Bauxite Resources Limited (ASX:BAU) Lodges EPA Referral Document For 2MTPA Mining Operation At North Bindoon Sites
Perth, Aug 18, 2010 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australian resources company Bauxite Resources Limited (
ASX:BAU) (PINK:BXRDF) advises it has referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for assessment a proposal for a two million tonne per annum (Mtpa) mining operation on privately owned farmland north of Bindoon, Western Australia (The Referral).
Part of this proposal was previously referred to the EPA in December 2009 as a smaller proposal of 1.2 Million tonnes (Mt) for a six month project. The proposal was assessed by the EPA and the level of assessment was set at Public Environmental Review (PER) in March 2010. After discussions with the EPA, BRL withdrew this proposal in order to prepare a more detailed and longer term proposal for assessment. BRL also committed to a public scoping exercise to ensure that the community and relevant agencies are engaged in the process. The first five years of this proposal will be progressed across 10 properties located north of Bindoon and includes the 1.2 Mt from the original BRL proposal in December 2009.
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 with the local Bindoon community at a public meeting "Conversations with the Community" on 20 July 2010.
Bauxite Resources Limited Chairman and acting CEO, Mr Barry Carbon, said, "the lodgement of The Referral to the EPA is a significant milestone in the development of Bauxite Resources and its long-term mining plans,"
"As a company we are committed to the development of a sustainable long-term mining operation, in close consultation with the community in which we operate."
Mr Carbon added, "As part of the referral BRL has recommended to the EPA that environmental assessment be through a public process, including public discussion of the scope of the assessment."
About Bauxite Resources Limited
Bauxite Resources (ASX:BAU) (OTCMKTS:BXRDF) was established with a substantial tenement holding in Western Australia to develop new bauxite supply for the global alumina/aluminium industry. The Company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in October 2007.
The Darling Range in the south-west of Western Australia (WA) is the world's largest bauxite mining and alumina refining region producing around 20% of the world's alumina. This area has mined bauxite and refined alumina since the 1960s. These industries are leaders in sustainable resource development and represent the fifth largest sector of WA's resource industry.
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