Chile turns down ecological license for Dominga copper and iron mine

Chile turned down an environmental license for Andes Iron's questionable $2.5 billion Dominga iron and copper mining job on Wednesday.

In a declaration, the Committee of Ministers stated it all declined the task in arrangement with citizen concerns over biodiversity effects and stress over capacity spills of fuel or iron concentrate.

The project is located in a location with unique qualities as a habitat for species such as the Humboldt penguin and cetaceans in preservation categories, which is presently protected, all of which decreases the acceptable tolerance to risk, the statement said.

It also noted that the task omitted observations from the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) about the need to gauge effect on 2 kinds of plants that are a food source and habitat for the tricahue, an endangered kind of parrot.

It was not possible to figure out or assess the real influence on these types, which satisfy a relevant ecosystemic function, the committee said.

However Andes Iron said it had actually followed all needed ecological guidelines and that the job was being singled out, indicating close-by Cruz Grande port, that was granted an environmental license.

This shows the objections to tasks in the zone are selective, revealing a clear bias against our task, Andes Iron said in a statement on Tuesday before the ruling.

The case can still be appealed and extends a decade-long battle that highlights administrative mazes that can stall jobs as the federal government attempts to stabilize economic growth and environmental managements.

(source: Reuters)