Environmental Management

Care for the environment is integral to the success of the German Creek Mines. We seek to manage environmental impacts to a standard that meets legislative and business requirements, meets community expectations and upholds the values of good corporate citizenship and sustainable development.

Capcoal is committed to the rehabilitation of all disturbed areas and to effective and responsible management of mined land.

An Environmental Management Overview Strategy sets out control strategies, environmental monitoring program and environmental and mine rehabilitation programs.

A commitment to waste minimisation and a site-wide commitment to reducing, reusing and recycling items ranging from oil filters to scrap metals has resulted in sizable reductions in the amount of non-recycled waste.

Capcoal has a policy of continual improvement and through the application of an Environmental Management System has achieved accreditation to the ISO 14001 International Standard.

Water

Minimising raw water use is a priority. As much as 95% of saline mine water is recycled in the coal washing process. Waste from the coal washing process is returned to disused pits and spoil areas, which are later rehabilitated.
Total containment of saline groundwater is also a key factor in site water management. Saline water is pumped from the underground mines and from open cut pits that overlie the underground workings and stored in specially built evaporation ponds and opencut pits that do not overlie underground workings.

Spoil

Based on some 20 years experience and research in spoilpile rehabilitation at German Creek, Capcoal has developed well-tested procedures for creating stable landforms through efficient slope design and successful establishment of vegetation. After the reshaping earthworks, a minimum of 150 millimetres of topsoil is respread over the reshaped spoil, then contour ripped and sown with native tree and shrub species and suitable grasses.

Waste

Capcoal strives for continuous improvement in its waste management systems through reuse, refurbishment or repair and recycling. Waste management at the mine is outsourced to specialist waste management contractors who are responsible for monitoring and reporting the quantities in each category as a measure of waste reduction.

Subsidence

Careful planning before longwall mining ensures appropriate repairs can be effected to subsiding land, including public roads, until the land stabilises.

Public Reporting

Capcoal’s parent company, Anglo Coal Australia, is a signatory to the Australian Mineral Industry’s Code for Environmental Management and is committed to public reporting of the environmental performance of its mines, including German Creek Mines.