PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has given diversified miner BHP Billiton the go-ahead to develop its Orebody 31 iron-ore mine, in the Pilbara.

The mine, which would replace the Orebody 18 mine that was scheduled for decommissioning in 2018, would produce around 30-million tonnes a year of iron-ore and would make use of existing facilities, including primary crusher, stockpiles and train load-out facilities.

The proposed mine would require the dewatering of up to 16.2 gigaliters a year to allow for dry mining conditions and would require the clearing of up to 2 500 ha of native vegetation, within a development envelope of 4 075 ha.

EPA chairperson Dr Paul Vogel said the proposal would meet the EPA’s environmental objectives, subject to conditions.

“The assessment of this proposal evaluated several key environmental factors, including the clearing of flora and vegetation, the technical aspects and impacts relating to water use - including mine dewatering and discharges, and the need to rehabilitate and decommission the site in an environmentally responsible way,” he said.

Vogel said the EPA had noted the proponent’s efforts to avoid, minimise and rehabilitate predicted environmental impacts, including efforts to change the development envelope boundary and the re-engineering of the location of storage facilities to avoid a Priority 1 flora species.

The agency further recommended several measures to protect the species including use of protective buffer zones, a regional survey, monitoring of the species and, if required, development and implementation of a dedicated conservation and research plan.

Vogel said further conditions set by the EPA related to the discharge of water, the monitoring of water quality to manage potential impacts from salinity and the ecologically sustainable decommissioning of the mine.

“A mine closure plan will be required, as will a contribution to a government-established conservation fund, to offset the significant residual impacts relating to the clearing of vegetation in ‘good to excellent’ condition,” he said.

The EPA’s report to the Environment Minister would now be open for a two-week public appeal closing on September 21, after which the Minister would take a final decision on the development of the mine.