12 June, 2013
Government must clear the air on the health impacts of the coal mining supply chain
Nature Conservation Council of NSW strongly supports community calls for a thorough investigation into the alleged doctoring of an official Australian Rail Track Corporation report that downplayed the serious health impacts associated with the coal supply chain.
Today’s Daily Telegraph alleges that most of the 18 conclusions in the report, entitled Particulate Emissions from Coal Trains, were changed between the 24 May and 30 May versions, sometimes significantly. In three cases, the earlier draft’s conclusions were the opposite of those that appeared in the final report. [1]
For example, the draft stated that loaded coal trains WERE associated with unhealthy dust levels. The final report reversed that finding saying loaded coal trains WERE NOT associated with unhealthy dust levels.
“Residents living along the coal supply chain in the Hunter Valley deserve to know the truth about the impact the industry is having on their health and the health of their children,” NCC Chief Executive Officer Pepe Clarke said.
“On the face of it, there appears to have been collusion between the Environment Protection Authority and another government agency, the Australian Rail Track Corporation, to facilitate large-scale industrial development of the coal industry at the cost of local communities’ health.
“If this is the case, it constitutes a serious breach of the public’s trust.
“The only way to restore community confidence that the government entities involved are putting the people’s interests ahead of industry’s is to have a full investigation into how and why these significant discrepancies have occurred.”
Mr Clarke said the Hunter Valley was experiencing an air pollution crisis as a consequence of the unrestrained expansion of coal mining.
“During 2012, air pollution in the Hunter Valley breached national standards 115 times,” he said.
“The people of NSW rely on government agencies to curb the excesses of industry, especially the serious health impacts associated with coal mining, but in this case they have been seriously let down.”
[1] http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/coal-train-report-cover-up-claim/story-fni0cx4q-1226662106852
Tags
Coal and gas
Let others know about this issue