quantifying the unquantifiable, page-5

Yep, just be aware that Apples deliberately only posts media with a positive spin. Most of the negative ones don't get exposure on this forum.

IMO, if Tampakan doesn't get approval at provincial level it will never fly. After all, many permits such as transport movements and the like, lie solely with the provincial government.

If you recall there was a lot of HOPE expressed in Apple's media articles and on this forum that the EIS process would pave the path for a review of the ban. That HOPE is now nearly gone and unfortunately it looks like SMI has failed to win over the local lawmakers. I think a court case would be a catalyst to an even higher state of uncertainty. It took 10 years for the court to decide that the lease granted to WMC was lawful. There is a possibility that the court could issue a binding order to overturn the ban, but I'm not sure the court would do that without allowing the matter to be heard, and if they did I expect the Sth Cotabato board would challenge it.

In theory the political system is structured similar to the US, with the provinces somewhat akin to American states. Could you imagine Washington issuing a court order to the state of Montana to overturn their ban on cyanide to allow a new gold mine? Just as in Australia, specific environmental matters are decided by the states and sometimes, particularly when impacts are to catchments, on an even more local level.