Scientists Back Industry’s Defence of Coal Dust Control

BRISBANE, Australia - June 24, 2013 - PRLog -- A public meeting of a Senate inquiry into possible health implications arising from coal being transported in open rail wagons was convened in Brisbane this week while an environmental group released their own critical report in Newcastle.

The CEO of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), Michael Roche, used the Senate inquiry to launch a vigorous defence of the measures being adopted by the Queensland coal industry and its service providers to minimise any health and amenity effects from coal dust.

QRC’s CEO tabled a review of dust from coal trains in Queensland prepared by Katestone Environmental, a Brisbane-based consultancy providing air quality and meteorology services.

Roche argued the bottom line from the work undertaken by Katestone is that there are no demonstrated health effects that can be attributed to dust from coal trains, and that even the issue of nuisance is restricted to a very narrow corridor of influence.

Katestone’s director, Simon Welchman, told the inquiry a review of studies that have conducted air quality monitoring in the corridor and around rail systems has shown that while coal dust and the influence of coal trains on dust levels has been detected, the levels of coal dust were found to be well below the air quality objectives for the protection of human health and amenity impacts.

Michael Roche pointed to the Queensland Health department’s exhaustive examination of air quality in the industrial city of Gladstone in 2010 as testament to the quality of the science behind the air quality regulations and monitoring in Queensland.

“However,” he said, “as recent experience in south-east Queensland has shown, by its very presence, coal dust is being portrayed as a health hazard”.

“As a result, community fears have been raised. It is therefore incumbent on industry to address them – scientifically, transparently and comprehensively.”

The CEO also tabled work carried out by the South West Users’ Group – made up of three coal mining companies with operations west of Toowoomba along with the infrastructure providers engaged in exporting coal from Brisbane – Aurizon, Queensland Rail, Queensland Bulk Handling and the Port of Brisbane.

“The first thing it did in responding to community concerns was to assure the relevant communities and their elected representatives that their concerns were being treated seriously and action would occur to address them accurately and transparently,” he said.

He explained the South West Users Group has committed to development in coming months of a comprehensive dust management plan. Implementation of elements of that plan is well under way.

“In February, the South West Users’ Group commissioned the Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts (DSITIA) to conduct a comprehensive dust monitoring program at six stations along the south west and metropolitan rail corridor between the Darling Downs and the Port of Brisbane.

“A seventh station in Brisbane not adjacent to the coal rail corridor was established as a control measure.

“The next round of air monitoring at the seven south-east Queensland test sites began on May 2 for one month, coinciding with the departure of the first veneered coal wagons from New Acland.

“The purpose of the baseline monitoring was to establish a benchmark against which the impact of veneering coal from the New Acland mine could be measured accurately over time and across the spectrum of dust particle sizes.”

He said veneering is world-leading dust suppression technology.

“All coal mines in Central Queensland and in the Surat Basin have committed to introducing veneering by the end of 2013. In central Queensland, where the majority of mines are already veneering their coal, the practice has led to dust reductions of up to 90%.

“This project will cost in excess of a quarter of a million dollars. This is a cost not being borne by taxpayers but by industry, utilising the independent expertise of a Queensland government agency. We have also been tapping into the experts at the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health here in Brisbane.

“Veneering has proved itself world-wide to be the most effective means of suppressing dust from coal wagons. As our submission notes, there is no significant health or amenity benefit from putting lids on wagons – just significant cost implications for everyone on the supply chain from pit to port.”

Meanwhile Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) released an expert analysis of the report “Coal dust in our suburbs” published by the Coal Terminal Action Group (CTAG) in March. The analysis was conducted by Dr Nigel Holmes of NH2 Dispersion Sciences.

PWCS CEO Hennie du Plooy notes Dr Holmes raises a number of important questions about the CTAG report, including about the methodology used, the accuracy and reliability of the results and the extent to which the data collected supports the conclusions drawn by the authors.

“We take our environmental responsibilities seriously,” said Hennie du Plooy. “When coupled with our concern about a number of serious claims made by CTAG, we felt it was important that we have the report carefully analysed by an expert in the field”.

“The Newcastle and wider Hunter community can draw their own conclusions from the initial report written by the three CTAG members and this analysis written by an expert in the field of air quality. I encourage everyone concerned about the issue of coal dust and particulate pollution to read them both carefully.”

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