Increase in Injection and Abstraction Limits at Cloudbreak Mine

Closed 24 Apr 2014

Opened 17 Apr 2014

Feedback updated 13 May 2014

We asked

Public comment was invited on the referral to help the EPA determine the appropriate level of assessment.

You said

There were no comments on the proposal.

We did

The EPA determined to assess the proposal based on the proponent's information - API (A) - and will prepare the scoping document (ESD). The proposal, for changes to an existing operation, raises a limited number of key environmental factors. Due to the potential cumulative impacts to the Fortescue Marsh from increases in abstraction and reinjection of groundwater from existing and proposed operations in the area, the EPA considers an independent peer review of hydrological processes is required.

Overview

Fortescue Metals Group Limited proposes to increase the volume of groundwater abstraction and injection limits at the existing Cloudbreak Mine to 150 gigalitres per annum.

What happens next

Following the seven day public comment period and consideration of any comments received, the EPA will decide whether or not this proposal requires environmental impact assessment and, if so, what level of assessment will be applied.

The Chairman's decisions on level of assessment are released each Monday on the EPA's website.

Areas

  • All of Western Australia

Audiences

  • Public

Interests

  • Seven-day comment on referrals