In November last year BHP subsidiary Illawarra applied to the Department of Planning for footprint modification and consent modification, and to the Department of Primary Industries for a subsidence management plan, as part of its plan to expand the mine.
Total Environment Centre has expressed concerns in the past about longwall coal mining in New South Wales, claiming the practice drains water sources and causes extensive damage to the environment.
Illawarra Coal general manager John Brannon said the proposed changes were aimed at minimising the impacts to the surface environment while maximising the volume of coal produced.
"Illawarra Coal's commitment to environmental performance goes well beyond compliance, particularly in the areas of energy and water management," he said.
This is not the first time BHP Billiton and TEC have gone head-to-head; in the past TEC has called BHP "bullies" and accused the company of pushing to weaken environmental standards for its own purposes.
