Actions arising from meeting on 15 November 2013 UHMD Emissions and Health Working Group Meeting Action Responsibility Status 1. Welcome and Apologies

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1 Actions arising from meeting on 15 November 2013 UHMD Emissions and Health Working Group Meeting Action Responsibility Status 1. Welcome and Apologies 2. Confirmation of Minutes of 30 July Industry to convey the working group s sentiments on the Mining SEPP amendments to the CEO and mine managers. 3. Weather Forecasting Project Update 4. Communications Project Remaining 2013 information Session 5. Discussion on Newcastle Air Quality forum and SSHEG Public Meeting to investigate having a representative from the electricity generation industry on the group NSW to organise a session on Blasting for the next meeting to contact Coal Services and see if information on miners health is available Projects Update 7. Other business

2 DRAFT MINUTES UHMD Emissions & Health Joint Working Group Singleton Diggers, York Street, Singleton Friday 15 November am 11.30am Present John Watson (Chair) Sarah Withell Melinda Hale Troy Favell Gerard Gleeson John Drinan Neville Hodkinson Brooke Lavis Claire Doherty David Frith Brad Deane Apologies Peter Forbes Chris Knight Kate Brickhill Julie McNaughton Jason Desmond Emma Ridley Wendy Bowman Scott Brooks Ben Harrison John Hindmarsh Stephen Ward John Shewan Glencore BHP Billiton Mt Arthur Coal Singleton Council Peabody Energy Rio Tinto Coal & Allied Singleton Shire Healthy Environment Group Singleton Shire Healthy Environment Group Anglo American Anglo American Muswellbrook Coal Vale Ashton Coal Operations Bloomfield Coal Rix s Creek Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association NSW Mine Watch NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure Singleton NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure Singleton Bloomfield Collieries Rix s Creek Muswellbrook Shire Council Wybong Action Group 1. Welcome and Apologies John Watson welcomed attendees to the third meeting of the Joint Working Group Emissions and Health and noted the apologies. 2. Confirmation of Minutes of 30 July 2013 The Working Group discussed the circulated by Emma Ridley requesting a revision of the minutes relating to the Mining SEPP amendments. The Working Group agreed to alter the minutes to reflect the strong disappoint of several community members and include an action to convey the sentiments to the CEO and mine managers.

3 ACTION Industry to convey the working group s sentiments on the Mining SEPP amendments to the CEO and mine managers. The minutes of the meeting held on 30 July were confirmed with the amendment. 3. Weather Forecasting Project Update John Watson provided an update on the progress of the weather forecasting project. Weather conditions associated with high PM10 levels have been analysed to develop Level 1 (lower risk) and Level 2 (higher risk) conditions. Weather conditions included in the triggers include combinations of wind speed, temperature, rainfall and temperature inversions. John explained that the triggers will help operations plan for adverse conditions. Examples of actions that could be taken include: planning to dump lower in the pit; ensuring water cart availability; and rescheduling top soil stripping. The project will be implemented for a 3 month trial. The trial will allow the triggers to be tested in practice; assess how the project integrates with the forecast systems some mines already have in place; how the industry can report on the project and how best to implement the project on a longer term basis. John Drinan questioned what value the project would add to the Dust Stop Pollution Reduction Programs (PRPs) the EPA is requiring all mines to undertake. The primary difference is that the PRPs relate to real time monitoring (and are therefore reactive) whereas the weather forecasting project helps operations prepare in advance. John Watson also explained that the project creates awareness and provides education of the workforce. Neville Hodkinson asked whether wind direction was considered, which is important for localised effects. It was considered, however seeing as the purpose was on regional weather conditions and air quality, the triggers do not consider wind direction however individual mines may consider this factor in their decision making. 5 proposals have been received from consultants to implement the trial and the industry is currently evaluating these. 4. Communications The Joint Working Group agreed not to hold anymore communication events this year as similar events to the air quality information sessions planned had recently been held by other groups. John Drinan believed an event in the second half of 2014, either in Muswellbrook or Denman, would be useful. These areas haven t had comprehensive sessions on air quality recently the release of the characterisation study was short notice, and the Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group sessions were broad ranging. The importance of bringing people who haven t been involved in the UHMD or air quality information sessions previously on the journey was noted, with it being important that there is a commonality of understanding to have constructive dialogue. Information sessions need to include a history of where we ve come from. Discussions on event ideas for 2014 are detailed under item 5 and 6.

4 5. Discussion on Newcastle Air Quality Forum and SSHEG Public Meeting A general discussion was held around the outcomes of the Public Meeting on Air Quality and Health in Singleton that Singleton Shire Healthy Environment Group had organised on the previous night. The key item presented at the meetings was the Upper Hunter Fine Particle Characterisation Study. The joint working group members who attended said both were valuable information sharing events. A general discussion was held around different emission types/sources and what might be needed in moving forward: Diesel emissions: o Neville Hodkinson noted that vehicle/industry emissions were a source of particulate emissions and that diesel emissions have been declared carcinogenic. o David Frith outlined the detailed survey the EPA required mines to complete about diesel use and equipment on mine sites, which the EPA is in the process of analysing to determine whether there are opportunities to reduce diesel emissions. o It was noted that in absolute terms the entire Vehicle/Industry factor in the Upper Hunter Particle Characterisation Study is approximately 0.5µgm µgm 3. Off road diesel is only a portion of this and we need to consider how much off road diesel opportunities will reduce overall exposure. o John Drinan raised the issue of the quality of diesel being used in open cut mines, however David noted that s investigations indicate that the same standard of diesel to on road vehicles is used in open cut mines. o It was highlighted that diesel is a high expense for mines so there is an economic prerogative to lower usage. o It was noted that the quality of diesel fuel and engine technologies is continually improving over time, which is resulting in lower emissions. o The Joint Working Group will be kept up to date with progress of the EPA s investigations into off road diesel use. Power stations it was noted that power stations were a significant source of particulate emissions and that it would be worthwhile having a representative from the electricity generation industry in the working group. will look into this. Wood smoke it was noted that wood smoke was a large source of PM 2.5, particularly in Muswellbrook. Melinda outlined that it is an issue being examined by Singleton Shire Council and that there are difficulties as there is some denial about it. John Drinan noted that the issue needs more focus and that it will be raised through SSHEG. PM 10 SSHEG believes that the focus on PM 2.5 has resulted in a neglect of further discussions on the impacts of PM 10. There is a need for a renewed focus on PM 10 and health effects, such as respiratory disease and asthma. SSHEG is arranging a forum with Asthma Australia early next year. Blasting emissions Neville raised concerns about blasting emissions and a discussion was held around how much these contribute towards overall emissions and whether there were effective mitigation measures available. Sarah suggested that a blasting engineer be invited to the next meeting to discuss the issue in more detail. Neville noted the discussions from the Centre for Air Quality Research and Evaluation forum in Sydney, including the difficulties in identifying health impacts from air quality and that we are at the end of the technology in being able to identify some impacts. A discussion was held around whether the health of the general community is different to that of mine staff.

5 It was noted that Coal Services track the health of miners. will look into whether this information is available. There was a discussion around community awareness of initiatives and the need to strengthen this. It was also discussed that the distribution of events is centred in Singleton and that it would be worthwhile to hold an event in an alternate location next year, possibly Muswellbrook or Denman towards the end of next year. ACTIONS to investigate having a representative from the electricity generation industry on the group to arrange a discussion on blasting for the next meeting to contact Coal Services and see if information on miners health is available. 6. Update on 2014 Projects Weather Alerts The Joint Working Group noted that the Community Notification Project would be further investigated once the weather forecasting project was up and running. Communications The Joint Working Group agreed that a Communications event should be held mid to late next year, possibly as a full day workshop. The Group also noted that there is value in having it in a location other than Singleton, with Muswellbrook and Denman discussed as possible options. 7. Other Business Claire provided an overview of the UHMD Community Forum scheduled for the 3 December including the rundown of how sessions will be structured for the day. 8. Next Meeting The next meeting date will be advised offline. The meeting closed at 11.20am.