Australian Environment Minister approves module C of Gunns pulp mill project

CANBERRA, April 2, 2008 (Press Release) - Module C of the plan to manage the environmental impacts of the Gunns pulp mill project was approved today by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett.

This means bulk earthworks can now begin, once vegetation has been cleared on the mill site.

The Minister’s approval for the pulp mill project is subject to the preparation and approval of a detailed Environmental Impact Management Plan (EIMP). This EIMP is being submitted by Gunns in a series of modules.

Modules A (Overview) and B (Vegetation clearing) were approved by the Minister earlier this year.

Additional modules will be submitted by Gunns over the following months.

Each module is carefully assessed by the Minister in consultation with both the Independent Expert Group, set up for this purpose, and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

Each module of the EIMP must comply with the stringent requirements set out in the 48 conditions of approval for the pulp mill. As an added safeguard, an Independent Site Supervisor will ensure that the EIMP is complied with.

These modules relate to the approval conditions set out under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This is separate to permit requirements by the Tasmanian Government.

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