1 Introduction. Mine EPL. report. Dear Leonard, J13083L2_24 assessment. operation of. the crusher, RASP Mine. 2015); and

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1 14 January 2016 Leonard Sharp Environment and Community Liaison Officer CBH Resources RASP Mine Broken Hill Operations Pty Ltd 130 Eyre St, Broken Hill, NSW 2880 Level 5, 21 Bolton Street Newcastle NSW 2300 PO Box 506 Newcastle, NSW, 2300 T +61 (0) F +61 (0) E info@emmconsulting.com. au Re: RASP Mine EPL noise monitoring program summary report Dear Leonard, 1 Introduction EMM Consulting Pty Limited (EMM) was engaged to complete an assessment of noise emissions from RASP Mine (Broken Hill, NSW) monitored on a quarterly basis by CBH Resources (CBH) over a 12 month period from November This was required to address Condition U3 of the site's Environmental Protection Licence (EPL) A noise assessment for the proposed 24 hour crusher operation was prepared by EMM in January 2014 (ref: J13083L2_24 hour crusher operation Final_200114). The assessment generally involved the measurement of in situ noise levels from the site s night timbe an insignificant noise contributor in comparison to other operating plant and equipment. Furthermore, during applicable meteorological conditions, noise from the site with the crusher in operation satisfied the project approval (PA) limits. Since submission of the 24 hour crusher noise assessment, the site s EPL has been amended to include 24 hour operations including the crushing plant. The results of the assessment found the crusher to operation of the crusher, and consequently a 12 month quarterly noise monitoring programme was required for RASP Mine as per the EPL, to further verify operating noise levels. This letter report summarises the outcomes of the 12 month quarterly noise monitoring programme and provides a determinationn of the off site noise levels associated with the site s operations. The following material was referenced as part of this assessment: Environment Protection Licence (updated 16 July 2015); and Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Industrial Noise Policy (INP), Planning + Environment + Acoustics J15028L1_EPL Noise Monitoring Summary Report Page 1

2 2 Environmental Protection Licence requirements 2.1 Condition U3 Condition U3 Noise Monitoring of EPL provides specific requirements with regard to noise monitoring and assessment of RASP Mine operations over a 12 month period. The requirements have been reproduced in Table 1. Table 1 EPL condition U3 Noise monitoring Condition U3.1 1) Undertake quarterly noise monitoring of all RASP Mine surface noise activities, commencing November ) Include at least one 15 minute noise measurement at all receptors identified in Condition L4.2 and the most affected residential premises in Iodide Street or Proprietary Square. 3) Collect noise monitoring data in accordance with the NSW Industrial Noise Policy and consistent with meteorological conditions that satisfy condition L4.4. 4) Present the raw monitoring data collected to the EPA within one month of the completion of each of the 3 first quarterly monitoring events. 5) Present a final noise impact assessment report to the EPA by 31 January The report must include assessment data collected consistent with condition U4.1 and determine if the RASP Mine is operating within noise limits detailed at condition L4.2. The report must also comment on the noise impact on the most affected residential premise in Iodide Street or Proprietary Square. Actions taken to comply Operator attended noise monitoring was undertaken by a qualified EMM acoustician in November Operator attended noise monitoring for the remaining three quarterly periods was undertaken by CBH under instructions of EMM. Assessment of RASP Mine noise activities was determined using field notes recorded by CBH staff during the monitoring and data post analysis. This is discussed further in Section 3. Operator attended noise monitoring included at least one 15 minute noise measurement at each location identified in Condition L4.2 during the most sensitive night time period, including at the most affected residential premise in Proprietary Square. Night time periods likely to experience assessable meteorological conditions that satisfy Condition L4.4 were targeted during the monitoring programme. This is discussed further in Section 3. A noise monitoring assessment report was prepared by EMM and sent to the EPA after completion of each quarterly monitoring period. This report presents the final assessment of RASP Mine noise at all locations identified in Condition L4.2, including for the most affected residential premise in Proprietary Square. A summary of the findings from the 12 month monitoring programme is provided in Section 4. Planning + Environment + Acoustics J15028L1_EPL Noise Monitoring Summary Report Page 2

3 2.2 EPL noise limits Section 3, Condition L4 of the EPL (12559) dated 16 July 2015 provides operational noise limits. The attended monitoring locations and associated noise limits are provided in Table 2. An extract of the relevant sections of the EPL pertaining to noise is provided in Appendix A. The L Aeq(15 min) night time limits that are of relevance to this assessment range between 35 to 39 db. Table 2 Operational noise limits Receptor ID Location Operational noise limit, L Aeq(15 min) db Day Evening Night A1 Piper St North A2 Piper St Central A3 Eyre St North A4 Eyre St Central A5 Eyre St South A6 Bonanza and Gypsum Sts A7 Carbon St A8 South Rd A9 Crystal St A10 Garnet and Blende Sts A11 Crystal St A12 Crystal St A Eyre St A14 Piper St North The noise limits do not apply under meteorological conditions nominated in the EPL, as follows: wind speeds greater than 3 m/s at 10 m above ground level; stability category F temperature inversion conditions and wind speeds greater than 2 m/s at 10 m above ground level; or stability category G temperature inversion conditions. Condition L4.3 of the EPL states that modification factors in Section 4 of the INP (EPA 2000) shall also be applied to the measured noise levels where applicable. Section 4 of the INP (EPA 2000) provides guidelines for applying modifying factor adjustments to account for noise characteristics such as low frequency noise emissions. The INP states that where there is a difference of 15 db or more between site C weighted' and site A weighted' noise emission levels, a correction factor of 5 db is added to the measured site noise level before comparison to the relevant noise criterion. This guideline has been applied to this assessment, as presented in Section 4. It is noted that Section of the INP (EPA 2000) identifies that a development is deemed in non compliance if the monitored noise levels from the mine are more than 2 db above the noise limit. This procedure has been adopted for this assessment and is in recognition of field measurement tolerances and human perceptibility to changes in noise levels. Planning + Environment + Acoustics J15028L1_EPL Noise Monitoring Summary Report Page 3

4 3 Assessment methodology 3.1 Operator attended monitoring To quantify off site noise levels from RASP Mine operations, attended noise monitoring was conducted on a quarterly basis over a 12 month period, with the first monitoring period conducted by EMM in November The remaining monitoring periods in March/April 2015, July/August 2015 and September 2015 were completed by CBH under instructions from EMM. The EPL nominates noise limits for day, evening and night periods, although all attended monitoring was completed during the most sensitive night time period to target generally assessable prevailing weather conditions. The night period provides a better opportunity to minimise the contamination of monitoring data by wind induced noise or by extraneous noise sources (eg domestic and road traffic noise). Noise limits for the night time period are also more stringent (or the same for some locations) than noise limits for day and evening periods. Several operations at RASP Mine do not occur during the night time period and are restricted to day time and evening hours only (ie shunting of wagons and rock blasting), notwithstanding are not considered to materially alter this assessment. Attended monitoring locations included all receptors identified in Condition L4.2 of the EPL (A1 to A14) which are presented on Figure 1. The EPL nominates one additional attended monitoring location where monitoring is to be undertaken, namely the most affected residential premise in Iodide Street or Proprietary Square. Attended monitoring was completed at Proprietary Square for all four quarterly monitoring periods. The noise monitoring assessment consisted of 15 minute measurements, with the noise contribution from RASP Mine quantified where possible amongst ambient noise. RASP Mine noise contribution was determined using in field observations noted by CBH and data post analysis as required. The data post analysis included removing higher frequencies that are not mine related and excluding extraneous sources, eg traffic, insects and planes. J15028L1_EPL noise monitoring summary report Page 4

5 A12 A11 Iodide Street Proprietary Square A10 ME A13 A9 A8 Additional attended noise monitoring locations GDA 1994 MGA Zone A5 Attended noise monitoring locations A4 A6 RE T A1 EE R ST 0.6 km Source: EMM (2014); ESRI (2014) C:\_wkg\13083_RASP\AttachmentA.mxd 12/12/2014 A3 A2 EY KEY RO AD A14 EE A7 NI ND Figure 1 Site locality and attended noise monitoring locations

6 3.2 Instrumentation The attended noise measurements were completed using two Brüel and Kjær 2250 Type 1 one third octave band integrating sound analysers. Field calibration of EMM s sound analyser (s/n ) and CBH s sound analyser (s/n ) was undertaken using two Brüel and Kjær type 4230 calibrators (s/n and s/n respectively). Measurements were undertaken in accordance with Australian Standard AS Description and Measurement of Environmental Noise Parts 1, 2 and 3. The instruments were within their NATA laboratory calibration period at the time of the monitoring surveys and certificates are provided in Appendix B. Planning + Environment + Acoustics J15028L1_EPL Noise Monitoring Summary Report Page 6

7 4 Summary of results Results from the 12 month monitoring programme indicate that RASP Mine surface activities were audible at all monitoring locations. A summary of the results is provided in Table 3. Condition M4 of the site s EPL states that meteorological conditions should be monitored by CBH's on site weather station (Point 55). Due to damage to the weather station before the start of monitoring programme, meteorological data used to assess the applicability of the noise limits for the first two attended noise monitoring periods (in November 2014 and March/April 2015) was obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology's Automatic Weather Station (BoM's AWS) situated at Broken Hill Airport (at 10 m above ground). The on site weather station was replaced and commissioned after completion of the second monitoring period, and therefore meteorological data used to assess the applicability of the noise limits for the last two attended noise monitoring periods (in July/August 2015 and September 2015) was obtained from the on site weather station (at 10 m above ground). A total of minute samples were taken during the 12 month monitoring programme period, including 36 samples during the first monitoring period in November 2014, 18 samples during the second monitoring period in March/April 2015, 16 samples during the third monitoring period in July/August 2015 and 18 samples during the fourth and last monitoring period in September Periods when meteorological conditions were likely to be valid (ie satisfy Condition L4.4) were targeted for all monitoring periods, however unpredictable and adverse meteorological conditions, which are common in the Broken Hill area, could not be totally avoided. With that said, meteorological conditions during the monitoring surveys were valid for 45 of the 88 samples (51%). It is noted that the presence or otherwise of stability category F or G temperature inversion conditions was not able to be determined with available meteorological data for three out of the four quarterly monitoring periods. Therefore, our assessment is deemed conservative given the likely presence of G class inversion conditions or F class inversion conditions and 2 m/s winds during the measurements, in particular during winter months when temperature inversion conditions are more common. The monitoring results for the 12 month monitoring programme identified that RASP Mine noise contribution satisfied the relevant noise limits at all locations, during assessable meteorological conditions. The exceptions were during three operator attended measurements in November 2014 at A12 (two measurements) and Proprietary Square where RASP Mine noise contribution was above the relevant criteria. However, RASP Mine noise contribution was within the INP's allowable 2 db tolerance of the noise limits for all these measurements and therefore complied with the EPL limits. Therefore, RASP Mine noise contributions satisfied the relevant noise limits at all receptors identified in Condition L4.2 of the site s EPL. Planning + Environment + Acoustics J15028L1_EPL Noise Monitoring Summary Report Page 7

8 Table 3 Noise monitoring results summary 12 month monitoring programme Location Number of measurements taken Number of measurements when noise limits applied Summary of RASP Mine 15 minute noise contributions when noise limits applied L Aeq(15 min), db EPL noise limit 2 L Aeq(15 min), db RASP Mine noise contributions comply? A Yes A Yes A Yes A Yes A Yes A Yes A Yes A Yes A Yes A Yes A Yes A to Yes 4 A Yes A Yes PS to Yes 4 Notes: 1. Additional monitoring location Proprietary Square as per the site's EPL (12559). 2. Night time noise limit. 3. Assumed criterion as the site's EPL does not nominate noise limits for this monitoring location. 4. Measured noise level within the INP 2 db field measurement tolerance. J15028L1_EPL noise monitoring summary report Page 8

9 5 Conclusion EMM has completed a noise monitoring assessment of operational noise from RASP Mine surface activities at 15 monitoring locations as required by the site's EPL (12559). The assessment included the review of monitoring results from the RASP Mine 12 month (quarterly) noise monitoring programme which started in November It was found that RASP Mine operations were inaudible at most monitoring locations during some of the measurements. Where site noise was audible, the monitoring results from all quarterly monitoring periods showed that noise from RASP Mine operations (including the crushing plant) satisfied the relevant night time noise limits during assessable meteorological conditions at all monitoring locations. Site noise was above the relevant criteria at two locations, although was within the INP 2 db field measurement tolerance. In summary, no non compliances were observed during the RASP Mine 12 month attended monitoring program, and therefore RASP Mine satisfies Condition U4 of the site's EPL. We trust this information meets your requirements and if you need any further clarifications please contact our office. Yours sincerely Teanuanua Villierme Acoustic Consultant tvillierme@emmconsulting.com.au EMM review: Daniel Weston J15028L1_EPL noise monitoring summary report Page 9

10 Appendix A EPL noise Planning + Environment + Acoustics J15028L1_EPL Noise Monitoring Summary Report Page 10

11 Section 55 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 Environment Protection Licence Licence L4 Noise limits L4.1 Operational activities associated with the project are permitted to occur at any time, subject to compliance with the noise limits specified at condition L4.2 and subject to the following restrictions: a) Shunting of the concentrate wagons must only occur between 7.00am and 6.00pm on any day; and b) Production rock blasting must only occur between 6.45am and 7.15pm on any day. L4.2 Noise from the Rasp Mine premises must not exceed the limits presented in the table below at the monitoring locations listed in column 1. Location Day [db LAeq 15 minute] Evening [db LAeq 15 minute] Point 15 - A1 Piper Street North Point 16 - A2 Piper Street Central Point 17 - A3 Eyre Street North Point 18 - A4 Eyre Street Central Point 19 - A5 Eyre Street South Point 20 - A6 Bonanza Gypsum Streets Point 21 - A7 Carbon Street Point 22 - A8 South Road Point 23 - A9 Crystal Street Night [db LAeq 15 minute] Point 24 - A10 Barnet Blende Streets Point 25 - A11 Crystal Street Point 26 - A12 Crystal Street Point 27 - A13 Eyre Street North 2 Point 28 - A14 Piper Street North L4.3 Noise from the premises is to be measured at the most affected point within the boundary of the nominated premises, or at the most affected point within 30 metres of a dwelling where the dwelling is more than 30 metres from the boundary, to determine compliance with the noise level limits in Condition L4.2 unless otherwise stated. Where it can be demonstrated that direct measurement of noise from the premises is impractical, the EPA may accept alternative means of determining compliance. See Chapter 11 of the NSW Industrial Noise Policy. Environment Protection Authority - NSW Licence version date: 16-Jul-2015 Page 15 of 33

12 Section 55 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 Environment Protection Licence Licence The modification factors presented in Section 4 of the NSW Industrial Noise Policy shall also be applied to the measured noise levels where applicable. L4.4 The noise limits set out in the Noise Limits table apply under all meteorological conditions except for the following: a) Wind speeds greater than 3 metres/second at 10 metres above ground level; or b) Stability category F temperature inversion conditions and wind speeds greater than 2 metres/second at 10 metres above ground level; or c) Stability category G temperature inversion conditions. For the purposes of this condition: a) Data recorded by the meteorological station identified as EPA Identification Point(s) 55 must be used to determine meteorological conditions; and b) Temperature inversion conditions (stability category) are to be determined by the sigma-theta method referred to in Part E4 of Appendix E to the NSW Industrial Noise Policy. L5 Blasting L5.1 The overpressure sound level and ground vibration peak particle velocity from blasting operations carried out in or on the premises, excluding Block 7, for the period 7am to 7pm must not exceed the limits in the table below unless expressly provided by a condition of this licence. Location Residence on privately owned land Residence on privately owned land Airblast Overpressure (db - Lin Peak) Ground Vibration (mm/s) Allowable Exceedence % of the total number of blasts in any 12 month annual return reporting period % Note: The allowable exceedence must be calculated separately for development blasts and production blasts; The 5% allowable exceedence does not apply to the production blasts until the licensee has completed a Pollution Studies and Reduction Program at condition U5.1 aimed at achieveing the limit or as otherwise agreed with the EPA; and Error margins associated with any monitoring equipment used to measure this are not to be taken into account in determining whether or not the limit has been exceeded. L5.2 The overpressure sound level and ground vibration peak particle velocity from blasting operations carried out in or on the premises at Block 7 for the period 7am to 7pm must not exceed the limits in the table below unless expressly provided by a condition of this licence. Location Airblast Overpressure - db Lin Peak Ground Vibration - mm/s Allowable Exceedence Environment Protection Authority - NSW Licence version date: 16-Jul-2015 Page 16 of 33

13 Section 55 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 Environment Protection Licence Licence (a) Monitoring for water within the trench; (b) Pumping all water out of the trench; and (c) Depositing water pumped from the trench to Horwood dam. COMPLETION DATE: As required U1.2 The licensee must undertake the following works to ensure water does not seep from the S49 Dam. (a) Install a High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane liner on the main wall of the S49 Dam adjacent to the cul-de-sac on Ryan Street; (b) Install a pipe with a shut off valve 1m below the top of the main wall of the S49 Dam to be used as a take-off/pumping point to provide sufficient free-board for a 1 in 20 year rainfall event over 24 hours; and (c) Install a pipe to enable water to be pumped from the S49 Dam in to the S1A Catchment Area to provide sufficient free-board for a 1 in 20 year rainfall event over 24 hours. COMPLETION DATE: 30 APRIL U2 Management and/or remediation of contamination at Eyre Street bund U2.1 The licensee must conduct weekly monitoring of the Eyre Street bund to ensure no seepage occurs. COMPLETION DATE: Ongoing U2.2 The licensee must implement the longer term recommendations from the Eyre Street investigation report through; installation of capping on the Eyre Street Dam to control rainfall infiltration into the fill materials within the dam. COMPLETION DATE: 31 March 2016 U2.3 The licensee must present performance monitoring data demonstrating the Eyre Street seepage collection system is functioning to the satisfaction of the EPA. COMPLETION DATE: Quarterly reporting beginning 31 August 2013 U2.4 The licensee must submit a plan and a schedule of works to finalise the Eyre Street seepage collection trench/system including a completion date. COMPLETION DATE: 31 March 2016 U2.5 The licensee must prepare and submit a report to the EPA proposing the remediation of the Eyre Street seepage collection system affected areas (both on and off the mining lease) together with a stated schedule for the completion of works. COMPLETION DATE: 31 March 2016 U3 Noise monitoring U3.1 The licensee must undertake a 12 month noise monitoring programme to assess compliance with the noise limits identified at licence condition L4.2. Environment Protection Authority - NSW Licence version date: 16-Jul-2015 Page 27 of 33

14 Section 55 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 Environment Protection Licence Licence The programme must: 1) Undertake quarterly noise monitoring of all Rasp mine surface noise activities, commencing November ) Include at least one 15 minute noise measurement at all receptors identified in condition L4.2 and the most affected residential premises in Iodide Street or Proprietary Square. 3) Collect noise monitoring data in accordance with the NSW Industrial Noise Policy and consistent with meterological conditions that satisfy condition L4.4. 4) Present the raw monitoring data collected to the EPA within one month of the completion of each of the first 3 quarterly monitoring events. 5) Present a final noise impact assessment report to the EPA by the 31 January The report must include all data collected consistent with condition U4.1 and determine if the Rasp mine is operating within noise limits detailed at condition L4.2. The report must also comment on the noise impact on the most affected residential premise in Iodide Street or Proprietary Square. U4 Blast compliance management program U4.1 The licensee must implement a production blast management program directed at achieving compliance with licence condition L5.1 - where the limit allows a 5% exceedence of the 5 millimeter per second (mm/s) ground vibration impact at any sensitive receptor outside the premises. The program must; Record the ground vibration impact of each development and production blast separately consistent with condition M7.1. Develop and record corrective actions where a production blast is recorded exceeding a ground vibration impact > 5 mm/s. Complete an annual production blast management report which summarises the production blast impact levels (and which excludes Block 7 production blasts). The report must include but is not limited to information about blast record data detailing the percentage of production blasts 5 mm/s, the percentage of blasts > 5 mm/s, corrective actions undertaken in that 12 month period and where necessary the proposed future corrective actions that will be implemented to meet ongoing compliance with production blast limits at condition L5.1. The annual production blast management report is to be completed and attached to each Annual Return for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 reporting periods. The licensee must comply with all requirements of condition L5.1 during the 2017/18 reporting period. Environment Protection Authority - NSW Licence version date: 16-Jul-2015 Page 28 of 33

15 Appendix B Calibration certificates Planning + Environment + Acoustics J15028L1_EPL Noise Monitoring Summary Report Page 11

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