Property Status
- Environmental and Surface Access Agreements
(last updated on 31/07/2009)
As in other countries, a number of permits are required in Peru to perform exploration or production work.
The three levels of Environmental Assessment (EA) permits, Categories A, B, and C all require government and community approval.
* Category A allows for non-invasive surface exploration: mapping, geophysical studies and geochemical sampling;
* Category B allows for up to 20 drilling platforms and drifts of up to 50 m (the development of exploration drifts, however, also requires a mine closure plan, complete with ARD studies and plans that effectively push this into the category of an ESIA); and
* Category C allows for more extensive drilling and is approved upon submission of a proposal, and it includes the possibility of drifts but with the same caveat described in Category B.
Antares is currently exploring the Haquira project with a valid Category C Environmental Assessment Permit.
Granting of an EA permit does not relieve a company from the requirement to consult and advise the communities during the exploration process. Beyond Category C, there is the EISA, which is required for activities such pilot plants and related activities leading to mining.
The permitting process has recently been revised resulting in a new classification system for future environmental permits. The original three-tier permit system has been redefined with a new two-tier system consisting of a Category 1 Declaration of Environmental Impact permit (essentially replacing the former Category A and Category B permits) and a Category 2 Semi-detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that replaces the former Category C permit.
To the best knowledge of Antares, there are no obvious environmental issues on the Haquira property.
Antares has secured the appropriate permissions and surface access agreements with all of its local communities to conduct its full exploration programs.
|