ABC reported that an Upper Hunter coal mine plan to build a gas drainage plant to extract methane from its workings would pose little risk to the groundwater supply.

Ashton Coal near Singleton has submitted an Environmental Risk Assessment with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure detailing its plans for a new gas drainage system. The modification would involve the construction of a drainage plant, ventilation shaft and two services bores to drain methane from underground workings which would allow for multi seam longwall mining.

Ashton said that the gas would then be used for electricity generation and onsite flaring. The assesment says there would be a low risk to the groundwater supply because the work will not be carried out near known acquifers and the mine will be implementing a Groundwater Management Plan. The modification will be placed on public exhibition on Wednesday for 2 weeks.

Source - ABC.net

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