By Russell Quinn,PerthNow
THE company pushing the Margaret River coal mine proposal is disappointed by the Environmental Protection Authority effectively ruling out the project.
The State's environmental watchdog said it had considered the level of assessment for the Vasse Coal proposal last week and, based on the referral information and its own investigations and inquiries, determined that the proposal was environmentally unacceptable.
"This ‘no’ is based on the proponent’s referral information and environmental advice presented to the EPA," EPA Chairman Paul Vogel said.
The EPA indicated that it assessed the proposal at the new level of assessment of ‘Assessment on Proponent Information Category B’ (API B), similar to the recently superseded level of assessment ‘Proposal Unlikely to be Environmentally Acceptable’ (PUEA).
“In effect, this is an EPA ’no’ to the proposal,” Dr Vogel said.
“The Board considered that there is likely to be significant impacts, or risks, from the proposal on the Leederville and Sues Aquifers, and on significant environmental values, including the social surrounds of the Margaret River region, which these aquifers support.”
In a statement released this morning, the project’s proponent LD Operations expressed disappointment at the EPA’s determination that the Vasse Coal Project should not proceed to a full public environmental review and public engagement period.
“LDO has not been provided with any information, evidence or reasons for the EPA's determination to declare the level of assessment for the project API Category B (environmentally unacceptable),” the company said.
LDO managing director Peter Ross said LDO was seeking clarification of the basis for the decision and considering its rights in terms of appeal.
“We keenly await the reasons for the determination, as well as access to additional information sought by the EPA from other government agencies ahead of making its decision,” he said.
“We have requested this of the EPA a number of times and look forward to the opportunity to review all information before deciding where we go from here.
“However, we remain strongly of the view that the comprehensive and rigorous Public Environmental Review process, supported by the extra consultation and peer review measures initiated by LDO, would have been a more appropriate process to understand and assess the technical elements, impacts and risks of the project before any decision on environmental acceptability was made.”
Dr Vogel expressed concern over the manageability of certain significant impacts or risks potentially stemming
"Based on its experience and knowledge of the complexity of matters of this kind, the Board also formed the view that more detailed and longer assessment would not alter the position," Dr Vogel said.
"The EPA will now prepare an assessment report to the Minister for Environment recommending against the implementation of Vasse Coal Management’s coal mining proposal.
“This EPA Report will be released publicly and will be open for two weeks of public appeals.
"However there are no appeals in relation to the EPA’s decision to assess this proposal and the level of assessment determined."
Last year LD announced its intention to mine coal about 15 kilometres from the centre of the tourist hotspot, widely regarded for its diverse food and wine offerings and its brilliant surf breaks and beaches, causing widespread opposition from local residents, conservationists and almost all political parties.
"The No Coal!tion Margaret River" group quickly formed as a result which atttracted widespread support opposing coal mining in the region.
The State's environmental watchdog said it had considered the level of assessment for the Vasse Coal proposal last week and, based on the referral information and its own investigations and inquiries, determined that the proposal was environmentally unacceptable.
"This ‘no’ is based on the proponent’s referral information and environmental advice presented to the EPA," EPA Chairman Paul Vogel said.
The EPA indicated that it assessed the proposal at the new level of assessment of ‘Assessment on Proponent Information Category B’ (API B), similar to the recently superseded level of assessment ‘Proposal Unlikely to be Environmentally Acceptable’ (PUEA).
“In effect, this is an EPA ’no’ to the proposal,” Dr Vogel said.
“The Board considered that there is likely to be significant impacts, or risks, from the proposal on the Leederville and Sues Aquifers, and on significant environmental values, including the social surrounds of the Margaret River region, which these aquifers support.”
In a statement released this morning, the project’s proponent LD Operations expressed disappointment at the EPA’s determination that the Vasse Coal Project should not proceed to a full public environmental review and public engagement period.
“LDO has not been provided with any information, evidence or reasons for the EPA's determination to declare the level of assessment for the project API Category B (environmentally unacceptable),” the company said.
LDO managing director Peter Ross said LDO was seeking clarification of the basis for the decision and considering its rights in terms of appeal.
“We keenly await the reasons for the determination, as well as access to additional information sought by the EPA from other government agencies ahead of making its decision,” he said.
“We have requested this of the EPA a number of times and look forward to the opportunity to review all information before deciding where we go from here.
“However, we remain strongly of the view that the comprehensive and rigorous Public Environmental Review process, supported by the extra consultation and peer review measures initiated by LDO, would have been a more appropriate process to understand and assess the technical elements, impacts and risks of the project before any decision on environmental acceptability was made.”
Dr Vogel expressed concern over the manageability of certain significant impacts or risks potentially stemming
"Based on its experience and knowledge of the complexity of matters of this kind, the Board also formed the view that more detailed and longer assessment would not alter the position," Dr Vogel said.
"The EPA will now prepare an assessment report to the Minister for Environment recommending against the implementation of Vasse Coal Management’s coal mining proposal.
“This EPA Report will be released publicly and will be open for two weeks of public appeals.
"However there are no appeals in relation to the EPA’s decision to assess this proposal and the level of assessment determined."
Last year LD announced its intention to mine coal about 15 kilometres from the centre of the tourist hotspot, widely regarded for its diverse food and wine offerings and its brilliant surf breaks and beaches, causing widespread opposition from local residents, conservationists and almost all political parties.
"The No Coal!tion Margaret River" group quickly formed as a result which atttracted widespread support opposing coal mining in the region.
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