(Kaieteur News) – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has exempted the Aranka Gold Leaching Project, which proposes to utilise Jin Chan (leaching reagent) to recover gold, from conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

In a June notice, EPA said it screened the application submitted by Orava Mining Equipment and General Sales Inc. for the grant of an environmental permit and determined that the proposed project will not significantly affect the environment, thereby exempting the project from the requirement to conduct the EIA.

However, EPA requested an Environmental Assessment and Management Plan for the project. EPA determined that impacts from noise will be low to moderate, air quality will not be significantly impacted and biodiversity will not be significantly impacted.