On 30 November, Anglo American submitted the EIA Report for the Sakatti polymetalic mine for consideration by the authorities at the Lapland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) acting as the coordinating authority.
The EIA Report for the mine details the proposed project which includes the extraction of ore using an underground mine, the concentration process located distant from the mire protection area and the hauling of concentrate for further refinement. The EIA Report and its appendices comprise over a thousand pages and is now a public document available on the website of Finland’s Environmental Administration: www.ymparisto.fi. The printed material is available for public viewing in the municipality of Sodankylä (library and municipal office) and in the Lapland ELY Centre.
“I am very pleased with the quality and scope of the EIA report. In our planning process, we have sought the best technology solutions for the environment, some of which are completely new in Finland. I sincerely hope that our EIA Report will be read by the various stakeholders”, says Pertti Lamberg, Managing Director of Anglo American’s Sakatti project.
“The extensive report contains a number of important separate reports, including: the impacts on the Viiankiaapa Natura 2000 site, estimates of regional economic impacts, the reindeer economy survey, and the proposal for voluntary ecological compensation to which the company has committed”, tells Ulla Syrjälä, Principal for Safety & Sustainable Development of Anglo American’s Sakatti project .
All stakeholders can now participate in the EIA process. The EIA Report is available for viewing and commenting during 16 December 2020 – 12 February 2021 and will be presented at a public briefing event organised by the coordinating authority in Sodankylä on the 19th of January 2021.