Los Andes Copper Ltd (TSX-V:LA) has announced a plan to temporarily suspend drilling at the Minera Vizcachitas project in Chile.
In a statement, the company noted that on March 18, 2022, the Second Environmental Court decreed a preliminary injunction to suspend the effects of Resolution No. 14 of 2021 environmental license for the drilling project.
The court injunction relates to the potential impact on the habitat of the vizcachas, a small rabbit, which is part of the food chain of the Andean Cat, a protected species.
In response to the court order, the company has initiated the process of safety as it suspends the drilling operations.
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The company said it will ask for upliftment or review of the order so that its planned 18,000 meter (m) drill campaign can continue in accordance with its granted permits. Approximately 6,600m of the program have been completed and 5,400m of assays for grade are in progress currently.
“The company firmly believes that our project does not cause or will not cause direct impact to the vizcachas - as already assessed in the environmental assessment process that led to our current environmental licence - and therefore does not and will not pose a threat to Andean Cat habitat,” Los Andes Copper said in a statement. “The company will prepare the necessary information to prove adequate measures have been taken and will be taken before the Environmental Court, and thus it should be permitted to continue with the authorized works and activities.”
The company added: “We reiterate our full commitment to fulfill all of our environmental obligations. Los Andes Copper complies and has complied with each of the resolutions and indications of the administrative, supervisory and judicial authorities, in addition to having carried out extensive public participation processes. We continue to engage with all interested parties in a climate of mutual respect.”
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