The Environmental Protection Authority has released its advice to the Minister for Environment on Vasse Coal Management’s Vasse Coal Proposal.
The EPA advertised its decision on level of assessment, Assessment on Proponent Information (API) category B (environmentally unacceptable) on 21 March 2011.
The EPA’s level of assessment decision was that there was adequate information to demonstrate that Vasse Coal Management’s coal mining proposal was environmentally unacceptable based on the proponent’s referral information and its own investigations and inquiries.
EPA Report 1395 explains the rationale for the recommendation to the Minister for Environment that the proposal is environmentally unacceptable.
EPA Chairman Paul Vogel said that the EPA considered that there were likely to be significant impacts, or risks, from the proposal on the Leederville and Sue Aquifers, and on significant environmental values, including the social surrounds of the Margaret River region, which these aquifers support, if the proposal was to proceed.
‘Even though some of the significant impacts, or risks, may be presented as being manageable because of their low probability of occurring, the environmental consequences of some low probability event may be so serious, widespread or irreversible that the proposal, taken as a whole, on balance, presents unacceptable risks to important environmental values, and thus makes the proposal environmentally unacceptable,’ Dr Vogel said.
‘It is also unlikely that a comprehensive environmental impact assessment involving detailed technical and scientific investigations, comprehensive modelling to predict impacts and exploring risk reduction measures would provide the EPA with an adequate level of confidence necessary to recommend the proposal be approved.’
EPA Report 1395 is available at www.epa.wa.gov.au. There is a two week public appeal period to the Minister for Environment on the Report’s contents closing 16 May 2011. To contact the Appeals Convenor ring 6467 5190 or go to www.appealsconvenor.wa.gov.au
EPA Media contact: Charlie Maling, 6467 5415, 0400 866 450
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