Mod 2 - Deferral of Salinity Reductions

I object to the proposed modification of the Springvale Mine consent that would allow mine water treatment to be deferred for two more years. This consent modification proposal would cause on-going pollution of the Coxs River catchment, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and Sydney's drinking water resources with toxic metal salts. Centennial Coal must not be granted legal relief arising from its foreshadowed default on the mine water discharge standards that it had previously agreed to with regulatory authorities.

Mine water discharges to Sawyers Swamp Creek that immediately flows into the Coxs River that is part of Sydney's drinking water catchment. Managing Director and CEO of Centennial Coal wrote to the Environment Protection Authority on May 29, 2015 to say that `Centennial acknowledges and agrees to the EPA's proposal for 700/900 EC limits as discussed in your letter'. The Planning Assessment Commission then placed these conditions in the September
2015 consent. I support the company's plans to remove mine water from Sydney's drinking water supplies by 30 June 2019 but Centennial Coal must be required to meet its consent obligations as agreed when the mine was approved.

Centennial Coal must install a temporary water treatment facility to meet the terms of its development consent so that mine water flowing into drinking water supplies receives at least a basic standard of treatment.

Further, this proposed consent modification is one of five modification proposals by Centennial Coal related to Springvale's mine water treatment.
The other proposals are: the mine water transfer, treatment and reuse at Mt Piper Power Plant; storage of treated mine water in Thompsons Creek Reservoir; the emplacement of waste from the water treatment plant; and effective treatment of highly polluting discharges from the emplacement area.

I request that these five proposals be considered together through the Department of Planning and Environment, and Planning Assessment processes.
Each proposal will not be properly understood unless these matters are assessed together.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Objection to continued pollution of drinking water supplies by Springvale Mine Water (SSD 5594 - MOD 2)

I object to the proposed modification of the Springvale Mine consent that would allow mine water treatment to be deferred for two more years. This consent modification proposal would cause on-going pollution of the Coxs River catchment, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and Sydney's drinking water resources with toxic metal salts. Centennial Coal must not be granted legal relief arising from its foreshadowed default on the mine water discharge standards that it had previously agreed to with regulatory authorities.

Mine water discharges to Sawyers Swamp Creek that immediately flows into the Coxs River that is part of Sydney's drinking water catchment. Managing Director and CEO of Centennial Coal wrote to the Environment Protection Authority on May 29, 2015 to say that `Centennial acknowledges and agrees to the EPA's proposal for 700/900 EC limits as discussed in your letter'. The Planning Assessment Commission then placed these conditions in the September
2015 consent. I support the company's plans to remove mine water from Sydney's drinking water supplies by 30 June 2019 but Centennial Coal must be required to meet its consent obligations as agreed when the mine was approved.

Centennial Coal must install a temporary water treatment facility to meet the terms of its development consent so that mine water flowing into drinking water supplies receives at least a basic standard of treatment.

Further, this proposed consent modification is one of five modification proposals by Centennial Coal related to Springvale's mine water treatment.
The other proposals are: the mine water transfer, treatment and reuse at Mt Piper Power Plant; storage of treated mine water in Thompsons Creek Reservoir; the emplacement of waste from the water treatment plant; and effective treatment of highly polluting discharges from the emplacement area.

I request that these five proposals be considered together through the Department of Planning and Environment, and Planning Assessment processes.
Each proposal will not be properly understood unless these matters are assessed together.

I object to the proposed modification of the Springvale Mine consent that would allow mine water treatment to be deferred for two more years. This consent modification proposal would cause on-going pollution of the Coxs River catchment, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and Sydney's drinking water resources with toxic metal salts. Centennial Coal must not be granted legal relief arising from its foreshadowed default on the mine water discharge standards that it had previously agreed to with regulatory authorities.

Mine water discharges to Sawyers Swamp Creek that immediately flows into the Coxs River that is part of Sydney's drinking water catchment. Managing Director and CEO of Centennial Coal wrote to the Environment Protection Authority on May 29, 2015 to say that `Centennial acknowledges and agrees to the EPA's proposal for 700/900 EC limits as discussed in your letter'. The Planning Assessment Commission then placed these conditions in the September
2015 consent. I support the company's plans to remove mine water from Sydney's drinking water supplies by 30 June 2019 but Centennial Coal must be required to meet its consent obligations as agreed when the mine was approved.

Centennial Coal must install a temporary water treatment facility to meet the terms of its development consent so that mine water flowing into drinking water supplies receives at least a basic standard of treatment.

Further, this proposed consent modification is one of five modification proposals by Centennial Coal related to Springvale's mine water treatment.
The other proposals are: the mine water transfer, treatment and reuse at Mt Piper Power Plant; storage of treated mine water in Thompsons Creek Reservoir; the emplacement of waste from the water treatment plant; and effective treatment of highly polluting discharges from the emplacement area.

I request that these five proposals be considered together through the Department of Planning and Environment, and Planning Assessment processes.
Each proposal will not be properly understood unless these matters are assessed together.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Objection to continued pollution of drinking water supplies by Springvale Mine Water (SSD 5594 - MOD 2)

I object to the proposed modification of the Springvale Mine consent that would allow mine water treatment to be deferred for two more years. This consent modification proposal would cause on-going pollution of the Coxs River catchment, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and Sydney's drinking water resources with toxic metal salts. Centennial Coal must not be granted legal relief arising from its foreshadowed default on the mine water discharge standards that it had previously agreed to with regulatory authorities.

Mine water discharges to Sawyers Swamp Creek that immediately flows into the Coxs River that is part of Sydney's drinking water catchment. Managing Director and CEO of Centennial Coal wrote to the Environment Protection Authority on May 29, 2015 to say that `Centennial acknowledges and agrees to the EPA's proposal for 700/900 EC limits as discussed in your letter'. The Planning Assessment Commission then placed these conditions in the September
2015 consent. I support the company's plans to remove mine water from Sydney's drinking water supplies by 30 June 2019 but Centennial Coal must be required to meet its consent obligations as agreed when the mine was approved.

Centennial Coal must install a temporary water treatment facility to meet the terms of its development consent so that mine water flowing into drinking water supplies receives at least a basic standard of treatment.

Further, this proposed consent modification is one of five modification proposals by Centennial Coal related to Springvale's mine water treatment.
The other proposals are: the mine water transfer, treatment and reuse at Mt Piper Power Plant; storage of treated mine water in Thompsons Creek Reservoir; the emplacement of waste from the water treatment plant; and effective treatment of highly polluting discharges from the emplacement area.

I request that these five proposals be considered together through the Department of Planning and Environment, and Planning Assessment processes.
Each proposal will not be properly understood unless these matters are assessed together.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Objection to continued pollution of drinking water supplies by Springvale Mine Water (SSD 5594 - MOD 2)

I object to the proposed modification of the Springvale Mine consent that would allow mine water treatment to be deferred for two more years. This consent modification proposal would cause on-going pollution of the Coxs River catchment, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and Sydney's drinking water resources with toxic metal salts. Centennial Coal must not be granted legal relief arising from its foreshadowed default on the mine water discharge standards that it had previously agreed to with regulatory authorities.

Mine water discharges to Sawyers Swamp Creek that immediately flows into the Coxs River that is part of Sydney's drinking water catchment. Managing Director and CEO of Centennial Coal wrote to the Environment Protection Authority on May 29, 2015 to say that `Centennial acknowledges and agrees to the EPA's proposal for 700/900 EC limits as discussed in your letter'. The Planning Assessment Commission then placed these conditions in the September
2015 consent. I support the company's plans to remove mine water from Sydney's drinking water supplies by 30 June 2019 but Centennial Coal must be required to meet its consent obligations as agreed when the mine was approved.

Centennial Coal must install a temporary water treatment facility to meet the terms of its development consent so that mine water flowing into drinking water supplies receives at least a basic standard of treatment.

Further, this proposed consent modification is one of five modification proposals by Centennial Coal related to Springvale's mine water treatment.
The other proposals are: the mine water transfer, treatment and reuse at Mt Piper Power Plant; storage of treated mine water in Thompsons Creek Reservoir; the emplacement of waste from the water treatment plant; and effective treatment of highly polluting discharges from the emplacement area.

I request that these five proposals be considered together through the Department of Planning and Environment, and Planning Assessment processes.
Each proposal will not be properly understood unless these matters are assessed together.

I object to the proposed modification of the Springvale Mine consent that would allow mine water treatment to be deferred for two more years. This consent modification proposal would cause on-going pollution of the Coxs River catchment, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and Sydney's drinking water resources with toxic metal salts. Centennial Coal must not be granted legal relief arising from its foreshadowed default on the mine water discharge standards that it had previously agreed to with regulatory authorities.

Mine water discharges to Sawyers Swamp Creek that immediately flows into the Coxs River that is part of Sydney's drinking water catchment. Managing Director and CEO of Centennial Coal wrote to the Environment Protection Authority on May 29, 2015 to say that `Centennial acknowledges and agrees to the EPA's proposal for 700/900 EC limits as discussed in your letter'. The Planning Assessment Commission then placed these conditions in the September
2015 consent. I support the company's plans to remove mine water from Sydney's drinking water supplies by 30 June 2019 but Centennial Coal must be required to meet its consent obligations as agreed when the mine was approved.

Centennial Coal must install a temporary water treatment facility to meet the terms of its development consent so that mine water flowing into drinking water supplies receives at least a basic standard of treatment.

Further, this proposed consent modification is one of five modification proposals by Centennial Coal related to Springvale's mine water treatment.
The other proposals are: the mine water transfer, treatment and reuse at Mt Piper Power Plant; storage of treated mine water in Thompsons Creek Reservoir; the emplacement of waste from the water treatment plant; and effective treatment of highly polluting discharges from the emplacement area.

I request that these five proposals be considered together through the Department of Planning and Environment, and Planning Assessment processes.
Each proposal will not be properly understood unless these matters are assessed together.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Objection to continued pollution of drinking water supplies by Springvale Mine Water (SSD 5594 - MOD 2)

I object to the proposed modification of the Springvale Mine consent that would allow mine water treatment to be deferred for two more years. This consent modification proposal would cause on-going pollution of the Coxs River catchment, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and Sydney's drinking water resources with toxic metal salts. Centennial Coal must not be granted legal relief arising from its foreshadowed default on the mine water discharge standards that it had previously agreed to with regulatory authorities.

Mine water discharges to Sawyers Swamp Creek that immediately flows into the Coxs River that is part of Sydney's drinking water catchment. Managing Director and CEO of Centennial Coal wrote to the Environment Protection Authority on May 29, 2015 to say that `Centennial acknowledges and agrees to the EPA's proposal for 700/900 EC limits as discussed in your letter'. The Planning Assessment Commission then placed these conditions in the September
2015 consent. I support the company's plans to remove mine water from Sydney's drinking water supplies by 30 June 2019 but Centennial Coal must be required to meet its consent obligations as agreed when the mine was approved.

Centennial Coal must install a temporary water treatment facility to meet the terms of its development consent so that mine water flowing into drinking water supplies receives at least a basic standard of treatment.

Further, this proposed consent modification is one of five modification proposals by Centennial Coal related to Springvale's mine water treatment.
The other proposals are: the mine water transfer, treatment and reuse at Mt Piper Power Plant; storage of treated mine water in Thompsons Creek Reservoir; the emplacement of waste from the water treatment plant; and effective treatment of highly polluting discharges from the emplacement area.

I request that these five proposals be considered together through the Department of Planning and Environment, and Planning Assessment processes.
Each proposal will not be properly understood unless these matters are assessed together.

I object to the proposed modification of the Springvale Mine consent that would allow mine water treatment to be deferred for two more years. This consent modification proposal would cause on-going pollution of the Coxs River catchment, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and Sydney's drinking water resources with toxic metal salts. Centennial Coal must not be granted legal relief arising from its foreshadowed default on the mine water discharge standards that it had previously agreed to with regulatory authorities.

Mine water discharges to Sawyers Swamp Creek that immediately flows into the Coxs River that is part of Sydney's drinking water catchment. Managing Director and CEO of Centennial Coal wrote to the Environment Protection Authority on May 29, 2015 to say that `Centennial acknowledges and agrees to the EPA's proposal for 700/900 EC limits as discussed in your letter'. The Planning Assessment Commission then placed these conditions in the September
2015 consent. I support the company's plans to remove mine water from Sydney's drinking water supplies by 30 June 2019 but Centennial Coal must be required to meet its consent obligations as agreed when the mine was approved.

Centennial Coal must install a temporary water treatment facility to meet the terms of its development consent so that mine water flowing into drinking water supplies receives at least a basic standard of treatment.

Further, this proposed consent modification is one of five modification proposals by Centennial Coal related to Springvale's mine water treatment.
The other proposals are: the mine water transfer, treatment and reuse at Mt Piper Power Plant; storage of treated mine water in Thompsons Creek Reservoir; the emplacement of waste from the water treatment plant; and effective treatment of highly polluting discharges from the emplacement area.

I request that these five proposals be considered together through the Department of Planning and Environment, and Planning Assessment processes.
Each proposal will not be properly understood unless these matters are assessed together.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Objection to continued pollution of drinking water supplies by Springvale Mine Water (SSD 5594 - MOD 2)

I object to the proposed modification of the Springvale Mine consent that would allow mine water treatment to be deferred for two more years. This consent modification proposal would cause on-going pollution of the Coxs River catchment, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and Sydney's drinking water resources with toxic metal salts. Centennial Coal must not be granted legal relief arising from its foreshadowed default on the mine water discharge standards that it had previously agreed to with regulatory authorities.

Mine water discharges to Sawyers Swamp Creek that immediately flows into the Coxs River that is part of Sydney's drinking water catchment. Managing Director and CEO of Centennial Coal wrote to the Environment Protection Authority on May 29, 2015 to say that `Centennial acknowledges and agrees to the EPA's proposal for 700/900 EC limits as discussed in your letter'. The Planning Assessment Commission then placed these conditions in the September
2015 consent. I support the company's plans to remove mine water from Sydney's drinking water supplies by 30 June 2019 but Centennial Coal must be required to meet its consent obligations as agreed when the mine was approved.

Centennial Coal must install a temporary water treatment facility to meet the terms of its development consent so that mine water flowing into drinking water supplies receives at least a basic standard of treatment.

Further, this proposed consent modification is one of five modification proposals by Centennial Coal related to Springvale's mine water treatment.
The other proposals are: the mine water transfer, treatment and reuse at Mt Piper Power Plant; storage of treated mine water in Thompsons Creek Reservoir; the emplacement of waste from the water treatment plant; and effective treatment of highly polluting discharges from the emplacement area.

I request that these five proposals be considered together through the Department of Planning and Environment, and Planning Assessment processes.
Each proposal will not be properly understood unless these matters are assessed together.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Objection to continued pollution of drinking water supplies by Springvale Mine Water (SSD 5594 - MOD 2)

I object to the proposed modification of the Springvale Mine consent that would allow mine water treatment to be deferred for two more years. This consent modification proposal would cause on-going pollution of the Coxs River catchment, the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and Sydney's drinking water resources with toxic metal salts. Centennial Coal must not be granted legal relief arising from its foreshadowed default on the mine water discharge standards that it had previously agreed to with regulatory authorities.

Mine water discharges to Sawyers Swamp Creek that immediately flows into the Coxs River that is part of Sydney's drinking water catchment. Managing Director and CEO of Centennial Coal wrote to the Environment Protection Authority on May 29, 2015 to say that `Centennial acknowledges and agrees to the EPA's proposal for 700/900 EC limits as discussed in your letter'. The Planning Assessment Commission then placed these conditions in the September
2015 consent. I support the company's plans to remove mine water from Sydney's drinking water supplies by 30 June 2019 but Centennial Coal must be required to meet its consent obligations as agreed when the mine was approved.

Centennial Coal must install a temporary water treatment facility to meet the terms of its development consent so that mine water flowing into drinking water supplies receives at least a basic standard of treatment.

Further, this proposed consent modification is one of five modification proposals by Centennial Coal related to Springvale's mine water treatment.
The other proposals are: the mine water transfer, treatment and reuse at Mt Piper Power Plant; storage of treated mine water in Thompsons Creek Reservoir; the emplacement of waste from the water treatment plant; and effective treatment of highly polluting discharges from the emplacement area.

I request that these five proposals be considered together through the Department of Planning and Environment, and Planning Assessment processes.
Each proposal will not be properly understood unless these matters are assessed together.

See attached PDF.

Please see attached.

Please see attached.

Please see attached file.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please find attached the Colong Foundation submission as an objection to Springvale Mine SSD 5594 Modification 2.

The proposed deferral of limiting major pollution is incompatible with the limits of the modification provisions of Act (reasons given).

Yours sincerely,

Keith Muir

Springvale Mining proposal
Modification to amend Schedule 4 Condition 12 of SSD 5594 to: a) remove the requirement to Meet limits for salinity of 700 (50th percentile), 900 (90th percentile) and 1000 (100th percentile) μS/cm EC by 30 June 2017 b) defer to 30 June 2019 the requirement to Eliminate acute and chronic toxicity from LDP009 discharges to aquatic species by 30 June 2017, with acute toxicity defined as >10% effect relative to the control group and chronic toxicity defined as >20% effect relative to the control group.

My Submission
Pollution and mining since September 2015 has been previously allowed whilst a time for Springvale Mining to provide a staged solution has now expired and mining activity should stop until the pollution by Springvale Mining of the upper Coxs River, natural environment and Sydney's drinking water stops.

After eighteen months of polluting, enough is enough and we need to accept Springvale Mining has not only failed to develop a solution, but by requesting a further two year extension, it seems is not close to a solution, yet planning to pollute for four continuous years.

Further, it is fundamentally wrong to suggest the removal of non-pollution obligations to allow compliance. The consent conditions are a requirement the company admits they have failed to achieve.

Approval should not be provided as it is ridiculous to pollute for the past eighteen months, plan to pollute for four years, to be unable to comply with salinity levels and then claim current and historical water quality is unchanged.

Suggested Outcome
Reject the proposed modification, close production on 30 June 2017 until solution is achieved to meet approval condition obligations. This is evidence the environment is important and conditions must be met by miners and developers.
It is felt there are temporary and permanent solutions with reverse osmosis and/or use of facilities at Mt Piper or the implementation of the proposed treatment plant that are available to Springvale Mining to become compliant with the consent conditions.

See attachment

Please see attached.

we submission objecting to Mod 2 is attached.

see attached PDF.