EPA application timelines, page-4

Appreciate you posting this dbd25. It's important that investors begin to comprehend the long timeframe for the EPA process. Making sure that investors set realistic expectations.

For Stage 3 ALONE, this is what VRX has to go through (all taken from the procedures manual):

Step 1: Scoping the proponent’s Environmental Scoping Document (18 weeks)
- Proponent prepares and submits draft Environmental Scoping Document (VRX is yet to submit the ESD)
- EPA reviews draft ESD (5 weeks from receipt of draft ESD)
- VRX has been assessed on a Public Environmental Review level so a Public review of the draft ESD is required
- EPA authorises release of draft ESD (2 weeks from receipt of accepted draft ESD)
- Public review of draft ESD (Our public review level has been set at 4 weeks)
- EPA provides summary of submissions to the proponent (2 weeks from close of public review period)
- Proponent submits revised ESD
- EPA seeks advice on draft ESD from Decision-Making Authorities
- EPA approves ESD (4 weeks from receipt of advice)
- EPA notifies proponent and publishes ESD (1 week from approval)

Step 2: Preparation of additional assessment information – Environmental Review Document (6 weeks)
EPA has requested further information on the following: social surroundings, nearest sensitive receptors, greenhouse gas figures, air quality figures, road routes and aboriginal heritage surveys over the whole area.

- Proponent carries out an environmental review and submits draft Environmental Review Documents (VRX have commenced these studies)
- EPA reviews draft ERDs (6 weeks from receipt of ERD)
- EPA accepts ERDs
- VRX has been assessed on a Public Environmental Review level so a Public review of the ERDs is required
- Public review of ERDs (Step 3)

Step 3: Public review of additional assessment information – Environmental Review Document (13 weeks)
- EPA authorises release of ERDs for public review (2 weeks from accepted ERDs)
- Proponent releases ERDs for public review
- Public review of ERDs (Our public review level has been set at 4 weeks)
- EPA provides a summary of submissions to proponent (3 weeks from close of public review period)
- Proponent prepares response to submissions
- EPA reviews response to submissions (4 weeks from receipt of response to submissions)
- EPA accepts and publishes proponent’s response to submissions

Step 4: Preparation of EPA’s draft assessment report (6 weeks)
- EPA seeks advice on potential draft conditions
- EPA prepares draft assessment report (6 weeks from start of Step 4)

Step 5: Completion of EPA’s assessment
- EPA considers the draft assessment report and any conditions
- EPA agrees to adopt the draft assessment report as the basis for the EPA’s final assessment report
- If EPA doesn't choose to adopt then the proposal goes through Step 4 again

So in total Stage 3 is estimated to be 43 weeks.

*NOTE: This DOES NOT include the amount of time that VRX takes to:
- Complete the draft scoping document
- Respond to public comments on ESD
- Complete the additional assessment information
- Responds to public comments on ERDs

I will say though that the timeframes set against the EPA processes are the MAXIMUM amount of time that the EPA has to complete that certain activity. The EPA could complete their review of the draft ESD within 2 weeks instead of 5 for instance.