19 Jun 2014

Chatham Rock unperturbed by EPA call

3:35 pm on 19 June 2014

An application to mine the seabed off the Chatham Islands can not be compared with a seabed mining project just rejected by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Chatham Rock Phosphate has said.

Trans-Tasman Resources had asked to mine for iron ore 22 kilometres off the coast of Taranaki but the EPA turned it down because of the unknown environmental impact.

Chatham Rock Phosphate said it has yet to study the EPA decision in detail, but remains very confident it has submitted a robust and comprehensive application for its marine consent.

It said it has proposed comprehensive monitoring, mitigation and compensation conditions, following discussions with interested parties.

The company said it feels for Trans-Tasman Resources as the company worked hard and invested significant capital.

However it said the Chatham Rock Phosphate application cannot be compared because it is for a different mineral, in a very different marine environment and using different extraction methods. It will also considered by a different decision-making committee.