ASX announcement ASX announcement 11 November 2011

Terms of Reference Finalised for The Range EIS

The Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has finalised and published the Terms of Reference (TOR) for The Range Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The publishing of the TOR is an important step in the approvals process for the project which commenced 12 months ago, with the lodgement of the Mining Lease application (ML55001) and accompanying Environmental Authority application.
The final TOR has been prepared by DERM following public submissions on the draft. The requirements of the TOR are in line with expectations and these are being addressed in the EIS. Baseline studies in the project area commenced in early 2011 and are continuing including:

• Ecology;

• Noise;

• Transport;

• Air Emissions;

• Soils and Land Use;

• Flood;

• Visual;

• Hazard and Risk;

• Social and Economic;

• Surface water;

• Groundwater; and

• Waste.

Studies to date have enabled the identification of baseline conditions, which allow the assessment of potential impacts of the project. Results so far indicate that the baseline conditions are essentially as expected for the rural, western Darling Downs location of the project. No issues have been identified in the current investigations that would potentially delay the completion of the EIS.
The EIS is forecast for completion and submission to DERM in Q1 2012. Based on this submission date, the finalising of the Environmental Authority application and granting of the Mining Lease should take place by
Q1 2013. This time frame is in line with the company's plan to achieve first coal shipments in 2015.

1 ASX code: SMR ASX announcement

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