Bauxite Resources has announced the company's plans for a mining operation near Bindoon needs to undergo a Public Environmental Review.
Bauxite Resources has announced the company's plans for a mining operation near Bindoon needs to undergo a Public Environmental Review.
Bauxite Resources wants to build a 2 million tonne per annum mining operation on farmland north-east of Perth.
The Environmental Protection Authority has advised the company it is required to undertake the public review.
Bauxite Resources chairman and acting CEO Barry Carbon said, "The EPA's determination of the level of assessment is in line with our expectations and gives the Company great certainty in the development of our long-term mining plans".
"As part of the referral BRL recommended to the EPA that environmental assessment be through a public process, including public discussion of the scope of the assessment, and we now look forward to working closely with the local community to ensure we develop our project in consultation with the community," he said.
Bauxite Resources had originally applied to undertake a 1.2 million tonne six month trial mining operation at the site.
Earlier this year the company withdrew its application and appeal against the EPA decision on the level of assessment required at the site and changed its plans.
See company statement below:
Australian resources company Bauxite Resources Ltd (ASX: BAU) ("BRL" or "the Company") has received notice from the EPA advising that its proposed 2Mtpa mining operation on privately owned farmland north of Bindoon, Western Australia, will require assessment via a Public Environmental Review.
As advised previously BRL, in referring to the EPA for assessment its proposed mining operation, confirmed that it was committed to a public scoping exercise to ensure that the community and relevant agencies are engaged in the process (refer ASX announcement dated 18 August 2010).
Bauxite Resources Limited Chairman and acting CEO, Mr Barry Carbon, said, "the EPA's determination of the level of assessment is in line with our expectations and gives the Company great certainty in the development of our long-term mining plans".
"As part of the referral BRL recommended to the EPA that environmental assessment be through a public process, including public discussion of the scope of the assessment, and we now look forward to working closely with the local community to ensure we develop our project in consultation with the community," he added.
The bauxitic ore to be extracted under this proposal will either be sold for export as direct shipping ore or sold locally as other products (gravel). Following crushing and screening, export-quality ore will be trucked along state highways and major transport routes to the Kwinana port for export. Non export-quality material (gravel) will be available to local and regional commercial operations.
BRL earlier this year completed its trial shipments from Stephens Road, North Bindoon, consisting of 128,000 tonnes, and the trial area has now been rehabilitated and reseeded with pasture species as per the landholder's requirements.
A number of public tours consisting of local landowners and other interested parties were conducted by the Company in August 2010 to demonstrate the minimum impact nature of its bauxite mining operations on farmland. The Company shared its vision for development w ith the local Bindoon community at a public meeting "Conversations with the Community" on 20 July 2010.
