoring Program ............................................................. 29 5.3.4 Catchment Monitoring Program - Surface Water Monitoring ........................................... 30 5.3.5 Catchment Monitoring Assessment .................................................................................. 32 trevor brown & associates 3 | P a g e Independent Environmental Audit May 2015 Metropolitan Coal Project 5.3.4 Review of Catchment Monitoring Program Performance.................................................. 34 5.3.5 Matters Raised by Relevant Agencies .............................................................................. 35 5.3.6 Catchment Management Plan Conclusions ...................................................................... 35 5.4 Extraction Plans .................................................................................................................... 35 5.4.1 Extraction Plan – Long-walls 20-22.................................................................................. 35 5.4.2 Extraction Plan –Long-walls 23-27................................................................................... 37 5.4.3 Extraction Plan - Sub-Plans ............................................................................................. 38 5.4.4 Environmental Assessment Subsidence Predictions ....................................................... 43 5.4.5 Subsidence Assessment .................................................................................................. 44 5.4.6 Conclusions Subsidence .................................................................................................. 50 5.5 Research Program ................................................................................................................ 50 5.5.1 Research Program Implementation .................................................................................. 50 5.5.2 Conclusion – Research Program ..................................................................................... 51 5.6 .................................................................................................................. Construction Management .............................................................................................................................................................. 51 5.6.1 Construction Management Plan ........................................................................................ 51 5.6.1 Conclusion - Construction Management .......................................................................... 52 5.7 Noise ..................................................................................................................................... 52 5.7.1 Noise Management Plan ................................................................................................... 52 5.7.2 Commitments in Noise Management Plan ........................................................................ 52 5.7.3 Environmental Assessment Noise Predictions and Commitments .................................. 53 5.7.4 Noise Control Measures Implemented by Metropolitan Colliery ....................................... 54 5.7.5 Rail Noise ......................................................................................................................... 55 5.7.6 Noise Impact Criteria ........................................................................................................ 55 5.7.7 Review of Noise Monitoring Results ................................................................................. 56 5.7.8 Community Complaints ...................................................................................................