The Cadia Mine has apologised to residents in neighbouring properties after being fined $15,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency for dust emissions.
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Cadia was issued with a Penalty Infringement Notice on July 31 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relating to emission of dust from the site on four dates this year - February 26, March 20, April 16 and April 26.
The EPA determined there had been a contravention of a condition of Cadia's Environmental Protection Licence, which requires that the premises must be maintained in a condition that minimises or prevents the emission of dust.
"Cadia deeply regrets these events and apologises for any impact to neighbouring properties that may have been caused by these emissions," said the mine's general manager Aaron Brannigan in a statement.
The infringement notice relates to the treatment of the Northern Tailings Storage Facility (NTSF) and Southern Tailings Storage Facility (STSF) - often referred to as "Tailings Dams" - with dust suppressant products to prevent dust lift, which resulted in dust fallout on neighbouring properties.
Cadia and its contractor partner Erizon have been working since early this year to manage the ongoing application of dust suppressant.
Cadia has since received two complaints - on September 16 and 17 - about dust lift-off.
"The teams applying the dust suppressant have been working very hard to continually re-treat the NTSF and STSF, and these events were very disappointing," Mr Brannigan said.
An area of the NTSF was identified as generating dust; the area had been treated two to three months prior to the September complaints, but Mr Brannigan said that "rains are believed to have resulted in the cover degrading. Erizon was immediately redirected to treat the area".
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