Licence conditions for pollution studies and reduction program


  

Licence conditions for pollution studies and reduction programs

Summary
 
Licence number: 767
Title: PRP15: Real Time Water Quality & Flow Monitoring
Start date: 31 May 2023
 
Licence Condition
Background The premises currently has 2 licensed discharge points to Camp Gully Creek: the water treatment plant (LDP7) and the Turkey’s Nest Dam spillway (LDP8).  Camp Gully Creek flows through the adjacent Royal National Park before joining the Hacking River. The pre-existing licence monitoring requirements were limited to simple water quality parameters intended to verify the performance of the treatment plant.  The monitoring occurred monthly and did not match the intermittent nature of discharges, or account for the sensitive receiving water catchment. The aim of this PRP is for the licensee to develop a contemporary, real time monitoring system that can detect variations in ambient water quality caused by discharges from the mine.  This will enable the licensee to rapidly detect and manage potential water quality incidents, provide information on the effect of the discharge on water quality under varying river flow conditions, and make the information publicly available on the licensee’s website. Requirements Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the EPA: 1.  By 19 May 2023 the licensee must submit a scoping document (including timelines) for the installation of new water quality and flow monitoring systems at the premises to the EPA. The system must include continuous real time monitoring at the following locations: a. upstream of the mine in Camp Gully Creek; b. downstream of the mine in Camp Gully Creek (in the vicinity of the railway corridor); c. at the water treatment plant LDP7; and d. at the spillway LDP8. The Scoping Document must be accompanied by a revised Premises Map incorporating the new monitoring locations (a and b above). The system must provide continuous real time readings for the following parameters: a. water quality (electrical conductivity, turbidity, temperature and pH); and b. water flowrates from LDP 7 and LDP 8.         Complete (DOC23/424901). 2.  By 15 July 2023 the licensee must have installed and commenced operation of the monitoring system.         Complete (DOC23/636095-4). 3.  By 31 August 2023 the licensee must develop and submit a Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP) that includes water quality and water flow trigger levels at which actions and responses will be implemented. The system must have the capability of notifying appropriate site personnel(s) in real time of potential water pollution in Camp Gully Creek as a result of incidents at the premises. The licensee must make the data publicly available in real time on the licensee’s website.         Complete (DOC23/886086). 4.  By 30 June 2024, the licensee must review the effectiveness of the entire system including real time monitoring, notifications, publicly available data and trigger levels and submit a report on the outcomes of the review. The report must include an evaluation of performance and provide recommendations about the ongoing usage of real time monitors for water quality and water flow. Due Dates:  1. Water quality real-time monitoring methodology – 19 May 2023 2. System install and commissioning – 15 July 2023 3. Trigger Action Response Plans – 31 August 2023 4. System Review - 30 June 2024