Cleveland Cliffs Inc (CLF)

[Saving Grace]

Cliffs gets EPA nod for Koolyanobbing expansion

US iron ore miner Cliffs Natural Resources has been given the all clear from the Environment Protection Authority to expand its existing Yilgarn iron ore mine north east of Southern Cross, subject to strict conditions.

The company’s local subsidiary plans to mine its F Deposit, involving the production of nine million tonnes of ore over three years by developing three open cut pits, waste rock dumps, roads and supporting infrastructure.

EPA chairman Dr Tom Hatton said 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 the environmental impact of the proposal could be managed, 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,” Dr Hatton said.

“Modifications to the proposal also include staging the development of the project.”

Dr Hatton said Stage 1 of the proposal would include the development of the central mine pit (F2) and the southern mine pit (F3).

These pits would be connected by a mine access road, after which it would be rehabilitated.

The establishment of a rare plant Tetratheca erubescens on previously disturbed areas must be successful before Stage 2 – the development of the northern mine pit (F1) 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 to the Environment Minister Albert Jacob is now open for a two-week public appeal period, closing September 27.

Appeals are administered independently by the Appeals Convenor and can be made at www.appealsconvenor.wa.gov.au

Mr Jacob will then make a final decision on the proposal.

Ore from Koolyanobbing is crushed and blended at a plant located on-site and then transported by rail for shipment to Asian markets through the port of Esperance. Cliffs has been operating the mine since 1993.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/32593791/cliffs-gets-epa-nod-for-koolyanobbing-expansion/#page1