Neither South32 nor the Environment Protection Authority have been able to give an estimate of how much coal waste material was washed downstream into a Figtree creek after a tailings dam failed last weekend.
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Brandy and Water Creek was turned black after a stormwater pipe, part of a coal "fines" (dust-like waste material) retention system, collapsed in heavy storms.
The Mercury asked South32 and the EPA how much waste coal was believed to have been washed into the stream, but South32 did not answer, and the EPA said it was waiting for a report from the miner.
A spokesman for South32 said additional sediment controls had been implemented after the incident at the Dendrobium Mine's Kemira Valley coal loading facility last weekend.
"We enacted our incident response plan and alerted the NSW Environment Protection Authority soon after the incident occurred on Monday morning (August 10)," he said.
"Our team is undertaking remediation work at the site of the incident.
"We have also installed sediment controls and diverted water flows away from the pond to reduce the likelihood of further particles entering the creek.
"Along with our existing, permanent monitoring of the sediment pond we also have staff at the site to conduct additional checks."
Brandy and Water Creek flows into American Creek, which becomes Allans Creek, which flows into Tom Thumb Lagoon then Port Kembla Harbour.
The EPA will have to wait until an environmental assessment report is prepared by the miner, which will contain estimates of the likely impact of the spill.
"The EPA inspected a collapsed stormwater pipe at the main sediment dam and collected water samples for analysis when notified of the incident by Dendrobium on Monday, August 10," a spokeswoman said.
"The EPA has also carried out additional inspections of the creek during the week to assess any ongoing impacts.
"The EPA immediately directed Dendrobium Coal to provide the EPA with an incident report due early next week as well as an environmental assessment by August 31 to determine the impact of the incident and any actions that can be taken to restore the downstream creek.
"Dendrobium has advised the EPA they have implemented interim controls to protect downstream waters. Final repairs are not yet complete.
"The EPA has not been advised of this type of incident occurring at Dendrobium mine previously."
Ben Langford
Senior journalist writing on the environment. Opinion columnist, independent. We rely on your news tips so please, don't be shy to let us know what's going on.
Senior journalist writing on the environment. Opinion columnist, independent. We rely on your news tips so please, don't be shy to let us know what's going on.
