Coal-seam gas boom puts pressure on governmentsMines discharge polluted water
The Courier Mail - 29.12.2010
WATER-logged central Queensland coalmines have been forced to release potentially polluting water into the state’s flooding river systems.
But the Environment and Resource Management Department “is confident there has been very little impact” on water quality.
Nine coalmines and two coal seam gas operations have released water “outside of their Environmental Authority conditions” in recent weeks.
The department said it was investigating all of the releases “and will take enforcement action where necessary”.
The government has changed its reporting procedures since facing heavy criticism after 10 mining sites spilled poisonous material when overrun by the biggest floods in decades in 2008.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/mines-caught-up-in-polluted-water-fear/story-fn6ck45n-1225977494069