Rasp Mine

Zinc Lead Silver Project

Project Approval No. 07-0018
January 2011

Waste Management Plan V2

April 2012

DISTRIBUTION: CONTROLLED
REVISION

PREPARED

REV

DATE

30/3/201
2

Original

26/4/201
2

Updated for TSF2 and incident

reporting, removal of use of
septic tank and salt recovery
investigations and other minor
modifications

Environment & Community

Officer

Signature

SCOPE/PURPOSE

Document Owner

BHO-ENV-PLN- 006

INIT

SIGN

REVIEWED
INIT

SIGN

APPROVED
INIT

SIGN

PB

Peter Boyle
(ENVIRON)

BB

Brendan Barker

BB

Brendan
Barker

GW

Gwen Wilson

BJ

Ben Jones

TD

Tony Davis

Ben
Jones

Department

SHE

Date

Apr
2012

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Contents

Page

Purpose

Scope

Context

Objectives

Performance Targets

Mine Waste Streams

Legal Obligations

Waste Generated and Management

10

Application of the Waste Hierarchy

20

10

Control Measures

22

List of Tables
Table 1: Project Approval Conditions for Waste Management
Table 2: Waste Rock & Tailings Disposal
Table3: Predicted Annual Tailings Volumes and TSF2 Filling Data
Table 4: Non-Mineral Waste Types and Management
Table 5: Waste Facility (Onsite and Offsite) Audits and Inspections
Table 6: Responsibilities

List of Figures
Figure 1: Waste Management Hierarchy
Figure 2: TSF2 Blackwood Pit Looking East
Figure 3: Layout of the Delivery and Return Lines at Blackwood Pit

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Purp
ose

1.1

This Waste Management Plan (WMP) outlines the wastes generated by the Rasp
Mine operations and details requirements for storage and disposal.

Scop
e

2.1

This WMP applies to any waste generated by employees, contractors and processes
at the Rasp Mine located on Consolidated Mine Lease 7 (CML7) in Broken Hill.

Cont
ext

3.1

BHOP proposes to mine the Western Mineralisation and Centenary Mineralisation

and Main Lode Pillars, zinc-lead-silver masses within the Project Area. Mining will
take place over 15 years including one year to construct the processing plant, one
year to complete closure activities and an estimated 13 years for extraction of ore
from underground mining, at a maximum rate of 750,000 tpa and produce zinc
(87,000 t) and lead (44,000 t) concentrates. The concentrates will be despatched by
rail to the CBH Resources Ltd owned ship loader (ConPorts Pty Ltd) at Newcastle.

Obje
ctives

4.1

Waste management is inclusive of the generation of waste through to collection,

transport, treatment, recycling/reuse, final use or disposal and where applicable, the
supervision and maintenance of final waste facilities.

4.2

The objectives of this WMP are:

To minimise waste generation at source;

To maximise reuse and recycling of waste products in a safe effective

manner;

To minimise the adverse effects of waste disposal on the local and

regional environment ensuring that pollution of air, land and water are
prevented; and

To comply with legislative requirements and endeavour to meet best

practice industry standards and waste disposal guidelines.

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To identify potential re-use or recycling opportunities and ensure

appropriate handling and collection procedures are in place.

To investigate methods to minimise waste generated by the mine and

implement reasonable and feasible measures to minimise waste.

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Perf
ormance Targets

5.1

All storage and disposal waste to be in accordance with relevant Australian

Standards.

5.2

To recycle and reuse waste products wherever economical feasible and practicable.

5.3

To achieve 60% total recycling of non-mineral waste.

Mine
Waste Streams

6.1

The wastes that the Mine will generate can be categorised as mineral and nonmineral wastes.

6.2

Mineral wastes generated by the mine consist of:

waste rock comprised of inert aluminosilicate minerals such as

feldspar, quartz, biotite, muscovite and sillimanite

6.3

waste stream from ore processing (tailings).

Non-mineral wastes include:

general domestic-type wastes from the on-site buildings and routine

maintenance consumables;

fencing materials;

oils and grease; and

sewerage.

Lega
l Obligations

7.1

Project Approval was granted by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure

(DoPI) in January 2011. Conditions of this Approval are outlined in Table 1 together
with the relevant section(s) within this document where the Condition is addressed.
Table 1: Project Approval Conditions for Waste Management

Obligations
Condition 32: The Proponent shall:
(a) Minimize the waste generated by the project; and
(b) ensure that the waste generated by the project is
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Section of the WMP

Whole of document

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Obligations
appropriately stored, handled, and disposed of, to the
satisfaction of the Director-General.

Section of the WMP

Section 8 Waste Generated and Management

Condition 33: The Proponent shall prepare and
implement a Waste Management Plan for the project
to the satisfaction of the Director-General. This plan
must:
(a) identify the various waste streams of the project;
(b) estimate the volumes of tailings and other waste
material that would be generated by the project;
(c) describe and justify the proposed strategy for
disposing of this waste material;
d) describe what measures would be implemented to
meet the requirements set out above in condition 32;
and
(e) include a program to monitor the effectiveness of
these measures.

2. The Proponent shall ensure that the management

plans required under this approval are prepared in
accordance with relevant guidelines, and include:
(a) detailed baseline data;
(b) a description of:
- the relevant statutory requirements (including any
relevant approval, licence or lease
conditions);
- any relevant limits or performance
measures/criteria; and
- the specific performance indicators that are
proposed to be used to judge the performance of,
or guide the implementation of, the project or any
management measures;
(c) a description of the measures that would be
implemented to comply with the relevant statutory
requirements, limits, or performance
measures/criteria;
(d) a program to monitor and report on the:
- impacts and environmental performance of the
project; and
- effectiveness of any management measures (see (c)
above);
(e) a contingency plan to manage any unpredicted
impacts and their consequences;
(f) a program to investigate and implement ways to
improve the environmental performance of the project
over time;
(g) a protocol for managing and reporting any:
- incidents;
- complaints;
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Section 8.3 Tailing Disposal

Section 8.3 Tailings Disposal
Section 8.3 and Section 10 Control
Measures
Section 10.3 Monitoring, Section 10.4
Facility Inspections and Audits, Section 10.6
Reporting of Performance and Section 10.8
Management Review
Section 7 Legal Obligations
Section 8 Waste Generated and Management
Section 7 Legal Obligations
Section10.3 Monitoring, Section10.4
Facility Inspections and Audits
Section 10.6 Reporting of Performance

Section 8 Waste Generated and Management

and Section 10 Control Measures
Section 10.3 Monitoring, Section 10.6
Reporting of Performance and Section 10.8
Management Review
Section 8.3 Tailing disposal and 10.5
Incident Report and Corrective Action
Section10.3 Monitoring, Section10.4
Facility Inspections and Audits, Section 10.6
Reporting of Performance and 10.8
Management Review
Section 10.5 Incident Report and Corrective
Action and Section 10.6 Reporting of
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Obligations
- non-compliances with the conditions of this approval
and statutory requirements; and
- exceedances of the impact assessment criteria
and/or performance criteria; and
(h) a protocol for periodic review of the plan.

7.2

Section of the WMP

Performance

Section 10.8 Management Review

The Director General Requirements (March 2009) referenced the following policies
and guidelines with respect to waste management:

Environmental Guidelines: Assessment, classification and

management of liquid and non-liquid wastes (EPA 1999).

Environmental Guidelines: use of effluent by irrigation (DEC, 2004).

Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act)

Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001.

Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005

Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Act 2001

Environmental Protection Licence NSW Department of Environment

and Conservation
7.3

The WMP provides a framework to minimise the environment, safety and health
hazards associated with the handling, storage and disposal of those waste products
generated by activities conducted by or on behalf of BHOP.

7.4

Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997

7.4.1

BHOP will ensure that the mine will comply with the requirements of the
POEO Act, through the adoption of a waste hierarchy philosophy of Avoid,
Reuse, Recycle and Disposal.

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Figure 1: Waste Management Hierarchy

7.5

Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Act 2001

7.5.1

The object of the Act is to encourage the most efficient use of resources, to
reduce environmental harm, and to provide for the continual reduction in
waste generation.

7.6

The production of non-mineral waste will be controlled and reduced through the
accurate ordering of materials and the avoidance of over-ordering and potential
wastage of materials. All materials, which are available for recycling, will be collected
and recycled off-site. Only materials, which do not fit into the above categories, will
be disposed of to an appropriately licensed facility.

7.7

BHOP will investigate the use of grey water from the site office, bathhouse and other
amenities for re-use around the mine site.

7.8

BHOP will undertake waste management on site in accordance with the legislation
and guidelines listed in section 1.3. All contractors removing waste from site will be
suitably licensed with appropriate governing bodies as required. Wastes, which are
required to be tracked, will be done so, in accordance with the relevant legislation.

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8
Waste Generated and Management
8.1

Ore excavated during mining operations is processed by an on-site crushing and

flotation plant designed to produce high quality lead and zinc concentrates, which will
be dispatched by rail to Newcastle for shipping to market. The major wastes
produced during mining and mineral processing are waste rock and tailing
information. Table 2 provides a summary for their disposal.
Table 2: Waste Rock & Tailings Disposal
Component

Proposed

Waste rock disposal

Underground: Backfill and rehabilitation at closure

Surface: Inert rock material to be used for road repair, bunding
and rehabilitation at closure.

Tailings disposal

Tailings will be disposed as backfill underground and in a storage

facility. As underground voids become available the spilt will build
to approximately 50% underground and 50% disposed in TSF2.

8.2

Waste rock
8.2.1

Waste characterisation - Waste rock comprises inert aluminosilicate

minerals such as feldspar, quartz, biotite, muscovite and sillimanite. These
rock types do not generate acidic water; feldspar and sillimanite
decomposition consumes acid. A long history of mining in the area
supports the approach of no waste rock with acid forming potential. The
Potosi Gneiss unit is quarried as blue metal for the local Broken Hill
market and surrounding areas in the adjacent quarry owned and operated
by E B Mawsons & Sons Pty Ltd.

8.2.2

On average 300,000 t of waste rock will be generated annually.

8.2.3

Waste rock is predominantly used for backfill, road base, a cover to

minimise dust generation and noise bunding. Waste rock from
underground mining will be deposited in underground voids as they
become available. Where there are no voids available the waste rock is
stored in Kintore Pit awaiting back-loading into underground voids upon
availability or placed in underground drives waiting for a void to become
available.
Inert waste rock, following testing and classification will be utilised as:

road base for the construction of underground and surface roads;

fill material for earth bunding to be built as part of the noise mitigation;
and / or

material for rehabilitation purposes on-site.

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8.3

Tailing Disposal
8.3.1

It was originally planned to commence tailing deposition by placing tailing

in TSF1, which required two additional lifts to an existing tailings storage
facility (the All Nations Tailings Storage Facility). As TSF1 was filled tailing
would be deposited in TSF2, Blackwood Pit. This was proposed to allow
recovery of the rich zinc ore at the base of the Blackwood Pit prior to
depositing tailings in this facility. Mining engineering investigations
concluded that it was not possible to safely remove this material as the
structural integrity of a section of the western side of the Pit is poor.
It has been determined that TSF1 will no longer be considered for tailing
disposal.
An estimated 6.55 Mdryt of tailings will be generated from the Project.
Predictions for tailing generation for the first 9 years of mine life is
presented in Table 3. If storage is required above 308.5 mRL, an
engineered bund wall would be required near the eastern end of the Pit on
the northern side.

Table3: Predicted Annual Tailings Volumes and TSF2 Filling Data

8.3.2

Year

Estimated Surface
Tailings Volume
(m3)

Cumulative Tailings
Volume
(m3)

Predicted Storage
Elevation
(RL m)

270 698

270 698

275.0

234 981

505 679

281.2

246 111

751 790

286.3

242 293

994 083

290.7

256 717

1 250 800

294.9

217 263

1 468 063

298.2

177 808

1 645 871

300.6

168 899

1 814 771

302.8

170 596

1 985 367

304.9

Waste characterisation - Preliminary testwork and mass balance

calculations indicate that the tailings contain the following elements; zinc
(0.4%), lead (0.4%), silver (8 parts per million (ppm)), iron (3.3%), sulphur
(1.2%), arsenic (460ppm), bismuth (70ppm), cadmium (trace) and
antimony (45ppm).

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8.3.2

Tailings properties have been defined through test work and from historic
mining operations on the site. The tailings properties are:

water/solids ratio - 50% solids (after thickening);

water/solids ratio - 55% to 60% solids (at point of discharge from back
fill plant);

80 tph (average solids only), 40 tph to TSF, 40 tph to underground;

80 tph (liquid only);

62 m3/h volumetric flow;

80% passing 200 micro-metres (after desliming);

dry settled density for TSF2 ranges from 1.50 to 1.65 t/m3

Tailing Management Tailings will be directed underground via boreholes

and fill lines to mined voids (for use as back fill) and placed backfill
underground and in a storage facility. As underground voids become
available the spilt will build to approximately 50% underground and 50%
disposed in TSF2. Over the life of the mine approximately fifty percent of
tailings and fifty percent will be deposited in TSF2 Blackwood Pit, a
disused mine pit.

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Figure 2: TSF2 Blackwood Pit Looking East

Tailings are piped from the processing plant to the mine backfill plant; pipes
are trenched and / or bunded. At the back fill plant the tailings are
thickened and separated by cycloning to produce two waste streams
differentiated by particle size. The coarser fraction of the tailings stream
are directed underground via boreholes and fill lines to mined voids (for
use as backfill). The remainder are deposited in surface storage in TSF2
the disused Blackwood Pit. The depth of the Pit varies from about 40 m at
the western end to about 70 m at the eastern end.
8.3.3
To utilize Blackwood Pit as a TSF limited earth works were
required. The existing perimeter bunds around the Pit were extended
where required to maintain a nominal 1 m height and to divert storm water
runoff. There was no disturbance of vegetation or removal of topsoil for
these works. A water truck was utilized to control dust emissions from the
earthworks.
8.3.3.1

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Tailing disposal pipes have been installed in a culvert under the

road from the plant site to the eastern side of the Pit which, given
its narrowness, provides sufficient discharge access. The eastern
side also has a stable zone for installation of the main and for
access to change spigot usage. The tailing main is 225mm HDPE
pipe with 4 discharge spigots of 160 mm slotted HDPE pipes
located at regular intervals along the side of the Pit. The
discharge pipes will be slotted to allow delivery to the Pit bottom
and to minimise the risk of erosion of the easterly Pit wall. The
slotted discharge pipes will be progressively buried as tailing is
deposited.

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The pipes will be butt welded and will include flange connections
where valves are required. Isolation rising stem gate valves will be
installed to enable selection of which discharge spigots will be
active. All pipework containing tailing outside of the Pit is bunded
to contain any tailing in the event of a rupture or damage to the
pipework.
The layout of the delivery and return lines at Blackwood Pit is
shown in Figure 3.

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Figure 3: Layout of the Delivery and Return Lines at Blackwood Pit

8.3.3.2

A decant system will be used to extract water from TSF2 via two
extraction lines at the north western end of the facility. Two
extraction points are to be used to allow for potential migration of
the decant pond which may result from changes in the tailing
beach over the storage life. Extraction pumping will be from two
15kW submersible pumps located in slotted 560 mm HDPE
pipes. The pipelines will have height markings on their sides to
clearly display the height of the water in the decant pond. The
Pumps will be suspended by cables which will be calibrated with
height markings corresponding to those on the sides of the pipes
so that the height of the pump can be controlled to maintain it in
the decant pond. Decant water will be pumped via a 110 mm line
to the lined Plant Water Pond for utilisation in the concentrator
process.
When the decant water return is stopped the Plant Water Pond
pump will continue to deliver to the mill circuit water tank until it
reaches a low level at which point it will automatically stop. When
rainwater or further TSF return water report to this Pond the pump
will automatically start at the set operating level for the Pond. A

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gradation on the pump support walkway will provide a

measurement of the water depth in the pond.
8.3.3.3

The TSF will be operated to minimise the free water content of

deposited tailing by managing the drainage to provide water to
the decant extraction area and by placement of tailing at elevated
pulp densities. The TSF management will also aim to minimize
the area of the water pond at the decant to improve tailing
drainage. This drainage plus evaporation will be the driving
mechanism of strength gain and density increase for the tailing.
Testwork conducted on tailing samples give an expectation that
the density of tailing will be in the range 1.50 to 1.65 t/m3 as the
tailing settles and dries.

8.3.3.4

The properties of the tailing have been characterized as being

relatively quick draining during the initial stages of deposition and
then become a low permeability mass as consolidation proceeds.
The permeability of the tailing near the base of the Pit is likely to
reduce to approximately 5 x 10-10 m/s and the density of the tailing
near the Pit bottom to increase to 1.7 and 1.9t/m3.
During the placement of tailing into the Pit initially some may flow
into the partially filled voids that extend into the Pit. However, the
fresh tailing are expected to settle in the old workings over a
relatively short distance as the water is released from the high
solids content tailing with blocking of the voids.
This pond will be operated with a minimum of 1.5 m of freeboard
which when combined with the Plant Event Pond provides the
holding capacity for a 1 in 100 year storm event and the run-off
from the ROM Pad and the plant site. Any additional rain would
overflow this pond and be captured by the Event Pond located
immediately below and to the east of the Plant Water Pond. The
Plant Event Pond will be kept empty to allow acceptance of this
overflow.

8.3.3.5

The north east, west and south west area has been mined and

most of the old working were backfilled in the past. Some of the
shafts and connection drives may still be open but these are
relatively small openings that are expected to block up if tailings
was to migrate into these areas. The connection of the old and
new workings is through a deep level transport drive at Level
1480 (approximately 450m depth) that is well below the bottom of
the Pit and near the bottom of the old workings. Groundwater is
drawn down to at least this level by pumping from Shaft 7.
Hence the only migration from the tailings in Blackwood Pit is
likely to be seepage water from the tailings, with minor short
distance migration of tailings into the partially filled old mining
voids. Due to the low permeability of the tailings the slowly
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released water from the tailings is expected to seep into the old
workings, and be collected as part of the ongoing mine dewatering
at Shaft 7 and from mine dewatering within the Western
Mineralisation. The macro permeability of the old working and
surrounding rock mass on the side and below the Pit facilitate the
collection of released water from the tailings and prevent the bathtub effect forming in the Pit which could develop if the Pit
perimeter was of very low permeability. On this basis it is
expected that the tailings in the Pit will be drained mass of low
permeability.
The east side of the Pit comprises intact rock and minimal mine
workings. As such it is possible that perched water may develop
along the east side of the site between the lease boundary and
the Pit edge, due to the possibility that the upper rock zone around
the Pit may be of slightly higher permeability than the deeper high
strength rock mass. It is therefore proposed to install two bores
along the east side of the Pit, and install piezometers to a depth of
approximately the base level of the Pit adjacent to the bore (refer
Site Water Management Plan monitoring bores GW11 and
GW12).
8.3.3.6

There are two sets of water quality data, 2007 and 2011, for Shaft
7 water, with the latter 2011 data indicating groundwater
concentrations for some anolytes to be a magnitude higher. The
results of groundwater testing from Shaft 7 will be used as a
baseline. An initial comparison for concentrations of groundwater
will be set 30% higher than the 2011 values providing a level for
investigation. Once a trend is suspected, or if most contaminates
are detected greater than 30% above the 2011 values, an
investigation will be undertaken to determine the source of
contamination, the level of environmental risk and the remedial
action required.
If the signature of the sampled water indicates it is related to the
TSF and considered to be an unacceptable environmental risk,
options for remedial actions include the following:

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Changes to the tailings deposition method and strategy to

limit water storage on the tailings surface.

Changes to the tailings deposition water content to

reduce the amount of water in the tailings storage facility.

Installation of perched groundwater extraction system

through a series of bores or cutoff trench adjacent to the
site boundary.

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8.3.3.7

In the early years there will be no need for any additional dust
control beyond the placement of the tailing at the bottom of the Pit
by use of the long slotted pipes from the delivery main to the Pit
bottom. As the Pit is filled there will come a time when the tailing
will be subject to wind forces with potential for dust generation. At
that time mitigation measures will be applied by way of a water
ring main with water sprinklers to keep those areas of the tailing
which are dry beaches damp. The spray dust suppression will
also, if necessary, be augmented by the addition of a dust
suppressant to the spray water to crust and stabilize the tailing
surface.
Schedule 3 Condition 10 of the Project Approval requires that
video recording equipment be installed to assist in the active
management of emissions from the tailings storage facility. This
equipment will be installed as the tailings rise and there is the
potential for dust generation to escape from the Pit.
During routine inspections of the TSF by process plant personnel,
the generation of dust from the sides or surface of the facility,
including specific locations, shall be recorded on the daily record
sheet.
In addition the Air Quality Monitoring Program (BHO-ENV-PRM001) outlines requirements for dust monitoring. Real time
meteorological and dust monitoring will be used at two locations;
TEOM1, located in south and to the west of the Pit and TEOM2,
located adjacent and north of the Pit. These monitor PM10, wind
speed and direction continuously and are linked to the Processing
Control Room and the Environment and Community Officers
computer. Procedures for monitoring are outlined in the procedure
BHO-ENV-PRO-006 Real Time Monitoring for Operational Dust
Management.

8.3.3.8

8.4

At the cessation of tailings disposition in TSF2 Blackwood Pit, a

final covering of inert waste rock will be placed over the top of the
tailings to avoid the potential for dust generation as they stabilise
and consolidate. Storm water will be directed away from the TSF
cover to minimise water infiltration.

Non-mineral waste
8.4.1

Non-mineral waste (general, recyclable, regulated and hazardous) are

generated during construction works and mine operations, particularly at
maintenance workshops, administrative offices and change house
facilities. Management and disposal strategies for this waste are identified
in Table 4. Where possible estimates for waste volumes are also provided.
This will be updated with the collection of waste inventories during the first
year of operations.

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Table 4: Non-Mineral Waste Types and Management

Waste type
General
Waste

Waste categories
Food scraps (putrescible
waste)
Food wrappers
Non-recyclable plastics
(packaging)
Rope
Rubber (hydraulic) hoses
Polystyrene cups
Damaged pallets or
wooden products
Rubber bands, metal clip
binders, pens
Damaged air filters

Storage and disposal method

To be stored on-site in wheely bins or bulk
bins for collection and off- site disposal by
waste disposal contractor or a licensed
waste disposal contractor, respectively.
Note that no recycling service currently
exists in Broken Hill for paper, cardboard
or plastics. Should this service become
available, BHOP will utilise this service for
recyclable waste.
Toner cartridges are provided to Planet Ark
for recycling as part of the Cartridge-Planet
Ark Program.

Est volume
Putrescible
waste not
known
Paper,
cardboard
and plastics
1.4t
Wooden
pallets, and
other items
not known

Paper
Cardboard
Plastics
Toner cartridges

Recyclable
waste

Light and heavy vehicle

tyres
Scrap metal
Aluminium cans
Glass bottles

Scrap metal and used vehicle tyres to be

stored on-site and reused on-site where
possible. Tyres will be reused as markers
or for other delineating purposes. If unable
to be reused, they will be collected by a
licensed contractor for off-site disposal.

Scrap metal
up to 2t

There is no recycling facility for aluminium

cans and / or glass bottles in Broken Hill.

Regulated
waste

Oils
Grease
Lubricants
Oily rags
Contaminated soils

Regulated waste to be stored on-site in

drums or designated bins in a bunded area
and collected by a licensed contractor for
recycling or disposal off-site at a regulated
facility.

Oils and
grease
10,000L
Other items
not known

Oily contaminated
absorbents
Oil filters
Oily water
Coolant
Contaminated hoses
Contaminated drums

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Table 4: Non-Mineral Waste Types and Management

Waste type

Hazardous
Waste

Waste categories

Lead acid batteries

Chemicals
Reagents
Contaminated drums/
containers
Explosive product
packaging

8.4.2

Storage and disposal method

During the initial phase of operations,

packaging from explosive products to be
buried in a separated, designated site in
the bottom of BHP Pit. In the long-term,
this packaging will be disposed of as part
of the back fill for stopes.

Est volume

Batteries 6
Other items
not known

Other hazardous waste to be stored onsite in a bunded area and collected by a

licensed contractor for recycling or
disposal off-site at a regulated facility.

Disposal is viewed as the last option in the management of waste, only if

the avoidance, re-use or recycling of the waste in question is not practical.
The following systems are implemented at the mine in regard to waste
disposal

Only transport operators or companies that are licensed by the

appropriate authorities are contracted to remove waste from the
mine site.

Waste vehicle tyres are stored on site and disposed of at

appropriately licensed facilities on an as needs basis.

Waste materials, which cannot be either re-used or recycled, are to

be sent to a licensed landfill that may accept that category of waste.
Only an experienced waste contractor should remove the waste off
site.

Removal of waste materials at end of mine will be handled as part of

the mine rehabilitation closure plan.

All waste is disposed of in accordance with the Environmental

Guidelines: Assessment, Classification & Management of Liquid and
Non-liquid Wastes (DECC, 1999) or as specified in Schedule 1 of
the POEO Act.

At the point of generation, waste is directly transferred to local based

waste receptacles for transportation to disposal, reuse or recycling
facilities. A colour coding system is utilised where by waste
receptacles are colour coded to separate the different waste streams
for recycling and disposal, (eg green waste skips for municipal
waste, red wheelie bins for recyclable waste). Receptacles are
clearly labeled to ensure employees are aware of the waste
separation requirements.

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8.5

The site requirements for waste management are displayed at

prominent positions across the mine in the form of charts outlining
the correct disposal methods for the different waste streams.

Wastewater
8.5.1

Wastewater is generated from equipment washpads, processing

operations and as sewage from change house and amenities. The
wastewater management system has been designed to maximise recycling
and beneficial use of site water.

8.5.2

The vehicle wash facility is a closed system, with all wastewater captured
and directed through an oil / water separator and sediment separator, prior
to reuse as washdown water. Wastewater from the vehicle wash down
pads is discharged via an oil / water separator through a sequence of two
settling dams. Following settling, the water is reused on-site in the vehicle
wash facility, used in processing or allowed to evaporate.

8.5.3

The oil collected from the oil water separators is stored in drums within an
appropriately bunded facility beside the workshop until such time as the
waste oil can be collected by the local licensed contractor for disposal.
The sediment collected from the wash bay settlement ponds and the truck
wash sediment collection system, is collected and placed in a dedicated
sump (located in the vicinity of the settlement ponds) to be stabilised
before being transported. The stabilised sediments are transported to the
BHP Pit or Blackwood Pit where the sediment will be deposited.
Investigations will be undertaken in treating this waste water for use in dust
suppression and / or ground maintenance.

8.5.4

Sewage is managed using the existing surface sewerage facilities and

infrastructure within the Project Area. Effluent from the site offices, bath
house and other amenities is connected and disposal via Broken Hills
reticulated sewerage system.

Application of the Waste Hierarchy

9.1

Waste Reduction - The following methods are used to minimise waste production:

Specifications of construction material quantities for contractors are as

accurate as possible to avoid the over-ordering of materials and the potential
for excess waste.

The ordering of stock during the operation of the mine will be regularly
reviewed to ensure efficient stock control and to avoid wastage.

The use of degreasers is regulated in the workshop areas to ensure

the efficiency of the oil-water separator.

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All waste areas are clearly identified as waste storage areas. This
includes bins and other receptacles for domestic waste, and which would be
marked according to the type of waste accepted, eg. scrap metal, oil filters
and oily rages, other recyclables, general waste, etc.

Clear written instructions are erected at appropriate locations detailing

recycling and waste separation information. With the exception of waste rock
and tailings (both production wastes), there is no long term storage of any
waste materials on the mine site.
9.2

Recycling - BHOP provides appropriate storage areas or receptacles for all materials
that are suitable for recycling. The main recyclable waste materials generated by the
mine and their primary source(s) are as follows

Paper and cardboard: there are no paper recycling facilities currently

available in Broken Hill.

Metal: used metals are stored for reuse or recycled as scrap metal
and placed into large skip bins, which are collected by a metal recycler as
sufficient quantities are available.

Waste Oil is collected within bunded fuel storage, refueling and

maintenance areas and stored within waste oil bins once it has passed
through an oil-water separator. The waste oil is removed from site by a
licensed waste oil contractor for recycling.

Batteries are removed from site for delivery to a facility able to

despatch them to an appropriate recycling facility.

Miscellaneous recyclables: printer cartridges are stored at appropriate

locations prior to delivery to Planet Ark recycling facilities as part of their
Cartridges-Planet Ark Program.
9.3

The Environment and Community Officer will undertake regular inspections of waste
storage locations to check that appropriate separation and collection of waste is
being undertaken. As far as practical, BHOP will maintain a register of recycled
material at the Mine site.

9.4

Reuse of Waste Materials - Opportunities for the re-use of materials on site are
evaluated on a regular basis. Investigations will be undertaken for the use of effluent
from the site office, bathhouse and other amenities once treated to be re-used as
irrigation water on rehabilitation and landscaped areas in accordance with
Environmental Guidelines: Use of Effluent by Irrigation (DEC, 2004).

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Control Measures
10.1 Training
10.1.1

Waste management requirements are incorporated into existing induction

and awareness training systems.

10.1.2

Additional waste specific communication will be included in Tool Box Talks

and rolled out across the site on an as required basis.

10.2 Waste Inventory

10.2.1

A comprehensive waste inventory containing information on all wastes

generated, handled and disposed of, whether on or offsite is maintained by
the Environment and Community Officer. The waste inventory is a
database that focuses on the procedures for safe storage, handling,
treatment, recycling and disposal of non-mineral wastes. This inventory will
be further developed and updated over the first year of mine operation.

10.3 Monitoring
10.3.1

Waste handling and storage facilities are managed by operational staff

within each department. Waste quantities, including hazardous materials
(eg. waste oil/grease), are monitored accordingly by operational staff and
collection schedules are arranged as required.

10.4 Facility Inspections and Audits

10.4.1

Onsite waste storage, treatment and disposal facilities are inspected on a

regular monthly basis to ensure compliance with procedures. These
facility inspections are incorporated into existing workplace inspections and
carried out by the relevant area personnel.

10.4.2

Table 5 lists the waste facility and their respective audit and inspection
action.

Table 5: Waste Facility (Onsite and Offsite) Audits and Inspections

Waste management facilities

Onsite Waste
Tailings Impoundments

Audits of offsite waste facilities

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Inspections
Regular monthly inspection across surface lease
Engineering inspections as outlined in the
Blackwood Pit Construction and Operations
Manual.
Once every 4 years

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10.5 Incident Reporting and Corrective Actions

10.5.1

Incident Reporting
10.5.1.1

Internal

All incidents involving non-compliance with waste management

requirements shall be recorded and reported on the BHOP system for
incident reporting.
The Department Manager for the area where the incident occurred is
responsible for investigating and reporting the incident.
10.5.1.2

External

Notification shall be made immediately to each relevant authority when

material harm to the environment is caused or threatened in accordance
with the Protection of the Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2011.
Environmental incidents are also required to be reported to (refer Project
Approval Schedule 4 Condition 5 and the EP Licence):

Department of Planning and Infrastructure

Environment Protection Authority,

Division of Resources and Energy, and

Other relevant government agencies eg BHCC, Health,

WorkCover, Fire and Rescue.

BHOP will provide a written report, as required, within seven days of the
date of the incident.
The Environment and Community Officer is responsible for preparing
reports to government agencies which are signed off by the General
Manager prior to submission.
10.5.1.3

Complaints

Any complaints as to the management of on-site waste will be directed to

the relevant Department Manager and the Environment and Community
Officer for investigation and rectification. Complaints and actions arising
from a complaint will be recorded in a complaints register to be maintained
by the Environment and Community Officer.

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10.6 Reporting of performance

10.6.1

Waste management data will be documented and reported in each Annual

Environmental Management Report. The information will include the
quantities and type of waste removed off site for recycling or disposal, the
contractor engaged to remove the wastes, and the final destination for all
waste products. Details will be provided on the implementation success of
the WMP and any areas that require improvement will be highlighted.
Regular measurements of waste rock and tailings are to be included in the
Environmental Management Report along with general waste reporting.

10.7 Personnel Responsibilities

Onsite personnel have a number of responsibilities in relation to waste
management obligations, these are summarised in Table 6.
Table 6: Responsibilities
Title
General Manager

Department Managers

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Responsibility

Provide required resources and support to implement the WMP.

Authorise the implementation of the WMP.

Participate in annual reviews of the WMP.

Review and sign off incident reports to government agencies.

Provide resources required to implement the actions from the WMP

and associated procedures.

Allocate responsibilities within their department for the

implementation of the WMP.

Ensure all personnel undertaking works in relation to the WMP are

trained and competent;

Implement waste management measures as required.

Participate in annual reviews of the WMP.

Investigate and report incidents.

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Title

Responsibility

Environment & Community

Officer

Prepare and maintain the WMP.

Monitor and review the standards and procedures required to

implement the WMP.

Consult with regulatory authorities as required.

Undertake waste inspections and monitoring as required.

Provide recommendations for continual improvement of the WMP

and associated procedures.

Record and report on waste disposal data.

Report waste management performance via site meetings and

reports, the Rasp Mine website, the AEMR, Annual Return and
annual environmental reviews required by government agencies.

Report incidents to government agencies and prepare and submit

written incident reports.
Audit waste management practices and provide feedback to
relevant site management.

BHOP Personnel and

Contractors

Record and follow up on community enquires and complaints, and

close out.

Participate in training to implement the standards and procedures

for waste management as required to maintain competency levels.

Follow the procedures to implement the WMP in your area.

Segregate wastes at the source where appropriate.

Use the waste facilities in their area correctly.

Look for opportunities to minimise waste generated in your

work area, where practical.

10.8 Management Review

10.8.1

The WMP will be reviewed on an annual basis or where there are

significant changes to the sites operations. The annual review will
reconsider the risks presented by waste, options to reduce the waste
generated, changes in reuse and recycling local opportunities.

10.9 References

The following documents and resources are relevant to this WMP Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Environmental Guidelines: Assessment, classification and

management of liquid and non-liquid wastes (EPA 1999).

Environmental Guidelines: use of effluent by irrigation (DEC,

2004).

Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.

Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001.

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Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation

2005.

Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Act 2001

Environment Assessment, BHOP July 2010

Preferred Project Report, BHOP September 2010

BHOP Environmental Protection Licence 12559

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