The Environment Protection Authority has fined Muswellbrook’s Mount Pleasant Mine $15,000 over a pungent-smelling blast fume on June 15 last year.
The Muswellbrook community acted immediately, reporting concerns and photos of the blast to the EPA, which could be seen and smelt in the vicinity.
Neighbouring properties were impacted, with several residents seeking shelter from the noxious fume released.
EPA Acting Director Operations Brett Nudd said this incident was predictable and preventable, and the community shouldn’t have been impacted in this way.
“Blast fumes from mine sites must be contained within the mine boundary, as they contain oxides of nitrogen that may be harmful to human health at high concentrations”, Mr Nudd said.
“In addition, MACH Energy Australia failed to warn their neighbours of the potential of exposure to blast fume, and members of the community were either exposed or sought shelter to avoid the blast fume”.
The EPA has thanked Muswellbrook residents for calling its Environment Line so quickly.
Blast fumes from mines are reddish-orange coloured gases, with a pungent odour that may be generated during blasting.
Normally, gases produced during blasting disperse rapidly within the mine site, and pose no acute health risk.
