DYING TO WORK: THE HUMAN COST OF COAL

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by Dr Chris James For Lock the Gate Gippsland. 2012

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BROWN COAL IS PARTICULARLY UNSTABLE AND HIGH RISK

In 2007 the Yallourn Coal mine, the major source of electricity supply, collapsed and although repairs
were made, according to the Department of Primary Industries [DPI] it was likely to collapse again. The Victorian Department of Primary Industries investigated the Yallourn Coal Mine collapse and issued a Regulatory Impact Statement with a view to amending the Mineral Resources Regulations to account for

the increased risks. In the statement the DPI wrote

It is difficult to explicitly mandate safety outcomes to be achieved by regulationThe benefit society receives from the practice of mining is inseparable from the risks it createsBrown coal in particular creates high risksCollapse of land on which public infrastructure [i.e. road bridges, railway] exists

resulting in deaths and injuries.

IN 2012 THE MINE COLLAPSED AGAIN, THANKFULLY WITH NO LOSS OF LIFE.

Department of Primary Industries Victoria. 2010 Regulatory Impact Statement amending the Mineral Resources Regulations 2010 p32,

The DPI gave Lake Concordia at Nachterstedt, Germany as its example of a coal related collapse. On the 18th July 2009, at Lake Concordia, three people were killed when several houses slid into a man made lake that was on the site of a former brown coal mine. Approximately a 350 metre stretch of shoreline and approximately one million cubic tonnes of soil collapsed. Further failures were expected to occur and residents were evacuated. __________________________________________________________ In February 2011 deep holes appeared in Morwells Princess Freeway, which runs close to the Yallourn mine, this resulted in authorities closing a large section of road for approximately three months. The problem was attributed to water. In July 2012 a sinkhole had to be filled temporarily along the V/Line rail track until extensive work could be carried out to stabilise the area.
Department of Primary Industries Victoria. 2010 Regulatory Impact Statement amending the Mineral Resources Regulations 2010 p32, Princess Freeway Morwell Bypass Closure www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

Coal seams generally correspond with fault lines.

Australia is not as geologically stable as many think. Despite popular belief, Australia is a geologically active continent with moving fault-lines, regular seismic activity, and a long history of mountain making, said internationally respected geologist, Associate Professor Malcolm Wallace from the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne.
Coober Pedy Regional Times Sept. 26th 2008.

EARTHQUAKE RISKS: GIPPSLANDS MAJOR FAULT SYSTEM:[ASP] 2009.

Seismic Data and current well distribution [ASP] Australian School of Petroleum 2009.

Shallow Seismic Activity.

MORE COAL: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR COMMUNITIES?

The Australian governments determination to push ahead with major new coal projects will make coal the new asbestos in health related issues.

 Thousands of coal miners die each year, some from accidents many more die from coal related illnesses, pneumoconiosis [CWP] [sometimes called black lung disease], progressive massive fibrosis, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and accelerated loss of lung function. Coal causes considerable health and environmental damage before it is used for power generation. Fossil fuels are dirty and dangerous. Coal, oil and gas are inextricably linked to global power and conflict.
International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC] http://www.inchem.org/documents/iarc/vol68/coal.html

 Disturbance of coal in all its forms liberates toxic heavy metals, carcinogens and radioactive elements that spread mass contamination. Open cut mining leads to wind-blown particles, which when uncontained can cause cancers and neurological diseases. Coal is a very poisonous substance. Coal is mined in 70 different countries. Amongst the worst offenders are the United States [US], Canada, China, New Zealand [NZ], Poland, Russia, the United Kingdom [UK] and Australia.
Coal in Australia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_in_Australia

 In the past ten years, over 10,000 American miners have died from coal related diseases. Australias records in relation to the health risks associated with coal are sketchy and tend to be lost in the correlation of other sectors, but significant health related clusters occur. In the Hunter Valley town of Singleton five residents around a single block were struck with brain tumours, but the reports of a cancer cluster due to coal have been played down.
ABC News. Up to 40% of Hunter children have had asthma
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/06/2892234.htm
Health Study Denied Despite Cancer Clusters. Sydney Morning Herald http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/healthstudy-denied-despite-cancer-cluster-20100411-s0w6.html

 Australia continues to have one of the highest rates of asthma per capita in the western world, affecting 14-16% of children and 10-12% of adults and areas like the New South Wales [NSW] Hunter Valley have some of the highest rates of asthma within Australia. 40 per cent of 9 to 15-years-olds in the region have suffered from asthma at some stage. In the US there are currently about 42,000 underground coal miners at risk of contracting coal related illnesses. The number is increasing in Australia.
ABC News. Up to 40% of Hunter children have had asthma http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/06/2892234.htm

 There are well documented and historical examples of work-related cancer clusters in the medical literature. For example, scrotal cancer among chimney sweeps in 18th century and workers in the US who are exposed to the same heavy metals and chemicals contained in coal.
National Disease Clusters Alliance http://clusteralliance.org/2008/05/04/eight-cancer-clusters-discovered-in-delaware/

In 2010 the American Massey coal mining company was responsible for 25 deaths in one mine alone and it was reported that the company would not even allow their workers time off to attend their friends funerals.
WSWS. Org. Deadliest US mine disaster in nearly 40 years: Families begin to bury 29 killed in West Virginia explosion. By Andre Damon and Samuel Davidson 12 April 2010.

 In 2010 Queensland announced a doubling of its coal exports by 2030 putting an estimated 460 million tonnes of CO2s per annum into the atmosphere. This significantly adds to the loss of arable lands, protected species and poor health for people living in the designated coal producing areas. These projects incur the need for massive infrastructure especially for coal transportation and export, which further diminishes air quality.

Coal Corporations do not admit guilt!

In February 2009, about 250 American people filed suit against coal companies when they alleged mining poisoned wells in two communities in southern West Virginia. The lawsuit contended that coal companies pumped waste coal slurry in empty mines, and that underground cracks allowed the waste to pollute an aquifer. The state Department of Environmental Protection claimed it was unable to link the wells to the injection site. Nonetheless, the lawsuit targeted eight coal companies, including Massy Energy, Peabody Energy and subsidiary Pine Ridge Coal, and West Virginia's Federal Coal Co. In April 2009, a settlement agreement was reached pending judicial approval. The settlement called for the coal companies to contribute $45,000 to a fund to provide drinking water to residents in the Seth-Prenter area. The companies stated as part of the agreement that the payment does not constitute any admission of guilt and is inadmissible in court.
Charleston Daily Mail April 7th 2009.

Shame Australia!
Victorias Hazlewood power facility is one of the dirtiest coal fired power stations in the industrialised world emitting around 17 millions tonnes of CO2 every year. In 2010-2011 there were a concerted

number of public calls to close the Hazlewood power station. However, closing Hazlewood power
facility would not save the planet from the many other hazardous processes involving coal. In

Australia coal is used to generate electricity and is exported. 75% of the coal mined in Australia is destined for eastern Asia. Coal also provides about 85% of Australia's electricity production. In fiscal

year 2008/09, 487 million tonnes of coal was mined, and 261 million tonnes exported. Australia is the
world's leading coal exporter. The burning of coal produces 42.1% of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, not counting export coal [based on 2004 GHG inventory].

Exporting pollution does not put Australia in a good light amidst the international community.

Climate Change Org. http://news.climatechange/coal and Climate Action Centre.Org Friends of the Earth Chain Reaction #107 November 2009 p17and Coal in Australia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_in_Australia

There is no such thing as clean coal!!!

Coal Companies will tell you there are new technologies, carbon capture and storage. They may say, coal is clean now! Carbon capture and Storage [CCS] is in the experimental stage , it may never come online.

On Thursday 21st Jan 2010 the Victorian Energy Minister Peter Bachelor rolled out details of a twentynine million dollar plan to cut Victorias carbon footprint with a one million dollar study into retro -fitting Loy Yang Power Station with new carbon capture technology [CCT], but CEO Ian Nethercote admitted large scale reductions in emissions were still a long way off. Its not going to change things tomorrow,

this is one that has got some long term activity associated with it, said Nethercote.

If CCT/CCS works it will mean more open cut mines.

No more fossil fuels: Save our communities.

TO SAVE OUR COMMUNTIES

LOCK THE GATE.