VRX Silica Limited announced that its Arrowsmith Central Silica Sand Project (Arrowsmith Central) has moved to the next stage of the environmental approval process with the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia (EPA). Consistent with the EPA's approach at VRX's Arrowsmith North Silica Sand Project and the Company's expectations for Arrowsmith Central, the EPA will assess the proposal at a Public Environmental Review (PER) level of assessment as required under section 40(2)(b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. The PER period is four weeks. The Company is preparing an Environmental Scoping Document (ESD) which details the environmental studies that are required to inform the assessment of the project. These include: Flora and Fauna Studies, Dieback Assessment, Surface water and Hydrology Studies, Cultural and Heritage Assessment, Greenhouse Gas estimate, High Level Air Quality Assessment. The Company has already commenced these studies and will finalise prior to the end of the PER period. Preparation of the ESD is a fundamental step in the EPA administration procedures to inform the Environmental Impact Assessment of Arrowsmith Central. The Company is confident the project has addressed the Environmental Principles, Factors and Objectives of the guidelines for assessment. Other government agencies will be restricted from approving any approvals related to the full development of the project until the EPA process is complete (noting exploration and investigations are not restricted). This does not impact upon the Company's current development plans. The EPA's decision will allow the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment to also set its level of assessment at PER to align with the EPA decision. The Arrowsmith Central mining development area has been selected to avoid environmentally sensitive areas, in particular so that no large trees suitable for Carnaby Cockatoo roosting or nesting are impacted. VRX has developed a unique and progressive mining and rehabilitation method for its silica sand projects. The Vegetation Direct Transfer (VDT) method provides rapid and comprehensive regeneration of mined areas based on continuous rehabilitation as mining progresses. The VDT method is a made-for-purpose mining method which removes and replaces a 400mm-deep sod with topsoil to the mined area containing the vast majority of native flora and invertebrate fauna remaining intact. At the VRX selected mine areas, the root structures in the loose sand are relatively shallow at 200-300mm in depth and ideally suited for the VDT system. The method has been developed
to provide the best rehabilitation outcome for the recalcitrant sedges and grass species.