The Coal Authority received Category 2 responder status, which confirms its role as a crucial organization in responding to emergencies that occur on the UK’s coalfields. This new status reflects the Authority’s vital work in supporting emergency services on major incidents related to historical mining, as well as its commitment to being a 24/7 emergency responder to any incidents or hazards that happen on the coalfield.
Julia Draycon, the Community and Emergency Response Director at the Coal Authority, emphasized that this recognition is a formal acknowledgment of the work they do and the measures they have implemented to be a reliable responder during emergencies. She also noted that the Coal Authority operates to safeguard the public and the environment from any potential negative impacts of the UK’s mining past.
Established in 1994 under the Coal Industry Act 1994, the Coal Authority is responsible for licensing coal mining in Britain, managing safety issues arising from years of coal and metal mining, dealing with water pollution caused by historical coal mining, and providing mining reports and responding to planning consultation requests.
Jim Repp, the Head of Emergency Response at the Coal Authority, highlighted the commitment and expertise of the Authority’s workforce. He stated that Category 2 responder status helps raise awareness of the Coal Authority’s work and enables them to work with local resilience forums in emergency planning and multi-agency training exercises to highlight potential risks. This status also allows the Coal Authority to provide mutual assistance in incidents where their expertise may be extremely valuable.
The Coal Authority commonly assists with incidents such as sudden ground collapses, releases of water or gas, land drainage related to mine subsidence, coal tip slips, incidents of spontaneous combustion on the coalfield, and metal mine pollution. In the past year, the Coal Authority carried out over 10,000 mine entry inspections, investigated almost 500 surface hazard reports, assessed over 300 subsidence damage claims, treated billions of liters of water, and prevented thousands of tonnes of iron solids from entering water courses.
The Category 2 responder status provides formal recognition of the Coal Authority’s work and its crucial role in responding to emergencies that occur on the UK’s coalfields. The Authority’s ongoing commitment to protecting the public and the environment from the legacy of mining demonstrates its vital role in safeguarding the UK’s communities.
Source: Gov[Dot]UK
