North Goonyella Level 4 Compliance Meeting Methane >2.5% in LW Return Legislation Breaches. 20th November 2017. “The NGC team objected to the level 4 on the basis of discussions held in March and the outcome of that meeting consequently demonstrating that the situation is now under control.”
Carter Romanski 2.5% CH4 L4 20 Nov 2017.pdf
The meeting objective was stated as a closure of the NGC methane gas exceedances experienced at NGC around January 2017.
As a result of the compliance review it was recommended that the SSE Mike Carter, UMM Marek Romanski and the Ventilation Officer (VO) at the time, David Craft, to attend a level 4 compliance meeting with the Chief Inspector.
The NGC team objected to the level 4 on the basis of discussions held in March and the outcome of that meeting consequently demonstrating that the situation is now under control.
It is noted and recorded that NGC dispute some of the facts described in the Inspectorate findings. These seemed to be centred around the reporting of methane trips at the Main Gate(M/G) and the nature of those trips.
The Chief Inspector pointed out in the meeting that NGC were free to object and ,if it were determined that some of the facts were incorrect, get the facts corrected on the record.
Just for the record I note that within about 8 months the Inspectorate at the time had concluded the Investigation and taken action under the Departments Compliance Policy.
Here we are 2 and a half years and still nothing from the Mines Inspectors.
WHY?
Today, Monday 20 November, a Level 4 meeting was conducted between the Mines Inspectorate and North Goonyella Coal (NGC) mine management.
Present in the meeting were:
Mines Inspectorate;
- Chief Inspector of Coal, Russell Albury
- Deputy Chief Inspector of Coal; Shaun Dobson
- Regional Inspector, Les Marlborough
- Inspector, Richard Gouldstone
NGC Management:
- Site Senior Executive (SSE), Mike Carter
- Underground Mine Manager (UMM), Marek Romanski
- Operators representative for Peabody(Vice President), Peter Baker.
The meeting objective was stated as a closure of the NGC methane gas exceedances experienced at NGC around January 2017.
The NGC team objected to the level 4 on the basis of discussions held in March and the outcome of that meeting consequently demonstrating that the situation is now under control.
It has taken the mine inspectorate, since January, until now to be in a position to conclude it’s investigations and conduct the compliance review process.
As a result of the compliance review it was recommended that the SSE, UMM and the Ventilation Officer (VO) at the time, David Craft, to attend a level 4 compliance meeting with the chief inspector.
It is noted and recorded that NGC dispute some of the facts described in the Inspectorate findings. These seemed to be centred around the reporting of methane trips at the Main Gate(M/G) and the nature of those trips.
The Chief Inspector pointed out in the meeting that NGC were free to object and ,if it were determined that some of the facts were incorrect, get the facts corrected on the record.
However, these facts do not change the occurrences of general body methane concentrations in excess of 2.5% in the Longwall return recorded in the data provided by the SSE and analysed by the Inspectorate in the investigation.
The Inspectorate commends NGC for the changes made to their systems since January to mitigate general body methane concentrations in excess of 2.5% in the Longwall return .
The focus now should be on maintaining a sustainable control of methane emissions and maintaining an acceptable level of risk at the mine.
