Managing environmental risk
Our approach
Environmental incidents are classified using a qualitative risk assessment process based on the maximum reasonable consequence and the likelihood of an incident occurring.
The risk assessment uses four classifications: low, moderate, high or critical.
2009 performance
There were no critical environmental incidents at our New South Wales operations during 2009.
There were 21 high ranked incidents recorded during 2009 across our operations:
- Eleven incidents involved elevated levels of dust or noise above operational limits set by regulators during monitoring periods.
- Six incidents related to minor water discharges such as leaks in a pipe or a leak or seepage through an embankment wall.
- Two incidents involved chemical discharge from fire extinguishers.
- One incident reported involving vegetation stress due to the misapplication of herbicide.
- One incident involved the disturbance of a barricade surrounding a cultural heritage site.
The increase in the number of high incidents since 2008 is attributed to a change in the incident classification system during that year. Under the new ranking system, any action which exceeds a licence or consent requirement is likely to result in a ranking of high, whereas previously it would likely have resulted in a ranking of moderate.
Incidents with a high or critical risk rating at our operations are publicly reported in the Annual Environmental Management Report which is lodged with government and Community Consultative Committee members.
In 2009 there was an increase in the number of low ranked incidents compared with 2008. This reflects increased awareness and capability with the adoption and subsequent reporting of incidents using an electronic reporting system.
There were no environment-related fines or prosecutions associated with Coal & Allied activities in 2009.
