Rio Tinto’s Bengalla mine in the Hunter Valley has been fined for failing to minimise dust emissions after various warnings from the Planning Department.
The Department says compliance officers made an unannounced visit to the mine in October 1 and observed two haul trucks being loaded during high wind conditions that generated dust.
Several days later the department issued a $3000 fine for failing to minimise visible dust during adverse weather conditions.
The department said the mine had received a warning letter about the same issue in August.
Bengalla mine has been advised to review its dust management processes and the mine is said to be implementing new practices.
In a statement a Coal & Allied spokesperson said the mine took a number of actions on the day in question to minimise dust including shutting down equipment such as trucks, shovels and draglines.
“We continually work to improve the way we manage impacts from our operation and have undertaken a thorough review of activities on this day the outcomes of which will form part of our continuous improvement measures,” the spokesperson said.