EPA approves Cliffs Asia Pacific mine expansion
PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has given the go-ahead for Cliffs Asia Pacific Iron Ore to extend its existing Yilgarn operations.
The expanded projects will see Cliffs Asia Pacific mine the F deposit, producing an additional nine-million tonnes of ore, over a three-year period, by developing three opencut mines.
EPA chairperson Dr Tom Hatton said on Monday that the proposal had undergone rigorous environmental impact assessment, with the independent board carefully considering six submissions received during the public review period.
The EPA concluded it could meet its objectives for the three key environmental factors applicable to the project, including flora and vegetation, subject to 11 conditions.
“The EPA’s concerns with this proposal have been addressed with the proponent reducing the size and configuration of the mine pits throughout the assessment process. Modifications to the proposal also include staging the development of the project,” Hatton said.
Stage 1 of the proposal would include the development of the central mine pit and the southern mine pit. These pits would be connected by a mine access road, after which it would be rehabilitated.
The establishment of a rare plant on previously disturbed areas must be successful before Stage 2, the development of the northern mine pit, can begin.
Other conditions include management plans to avoid impacts on native flora and vegetation, measures to ensure the stability of the pit wall during mining and post-closure and an offsets plan.
The EPA’s report is open for a public appeal period, closing September 27.
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