Green light for Tara Mines tailings pond extension

Boliden Tara Mines has been granted planning permission for the controversial lateral extension to  its tailings dam or waste storage facility.

The proposed extension will cover an area of 58 hectares and will provide a storage volume of approximately 9.6 million cubic metres of mine tailings (13.6 million tonnes).
Last November, Meath County Council granted planning permission for an extension in the townland of Randalstown and the construction of an Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICW) system in the townland of Simonstown but that was appealed to An Bord Pleanala and an oral hearing took place earlier this year.
 
Jason Morin, General Manager of Tara Mines said he welcomed the decision of An Bord Pleanala to grant permission to proceed with the tailings management project at Tara mines.

'The process was thorough and extensive by the board. The process tested and demonstrated that Tara has excellent environmental policies and practices, which contributed to the outcome. 

'I would like to thank all those that participated and voiced their views in the process. Tara Mines is committed to working with the community and authorities throughout the process to ensure we meet the conditions and expectations to the best of our ability in the construction and management of the tailings facility.

'This facility provides one of the necessary means to extend the life of mine. The site and its employees and unions continue to work on securing a long future for the site and this is a good milestone. Boliden Tara Mine as always benefited the local, county and state through its operations by contributing to the economy in many different ways. This positive decision will allow this to continue,' he said.