The EIS comprehensively addresses environmental, social and economic aspects of the proposed project through the outcomes of stakeholder consultation and a number of technical studies including equine health, air quality, visual amenity, noise and water management to demonstrate that the project will not adversely impact on neighbouring industries and is in the public interest.

Anglo American Coal CEO Seamus French said this second EIS directly addresses the reasons given by the Planning and Assessment Commission (PAC) in 2014 for the project’s refusal and outlines how Anglo American has incorporated all the recommendations to ensure no adverse impact on the neighbouring horse studs.

“There is no reason to choose between 500 local jobs at Drayton South and the horse stud industry as we have demonstrated our commitment to coexistence by listening to the PAC and accepting all the recommendations made in 2014 to ensure all industries in the region can prosper and have a successful future,” Mr French said.

“We have kept all mining activities behind the PAC nominated second ridgeline which has decreased the project footprint by a further 25 per cent, doubled the buffer between the mine and neighbouring horse stud operations and keeps mining activities at least two kilometres away from the horse studs operating areas.

“These changes made to the Drayton South coal project, including the removal of two mining areas closest to the horse studs and a reduction of a third area totalling 45.5 million tonnes of coal resource, remove the risk of adverse impacts to equine health and the operations of Coolmore and Darley, thereby ensuring the viability of the horse stud industry is not compromised.”

Mr French said the project will provide a 15 year continuation of the existing Drayton operations, keeping 500 local jobs, work for 140 local businesses and continue to provide $50 million per year in local procurement spend while injecting $60 million in state royalties and taxes to the NSW Government annually.

Members of the public are invited to view and make a submission on the EIS which will remain on public exhibition until Friday 19 June 2015. The document can be viewed on the NSW Department of Planning and Environment website, www.planning.nsw.gov.au

Anglo American has a dedicated public information centre in the Muswellbrook Marketplace where community members can speak to a Drayton South representative about the project and find out how to make a submission.  The information centre is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

ENDS

Contact: Corporate Affairs, Vanessa Davies – 0400 927 185

Notes to editors:

Anglo American is a global and diversified mining business that provides the raw materials essential for economic development and modern life. Our people are at the heart of our business. It is our people who use the latest technologies to find new resources, plan and build our mines and who mine, process and move and market our products – from bulk commodities and base metals to precious metals and diamonds (through De Beers) – to our customers around the world. Our diversified portfolio of products spans the economic development cycle and, as a responsible miner, we are the custodians of precious resources. We work together with our key partners and stakeholders to unlock the long-term value that those resources represent for our shareholders, but also for the communities and countries in which we operate – creating sustainable value and making a real difference. Our mining operations, growth projects and exploration and marketing activities extend across southern Africa, South America, Australia, North America, Asia and Europe.

www.angloamerican.com