Gary DaveyDirector - North NSW Environment Protection Authority

: (02) 6659 8230 I frA: (02) 6659 8257 1'1): Gary.Davey@jepa.nsw.gov.au

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From: Gary Davey [mailto:Gary.Davey(aepa.nsw.gov.au ]Sent: Monday, 24 September 2012 8:47 AMTo: Ian HedleyCc: Margaret ChaferSubject: RE: 05-Sep-2012 Customer Feedback for Call CO3399-2012

Ian, thanks for taking the time to introduce yourself and to put your concerns into an email.

I will look into the matters you have raised and get back to you. It may be useful for us to meet when Iam next in Newcastle.

Regards GD.

Gary DaveyDirector - North' NSW Environment Protection AuthorityTS: (02) 6659 8230 1 .: (02) 6659 82571'Ti: Gary.Davey@epa.nsw.gov ,au

From: Ian Hedley [mailto:ian.hedleyftedweld.com.au]Sent: Saturday, 22 September 2012 9:02 AMTo: Davey GarySubject: FW: 05-Sep-2012 Customer Feedback for Call CO3399-2012

Hello Gary

Firstly please let me introduce myself. I am the Managing Director of Hedweld Engineering Pty Ltd,

which has its primary manufacturing plant located in the Mount Thorley Industrial Area, and six

hundred metres, to the east of the Rio Tinto, Mount Thorley Warkworth Mine.

Hedweld manufactures mining equipment for the global market and I am defiantly not anti-mining.

However I am responsible for duty of care in relation to the OH&S requirements of Hedweld

employees. The dilemma I face is that I am consistently being advised by the EPA dust monitoring

reports that the air quality in the Mount Thorley area has failed the Australian Standards and is often

reaching hazardous levels.

On Wednesday 5 th September 2012, the dust reached levels of air pollution so high that it was very

hard to breath at our Russell Road factory. As a result, I was forced to send approximately 80

employees home at midday for fear that the dust had reached levels that were hazardous to

people's health. This fact was confirmed on the EPA web site. I have a duty of care to ensure that I

am not endangering Hedweld employees and the EPA alert confirmed that the air quality had

reached Hazardous levels.

The biggest disappointment came when I reported the breach of air quality to the EPA. Please see

attached a copy of an email which summarises the EPA response.

Do you believe that the below response is appropriate considering the extreme health danger that

Rio Tinto, Coal and Allied, MTW mine has placed workers of the Mount Thorley Industrial area in?

I am 60 years old this year and have lived and worked in the Mt Thorley, Bulga, (where I currently

reside) for most of that time. I have witnessed an extreme deterioration of air quality in the valley in

recent years. I have a wife and two daughters who have all developed asthma in recent years and

now require medication for their condition.

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From: WMS.Admin©environment.nsw.gov.au [mailto:WMS.Admin(aenvironment.nsw.goy.au ]Sent: Wednesday, 5 September 2012 1:25 PMTo: Ian HedleySubject: 05-Sep-2012 Customer Feedback for Call CO3399-2012

Customer Feedback for Call CO3399-2012

Please do not reply to this email address.

Thank you for your report. Based on the information you provided, an environmental incident reporthas been created (Ref No CO3399-2012). Your report has gone to the relevant operations area.

Generally our operatons officers will not contact you unless they require further information, so if youwould like feedback on any action taken, please allow 5-10 working days for administrative purposesand then call the Environment Line on 131 555 during business hours (8.30am to 5pm weekdays).

Quote your report number and an Environment Line Officer will access the report and provide adviceon what action has been taken. This service can only be provided during business hours. However ifany further pollution incidents occur, you can call the 131 555 number 24 hours a day every day tomake a report.

Regards

Environment Line Officer

Email: mailto:minfoenvironment.nsw.gov.au http://www.environment.nsw.qov.au/

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