Media Release

Coal producer investigates environmental complaint at Stockton

Solid Energy and its contractor, Doug Hood Ltd, are investigating a complaint that muddy water from mining activities at Stockton Opencast Mine was discharged into the Upper Waimangaroa River in the Buller.

Discolouration of the water in the river was noticed on Saturday by a member of the Buller Conservation Group.

Contractors working on rehabilitation of the Mt Frederick sidecast had carried out temporary modifications to a drainage channel to divert water away from the work site. As a result, untreated water runoff from mine areas entered the Herbert Stream and the Upper Waimangaroa River.

Solid Energy Chief Executive Officer, Dr Don Elder, senior Solid Energy staff, Solid Energy site staff and external environmental advisers met on site yesterday with Peter Lusk of the Buller Conservation Group and Andrew de Joux, Mining Compliance Officer for the West Coast Regional Council.

Dr Elder said that while further muddy water discharges may not have been evident yesterday, the company accepted unnecessary discharges had occurred. The seriousness of the issue was recognised by Solid Energy. The company was working closely with Doug Hood Ltd to immediately remedy the situation by closing the breach, to fully investigate the complaint and to ensure that a similar event did not reoccur. The West Coast Regional Council had indicated to the company that it was satisfied with the work carried out on the site, which was due to be completed today.

Dr Elder said: "Solid Energy treats our environmental responsibilities very seriously. We expect our environmental standards to be maintained at all times, at all locations. Unless the communities in which we work are satisfied with the standards we uphold, the future of mining will be compromised. We are committed to achieving environmental best practice on all our mine sites."

For further information contact:
Vicki Blyth,
Communications Director,
Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd,
Telephone 03 345 6000,
Mobile 021 670 250.