Right: Mayfield, NSW
Air quality is something residents in the Hunter
Valley are concerned about due to the operation
of the coal industry.
Under the terms of our licence, the NSW
EPA required ARTC to undertake two dust
monitoring trials to determine whether loaded
coal trains contributed more to particulate
emissions (dust) than other trains operating
on the network. ARTC engaged two separate
environmental consultants to undertake
monitoring, analyse results and prepare a
report. Both studies reported that loaded coal
trains had no greater impact on dust levels than
any other trains and both reports, along with
corresponding raw data, were made available to
the community.
Air quality is an important issue for the
community and it is important that studies and
findings can be developed by the whole industry
to assist the EPA in their ability to respond to
community concerns. We do plan to work more
closely with the industry on supporting the
NSW EPA in their efforts to provide accurate
and transparent data and information to the
community on particulates.
ENVIRONMENTAL LICENCES
ARTC maintains environmental licenses in New
South Wales, Queensland, South Australia,
Victoria and Western Australia under each
State’s Environment Protection Authority.
* Deloitte Access Economics, 2011,
the True Value of Rail
With the total
carbon emitted by
the freight transport
industry and rail
accounting for
just six per cent,
the environmental
benefits of rail over
road are clear.
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