Submissions due by 11 August on BHP proposal for heap leach trial at Olympic Damn uranium mine

Invitation for Public Comment on Referral28 Jul 2014

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=show_document;doc
ument_id=57947;proposal_id=7280

The Commonwealth Environment Minister has received a referral under the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 in regard to a
proposal by BHP Billiton to construct a heap leach trial demonstration plant
for the leaching of copper and uranium at the Olympic Dam mine in South
Australia. The referral states that the demonstration plant is intended as
a pilot-scale assessment and proof of concept for heap leach technology at
the mine, and that the pilot program will process less than 0.4% of the
mine’s current output of ore. It is planned to consist of a temporary
irrigated heap leach pad containing approximately 36,000 tonnes of material,
a temporary crushing facility, ponds for the capture of liquor, as well as
downstream processing facilities.

The referral triggers a number of ‘matters of national environmental
significance' under the EPBC Act. It automatically qualifies as a ‘nuclear
action’ under the legislation; the referral has also identified that four
listed threatened species and five listed migratory species are either
present, or potentially present, within the proposed development area.

Submissions are due by 11 August.

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral
_detail&proposal_id=7280> EPBC Act referral – Olympic Dam mine uranium and
copper heap leach trial

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_
detail
<http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral
_detail&proposal_id=7280> &proposal_id=7280

Title of Referral: BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Corporation Pty
Ltd/Mining/Olympic Dam, Roxby Downs, SA/SA/Olympic Dam Heap Leach Trial,
Roxby Downs, SA