United Wambo EIS completed

The United Wambo Joint Venture (JV) environmental impact statement (EIS) has been submitted to the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) following input from more than 700 stakeholders. The EIS will now go on public display until mid-September.

The United Wambo JV between Glencore and Peabody Energy is seeking to develop a brownfield opencast mine by combining the existing operations at Peabody’s Wambo mine with the coal reserves at United underground mine, which is majority owned by Glencore and is presently in care and maintenance.

The proposal would see the combined mining operations produce up to 10 million tpy of ROM coal over a 23 year life of mine. According to a Glencore press release, the project has been designed to “maximise the use of previously disturbed mining areas and existing infrastructure to minimise the overall disturbance, as well as impacts.”

The economic benefit to local communities would include up to 500 employees, a further 120 construction jobs and more than 100 local suppliers.

During preparation of the EIS and project development, more than 700 stakeholders were consulted, including 83 Aboriginal stakeholders and 77 residents and landowners.“

Key issues identified during the consultation are in the process of being addresses through appropriate mitigation and, where possible, changes to mine planning options,” Glencore said. “We will continue to engage with stakeholders was the project moves through the government planning process.

Edited by Jonathan Rowland.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/exploration-and-development/15082016/peabody-glencore-united-wambo-eis-completed-2016-2223/