EIS TABLE OF CONTENTS

Transcription

1 EIS TABLE OF CONTENTS GLOSSARY OF TERMS... GL-1 Glossary and Abbreviations... GL-1 Units... GL-14 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... ES-1 INTRODUCTION... ES-1 PROJECT PROPONENTS... ES-1 LOCATION... ES-1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION... ES-3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT... ES-4 PROJECT RATIONALE... ES-5 SGCP Benefits and Opportunities... ES-5 Relationship to Other Projects... ES-6 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES... ES-7 Mine Location... ES-7 Coal Export and Infrastructure Location... ES-7 Accommodation... ES-7 Conceptual and Technological Alternatives... ES-7 Co-location Opportunities... ES-8 Consequences of Not Proceeding... ES-9 ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES, POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES... ES-9 Climate... ES-9 Land... ES-9 Nature Conservation... ES-14 Water Resources... ES-19 Air Quality...ES-23 Greenhouse Gas Emissions... ES-24 Noise and Vibration... ES-26 Waste Management... ES-27 Transport...ES-28 Cultural Heritage... ES-29 Social Environment... ES-30 Cultural Heritage... ES-29 Economics...ES-31 Hazard and Risk... ES-32 Management Plans... ES INTRODUCTION PROJECT PROPONENT AMCI (Alpha) Pty Ltd Alpha Coal Pty Ltd PROJECT DESCRIPTION RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PROJECTS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS Objectives and Structure of the EIS Methodology of the EIS Submissions i

2 1.5. PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS PROJECT RATIONALE AND ALTERNATIVES PROJECT RATIONALE Economic Benefits Social Benefits Environmental Implications Technical Feasibility and Commercial Viability PROJECT ALTERNATIVES Locality Alternatives Conceptual/Technological Alternatives Co-Location Opportunities Consequences of Not Proceeding with the SGCP ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Integration of Economic, Environmental, Social and Equitable Considerations Precautionary Principle Inter-generational and Intra-generational Equity Biodiversity Conservation Valuation Mechanisms PROJECT APPROVALS INTRODUCTION RELEVANT LEGISLATION AND APPROVALS Commonwealth Legislation State Legislation Local Government Legislation Commonwealth Obligations Relevant Plans Accredited Process for Controlled Actions under Australian Government Legislation PROJECT DESCRIPTION LOCATION Regional Context Local Context Tenements and Tenures RESOURCE BASE AND MINE LIFE PROJECT TIMING CONSTRUCTION Pre-Construction OPERATIONS Geotechnical Assessment Mine Sequencing Open Cut Operations Underground Mining Operations Coal Reclaim and Preparation Product Handling TRANSPORT Road ii

3 Rail Air Ship WASTE MANAGEMENT Air Emissions Waste Rock Coal Rejects Solid and Liquid Waste Disposal ACCOMMODATION POWER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION Construction Power Operations Power WATER MANAGEMENT Water Management System Water Consumption and Supply ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE Mine Industrial Area Underground Services Area Sewage and Waste Water Explosives Storage Facility Quarry Fuel Storage Telecommunications Compressed Air Distribution Other Buildings/Facilities EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS Construction Operations Decommissioning ONGOING EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES REHABILITATION AND DECOMMISSIONING Rehabilitation Decommissioning REHABILITATION AND DECOMMISSIONING ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES GUIDELINES AND OBJECTIVES MINING PROCESSES Land Disturbance and Clearing Topsoil Salvage Mining Operations Waste Rock Characteristics Coal Reject Characteristics Waste Rock Emplacements Geotechnical Assessment POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES REHABILITATION PROCESSES Design Criteria PROGRESSIVE REHABILITATION iii

4 Progressive Rehabilitation Plan Year Progressive Rehabilitation Plan Year Progressive Rehabilitation Plan Year Progressive Rehabilitation Plan Year Progressive Rehabilitation Plan Year Progressive Rehabilitation Plan Year Progressive Rehabilitation Plan Year Progressive Rehabilitation Plan Year Progressive Rehabilitation Plan Year Progressive Rehabilitation Plan Year Progressive Rehabilitation Plan Year STANDARD REHABILITATION PROCESSES Shaping and Contouring Topsoil Stripping Handling and Storage of Topsoil Erosion and Stability Topsoil Spreading Seeding SPECIFIC REHABILITATION PROCESSES Sediment Control and Erosion Flood Mitigation Geotechnical Stability Subsidence DECOMMISSIONING Exploration Areas Waste Rock Emplacements Final Low Wall, Void and Ramps Water Management Structures Diversion Drains Access/Haul Roads Overhead Powerlines Infrastructure Waste Disposal MONITORING AND SUCCESS CRITERIA Native Bushland Grassland Suitable for Grazing POST-MINE LAND USE CLIMATE, NATURAL HAZARDS AND CLIMATE CHANGE CLIMATE Temperature Rainfall Wind Speed and Direction Relative Humidity Evaporation EXTREME EVENTS Flooding/Cyclones Bushfires Landslides iv

5 Earthquakes CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT LAND LEGISLATION/GUIDELINES EXISTING ENVIRONMENT Land Use and Tenure Topography Geology Soils Land Contamination Scenic Amenity and Lighting POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Land Use and Tenure Topography Geology Soils Land Contamination Scenic Amenity and Lighting Cumulative Impacts Annexure A Queensland Contaminated Land Register and Environmental Management Register Search Results NATURE CONSERVATION INTRODUCTION Legislation TERRESTRIAL FLORA Study Area Methodology Vegetation Communities Flora Species TERRESTRIAL FAUNA Methodology Habitat Features within the SGCP Area Fauna Species Migratory Species SURFACE AQUATIC ECOLOGY Study Area Methodology Existing Environment SUBTERRANEAN FAUNA Methodology Existing Environment POTENTIAL IMPACTS Potential Impacts on Terrestrial Flora Potential Impacts on Terrestrial Fauna Potential Impacts on Surface Aquatic Ecology Potential Impacts on Subterranean Fauna MITIGATION MEASURES v

6 Terrestrial Flora and Fauna Surface Aquatic Ecology Subterranean Fauna WATER RESOURCES INTRODUCTION METHODOLOGY Surface Water Assessment Groundwater Assessment Subsidence Assessment LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK Water Act Water Regulation Environmental Protection Act Environmental Protection (Water) Policy Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act Water Resource (Burdekin Basin) Plan Burdekin Basin Resource Operations Plan Water Resources (Great Artesian Basin) Plan Sustainable Planning Act Fisheries Act Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC & ARMCANZ, 2000) National Water Quality Management Strategy Queensland Water Quality Guidelines 2009 (DERM, 2009) Guideline: Establishing draft environmental values and water quality objectives (DERM, 2011) Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC, 2011) Groundwater Flow Modelling Guidelines EXISTING SURFACE WATER ENVIRONMENT Environmental Values Catchment Context Hydrology Geomorphic Stream Conditions Baseline Water Quality EXISTING GROUNDWATER ENVIRONMENT Environmental Values Geological Setting Previous Groundwater Investigations Groundwater Occurrence Groundwater Users Baseline Groundwater Quality Groundwater Recharge and Discharge POTENTIAL SURFACE WATER IMPACTS Hydrology Water Quality Impact on Existing Water Users Stream Diversions Flood Levels vi

7 Subsidence Ecology Final Void Climate Change Potential Cumulative Impacts POTENTIAL GROUNDWATER IMPACTS Dewatering Existing Groundwater Users Subsidence Groundwater Recharge and Discharge Mine Waste and Water Infrastructure Ecology Great Artesian Basin Induced Flow Groundwater Quality Post Mining Final Void Cumulative Impacts SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION MEASURES Supply and Storage Mine Water Management System Clean Water Management Referable Dams Site Water Balance Model Water Quality Stream Diversions Mine Flood Protection Flood Plain Management Subsidence Mitigation Ecological Impact Mitigation Final Void Surface Water Interaction Mitigation Long-term Change Mitigation Monitoring Programs Post Mining Cumulative Impact Mitigation GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION MEASURES Dewatering Impacts Mitigation Subsidence Mitigation Mitigation of Groundwater Recharge and Discharge Impacts Mine Waste and Water Infrastructure Mitigation Ecological Impact Mitigation Great Artesian Basin Impacts Mitigation Induced Flow Mitigation Final Void Groundwater Interaction Mitigation Groundwater Monitoring Programs Cumulative Impact Mitigation Annexure A Queensland Quarry material allocation notice Search Results vii

8 10. AIR QUALITY LEGISLATION AND GUIDELINES Environmental Protection (Air) Policy (2008) EPA License and Permits Guideline National Environmental Protection Measure Project Specific Air Quality Criteria DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES Climate Sensitive Receptors Background Levels of Particulate Matter and Dust Deposition AIR QUALITY MODELLING METHODOLOGY Particulate Criteria Preparation of Meteorological Data Project Emission Sources Development of an Emissions Database Air Pollution Modelling MODELLING RESULTS Dust levels at Sensitive Receptors Railway Modelling Results AIR QUALITY IMPACTS Case 1 Year 3 (2017) Case 2 Year 26 (2040) Cumulative Impacts Impacts Summary MITIGATION MEASURES Long-term Dust Monitoring Meteorological Monitoring Dust Deposition Monitoring Dust Management Plan GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND PROTOCOLS Kyoto Protocol Climate Change Policy Clean Energy Bill 2011 (Carbon Tax) National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (NGER Act) Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act 2006 (EEO Act) QUEENSLAND INITIATIVES GREENHOUSE INVENTORY Inventory Boundaries Factors Estimated Greenhouse Gas Emissions EMISSION DISCUSSION ABATEMENT MEASURES Electrical Efficiency Diesel Efficiency Fugitive Emissions CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION viii

9 Methodology Background Predicted Impacts Queensland Government Predictions CLIMATE CHANGE RISK ASSESSMENT Evaluation Climate Change Adaption Conclusion NOISE AND VIBRATION LEGISLATION AND GUIDELINES Environmental Protection (Noise) Policy DEHP Ecoaccess Guideline Planning for Noise Control DEHP Ecoaccess Guideline Low Frequency Noise Road Traffic Noise Goals Railway Noise Goals DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES Climate Noise Sensitive Receptors NOISE MODELLING METHODOLOGY NOISE MODELLING RESULTS IMPACT ASSESSMENT EPP (Noise) Acoustic Quality Objectives EPP (Noise) Sleep Disturbances EPP (Noise) Background Creep DEHP Low Frequency Noise DEHP Blasting Noise and Vibration Road Traffic Noise Railway Noise MITIGATION MEASURES EPP (Noise) Acoustic Quality Objectives EPP (Noise) Sleep Disturbance EPP (Noise) Background Creep DEHP Low Frequency Noise DEHP Blasting Noise and Vibration Road Traffic Noise Railway Noise WASTE MANAGEMENT INTRODUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS Waste Definition Waste Management Principles DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Natural Resource Efficiency Cleaner Production Regulated Wastes Spill Containment and Remediation ix

10 Waste Tracking Monitoring Program Waste Reporting POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Waste Inventory Construction Wastes Operational Wastes Decommissioning Wastes ON-SITE LANDFILL FACILITY CUMULATIVE IMPACTS TRANSPORT INTRODUCTION Environmental Values Relevant Legislation and Approvals EXISTING CONDITIONS Road Network Rail Air Port TRANSPORT GENERATED BY SGCP Road Rail Air Port POTENTIAL IMPACTS Road Rail Air Port POTENTIAL MITIGATION MEASURES Road Rail Air Port Impacts to other Transportation Networks CUMULATIVE IMPACTS INDIGENOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE LEGISLATION Commonwealth Legislation State Legislation DESCRIPTION OF INDIGENOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE VALUES Previous Cultural Heritage Assessments Aboriginal Party Identification Heritage Register Search SGCP Field Survey CULTURAL HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE Scientific (Archaeological) Significance x

11 Social (Cultural) Significance POTENTIAL IMPACTS MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT MEASURES General Mitigation and Management Measures Cultural Heritage Management Plan NON-INDIGENOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE LEGISLATION Commonwealth Legislation State Legislation Local Legislation DESCRIPTION OF NON-INDIGENOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE VALUES Previous Cultural Heritage Assessments Heritage Register Search Liaison with Community Groups/Organisations SGCP Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage Field Survey CULTURAL HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE POTENTIAL IMPACTS MITIGATION MEASURES General Mitigation and Management Measures Specific Mitigation and Management Measures SOCIAL GUIDELINES METHODOLOGY Local Study Area Regional Study Area Baseline Assessment Community Engagement EXISTING SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND VALUES Demographics Education and Training Economy, Employment and Income Infrastructure and Services Housing and Accommodation Community Health and Safety Culture and Community WORKFORCE PROFILE POTENTIAL IMPACTS Demographics Education and Training Economics, Employment and Income Infrastructure and Services Housing and Accommodation Community Health and Safety Culture and Community CUMULATIVE IMPACTS MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT Community Engagement Program xi

12 Workforce Management Plan Local Industry Participation Plan Housing and Accommodation Plan Cooperation and Regional Development Agreement for the Galilee Basin Collaboration with Other Mining Proponents Community Partnership Program Social Infrastructure Working Group Landholder Management Plan Grievance and Dispute Resolution Procedure MONITORING AND REPORTING ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT INTRODUCTION DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT METHOD EXISTING ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT Study Area Gross Regional Product Population Demographics Key Regional Markets Expected Future Growth and Competitive Advantage Key Regional Industries Current Input Costs POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES Industry Impacts Employment Housing Implications for Future Development Distributional Effects and Impacts on Disadvantaged Groups OTHER BENEFITS TO THE STATE AND NATIONAL ECONOMIES Balance of Payments Local Government State Government Revenues Australian Government Revenues EXTRACTIVE RESOURCE AVAILABILITY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development Legislation Application of ESD Principles and Objectives HAZARD AND RISK OVERVIEW LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND RISKS Risk Assessment Methodology Preliminary Risk Assessment PROJECT SPECIFIC RISKS xii

13 Transport, Storage and Use of Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Substances Traffic Rail Corridor Climate Change Natural Hazards Fire Bushfire EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSE PLAN RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN The Framework for Managing Risk Risk Management Process PRELIMINARY RISK ASSESSMENT CONCLUSION HEALTH AND SAFETY Legislation Existing Values Construction and Operations Construction and Operational Health and Safety Management Decommissioning and Rehabilitation Cumulative Health and Safety Risks Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures Monitoring and Auditing MATTERS OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE INTRODUCTION Project Background Relationship to Other Projects Public Consultation Environmental Impact Statement Study Team Environmental Record of Proponents RELEVANT MATTERS OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE Listed Threatened Species Listed Threatened Ecological Communities Listed Migratory Species RELEVANT POTENTIAL IMPACTS Land Clearing Subsidence Impacts Water Resources Weeds and Pest Fauna Artificial Lighting Noise and Air Quality Direct Mortality from Vehicles Changed Fire Regimes Potential Impacts to Threatened Species Potential Impacts to Threatened Ecological Communities Potential Impacts to Migratory Species AVOIDANCE AND MITIGATION MEASURES TO REDUCE THE IMPACTS TO MNES Avoidance xiii

14 Mitigation Measures Revegetation and Rehabilitation PROPOSED OFFSETS FOR RESIDUAL IMPACTS MONITORING AND REPORTING Annexure A Assessments of Significant Impact Criteria ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN INTRODUCTION Background The Project Location Project Proponent Land Use and Tenure Stakeholders Standard Environmental Conditions PROJECT DESCRIPTION Coal Mine CHPP and Mine Infrastructure ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES, IMPACTS, COMMITMENTS, AND DRAFT CONDITIONS EM Plan Development Methodology General Conditions Air Quality Water Resources Noise and Vibration Waste Management Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Land Resources Cultural Heritage Social Nature Conservation Transport Environmental Management CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REHABILITATION AND DECOMMISSIONING CLIMATE, NATURAL HAZARDS AND CLIMATE CHANGE LAND NATURE CONSERVATION Terrestrial Flora and Fauna Aquatic and Subterranean Ecology WATER RESOURCES Surface Water Impacts Groundwater Impacts Surface Water Management Groundwater Management AIR QUALITY GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS NOISE AND VIBRATION xiv

15 22.9. WASTE TRANSPORT CULTURAL HERITAGE Indigenous Cultural Heritage Non-Indigenous Cultural Heritage SOCIAL ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT HAZARD AND RISK MATTERS OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE REFERENCES APPENDIX A FINAL EIS APPENDIX B TOR CROSS REFERENCE TABLE APPENDIX C PROJECT APPROVALS APPENDIX D CONSULTATION REPORT APPENDIX E STUDY TEAM APPENDIX F SURFACE WATER TECHNICAL REPORT APPENDIX G GROUNDWATER ASSESSMENT TECHNICAL REPORT APPENDIX H SUBSIDENCE TECHNICAL REPORT APPENDIX I GEOCHEMISTRY TECHNICAL REPORT APPENDIX J SOILS AND LAND SUITABILITY TECHNICAL REPORT APPENDIX K TRANSPORT TECHNICAL REPORT APPENDIX L AIR QUALITY TECHNICAL REPORT APPENDIX M NOISE AND VIBRATION TECHNICAL REPORT APPENDIX N TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY TECHNICAL REPORT APPENDIX O AQUATIC ECOLOGY TECHNICAL REPORT APPENDIX P NON-INDIGENOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE TECHNICAL REPORT APPENDIX Q SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT APPENDIX R SOCIAL IMPACT MANAGEMENT PLAN APPENDIX S ECONOMIC TECHNICAL REPORT APPENDIX T CORPORATE ENVIRONMENT POLICY APPENDIX U LIST OF PROPONENT COMMITMENTS xv