VRX Silica (ASX:VRX) gets approval for publication of Environmental Review Document for Arrowsmith North - Kalkine Media

Highlights

• The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has given the clearance for publication and Public Environmental Review (PER)
• The development marks a "significant milestone" in the Arrowsmith North Project's environmental approvals process, VRX highlights
• PER and its response process would enable the preparation of an assessment report by the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia

VRX Silica Limited (ASX: VRX) -- an Australian listed pureplay silica sand company -- has announced about the publication (on 19 June 2023) and a 4-week Public Environmental Review (PER) of its Environmental Review Document pertaining to its Arrowsmith North Project (Proposal). Notably, this comes after the acceptance of the document by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

According to VRX Silica, this development marks a "significant milestone" in the Arrowsmith North Project's environmental approvals process.

The development

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has accepted the company's Arrowsmith North Environmental Review Document for publication, with PER to follow the publication. The process of PER would be set in motion on 19 June 2023, with VRX Silica required to respond to all the comments received.

It is pertinent to note that the PER and its response process is the ultimate step ahead of preparation of an assessment report by the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia (WA). The report would include recommendations to the WA Environment Minister regarding approval of the Proposal. If this is achieved, the Minister can sign off on a Ministerial Statement, which is equal to approval. Environmental approval for the Project is a crucial element, VRX mentions, and it is linked to the company securing other requisite approvals for mining.

Source: Company update

Comments by Managing Director

Bruce Maluish of VRX Silica Limited lauded the latest development and commented that this is a "significant milestone". He said that the Environmental Review Document seeks approval for 30 years of mining, with the development area having the ability to support a project that can last up to twice this duration.

Background

The company has already received confirmation from the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water for an accredited assessment under the EPBC Act. Extensive environmental studies have been conducted by VRX on its silica sand projects since 2017, with the company initially focused on getting approvals for the development of Arrowsmith North.