A Shree Minerals document obtained from the EPA by Save the Tarkine under a Right to Information request has disclosed that Shree Minerals notified the EPA in October that it’s data submitted for Nelson Bay River permit assessments was underestimated by a factor of twenty times.
The predicted quantity of acid producing waste rock was 11,700 BCM (bank cubic metres) while the company disclosed in October after approvals that the correct figure was 230,000 BCM.
The disclosure was made prior to commencement of mining, and was never disclosed to the public by the EPA or the company.
“This is scandalous that this mine has been allowed to proceed despite approvals accounting for only one twentieth of the acid producing waste,” said Save the Tarkine Campaign Coordinator, Scott Jordan.
“More acid producing waste means greater risks to waterways and aquatic life, and surrounding flora and fauna.”
Shree Minerals disclosed the discrepancy in a request to relocate the storage of acid producing wastes to an above ground location, despite the original EPA assessment finding that there were no suitable and safe above ground storage solutions.
“Incoming Minister Groom must act with urgency to suspend mining operations while a proper, and public, assessment can be conducted this before Tasmania is saddled with yet another acid mine drainage disaster”.
Save the Tarkine is seeking legal advice on this matter.
• Nick McKim MP| Greens Environment spokesperson: Groom must intervene in Tarkine
• Phreatophyte, in Comments: Was their environmental bond covering waste rock management and rehabilitation increased by a factor of 20 when this information was received by the EPA? Interesting to compare TAS with NT, often considered to be the Wild West. They have a 15 % contingency on top of the estimated clean-up costs plus they charge an annual fee of 1% of the bond to go towards a fund to clean up legacy mines. Here in TAS we seem to go the other way, giving mines a royalty holiday! Who are the real cowboys?
