THE NSW Environment Protection Authority is continuing to monitor the clean-up actions and investigate environmental impacts after last week’s incident when coal fines and course reject material spilled from Clarence Colliery site and ‘entered the surrounding environment.’
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EPA CEO Barry Buffier and Chief Environmental Regulator Mark Gifford inspected the mine site with EPA officers including examining impacts to the Wollangambe River.
“This is clearly a major incident and the EPA is mobilising significant resources in response,” Mr Buffier said.
The EPA issued a notice to Centennial Coal on Friday which outlined strict clean-up requirements including the installation of silt fences between the mine site and the Wollangambe River to prevent any further impact and the clean-up of the coal fine material that deposited in the river and 50 metres above it.
“EPA inspections verified that silt fences had been installed and the clean-up is progressing,” he said.
“Clean-up activities are expected to continue for some time given the extent of the incident and the difficult terrain in which the material has been deposited.
“Officers from the EPA will be onsite over the coming weeks to continue to monitor the clean-up.”
Mr Buffier said the EPA is continuing its investigation into the cause of the incident and is receiving expert scientific advice about the environmental impact.
“The EPA will review analysis of water samples which are expected to be received early next week.
“This will inform further clean-up requirements.
“The EPA’s legal investigation is also continuing,” he said.
