Environmental Assessment
Volume A-2
Introduction
History
•
1996: Metallurgical testing, drilling, and Environmental Assessment
(EA) initiated, scoping study completed.
•
1997: Feasibility study initiated, 22,000 m drilling program completed,
continuous pilot plant work completed.
•
1998: Initial mine block model and mine plan, EA and feasibility study
completed; project put on hold due to initiation of development
of legislation on large-scale mining sponsored by World Bank.
•
1999: New Mines Code promulgated, forest co-management agreement
signed.
•
2001: Exploration licenses renewed to 2010, terms of Ambatovy
surface lease established.
•
2002: Large Mining Investment Act (LGIM) promulgated.
•
2003: LGIM regulations passed, Dynatec and Phelps Dodge sign Joint
Venture Agreement, Dynatec initiates further drilling,
metallurgical testing, and feasibility study.
•
2004: Revised EA initiated.
•
2005: Dynatec acquires 100% ownership of the project, and enters into
a new joint venture.
2.2
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Exploration activities causing impacts to natural forest habitats in the Ambatovy-
Analamay region, for which the Ambatovy Project must take full responsibility
in terms of future rehabilitation, started in 1995 with the Phelps Dodge
Exploration Campaign. Subsequently, reclamation activities were initiated in
1997. Community partnerships involved the hiring of restoration staff from
nearby villages who were involved in erosion control, site preparation,
revegetation and subsequent management and stewardship activities. The true
partnership was established after local communities took ownership of the
initiatives and, to a certain degree, collaborated with cattle grazing restrictions,
fire management and reduced use of restored roads.
A eucalyptus mulching operation conducted by local communities was put in
place based on an initiative between Phelps Dodge and the Landscape
Development Initiative (LDI) project (USAID financed; a Chemonics initiative)
in Moramanga. The work ended in 2003 but was restarted without LDI and
continues to produce eucalyptus mulch up to the present.
Ambatovy Project
5
January 2006
