Forest & Bird appeals EPA’s seabed mining decision

Forest & Bird has announced that it is lodging an appeal against the Environmental Protection Authority’s decision to grant a consent to Trans Tasman Resources Limited (TTRL) to mine iron sand in the South Taranaki Bight, on the grounds that it doesn’t meet the requirements of the EEZ Act.

The EPA granted consent for Trans Tasman Resources Limited (TTRL) to mine iron sand in the South Taranaki Bight in early August.

Forest & Bird says the EEZ Act recognises that seabed mining could have significant impacts on the marine environment, and requires protection from such impacts. It says EPA’s decision to grant consent fails to protect the environment, and doesn’t meet the requirements of the EEZ Act.

The area proposed for seabed mining  covers 65 square kilometres of seabed. The operation would suck up 8,000 tonnes of seabed every hour for 35 years, to a depth of 11 metres, and pump unused sediment back to the ocean floor.