EXTENSIONS: The proposed amendment would remove a clause from the act that prevents authorities from rejecting mining license renewals under certain conditions
Taipei Times
Date: Dec 07, 2017
By: Chen Wei-han / Staff reporter
A draft amendment to the Mining Act (礦業法) that the Cabinet is expected to approve today would require
A mine belonging to Asia Cement Corp in Hualien County’s Taroko Gorge is pictured on July 18. Photo: Wang Chun-chi, Taipei Times
quarries to undergo environmental impact assessment and obtain the consent of local Aboriginal communities, an official said.
If passed by the Legislative Yuan, Asia Cement Corp’s (亞泥) controversial operations in Hualien would need to seek approval from environmental authorities.
The amendment, proposed by the Ministry of the Economic Affairs, has been drafted in line with the Indigenous Peoples Basic Act (原住民基本法), which stipulates that central and local governments or businesses planning to develop Aboriginal territories must seek the consent or participation of local Aboriginal communities and share the benefits with them.
Quarries that fail to comply with the proposed regulations would be suspended and their applications to develop new quarries would be rejected for non-compliance, according to the draft amendment.
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