Below are some response from the public toward WLF tungsten mine...

Below are some response from the public toward WLF tungsten mine in the UK, from what I could find there are about 20 response from the people in and around the mine (1 of them is from me)

Sorry about the length of this post, but its worth the time to read of some of the response from the public about our mine in the UK.

A lot of people are worry about the dust emissions at the mine site, below is from an article that I found when doing a bit of research on WLF, regarding the applications for the tungsten mine.

The closest residential property is 340m from the potentially dust generating activities at the mine site, there are very few residential properties neat to the mine site (in part due to section 52 which prohibits residential property within 250m of site boundary) and therefore direct risk to public health from permitted activities are likely to be low.

http://www.southhams.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=6134&p=0



Public Response 1

I would like to lodge my objections to the proposed mine in Devon by Wolf Minerals. I have visited there on many
ocassions and have many friends who still live in the area.
I would like you to keep me on your email list to keep me updated on the matter of Public Consultation, current issues and what the current sentiment is as it progresses.



Public Response 2
Dear Ms Burgess,

Thank you for your consultation on the Environmental Permit Application for
Hemerdon Mining Waste Facility, Crownhill Down (Application Ref.
EPR/FB3639RK/A001).

Having reviewed the application, I note that the proposed location is above Mean
High Water Springs. It is therefore outside of the remit of the Marine Management
Organisation and we will not be commenting on the application. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries relating to the above.

Best wishes
Marine Licensing Case Officer
Inshore Marine Licensing Team
Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7YH


Public Response 11


Obviously we have been aware that the Hemerdon Mine is re-opening. However, we and our neighbouring landowners have not been contacted by the company. We have now been informed that this development might affect us far more than we ever realised. I recently sent an e mail to xxxxxxxx , Manager of the Hemerdon Tungsten Mine re my concerns about the Mine's effect on the local water table, inviting him to call and see us.

When Amex were proposing to start mining several years ago I saw a man walking across one of our fields - I asked him what he was doing and he said he was "checking the outflow of one of your springs," which he said was "very good". I asked him what he meant by that, he said when the Mine starts into operation the water table as far away as Cornwood would be affected and your stream could disappear.

Mr. Xxxxxx telephoned me back in response to my e mail and during our conversation I told him the above facts. He discounted them and said we would be compensated for any loss of water and also commented he thought we were too far away to be affected. However, as no one has taken our present water levels, how would we be compensated? Apparently there was a meeting in July held a t the Parish Hall re the Mine, inviting the public to attend.
We were not informed about this meeting. I asked our District Councillor why local residents were not invited and he said that he know nothing of the meeting either.

I spoke to Mr. Xxxxx about this and he said the meeting was only about waste mining materials. I think that local people should have been invited - none of our neighbours knew anything about it. There has been no notification in the Parish Magazine. I am not a Structural Engineer, but could not the loss of the water table affect not only agricultural land, gardens, but building structures in the area (i.e. when certain trees grow close to a property, structural cracks appear.) It would appear things are happening with no consultation with the public - especially those in the near vicinity who would surely be most affected.

In the past Centrica and Amex both had open meetings prior to commencement inviting those in the surrounding area. I think that a Structural Engineer should be consulted immediately regarding the effect of the disappearance of the water table on the structure of buildings. How do we obtain written assurance that if our land and property is affected in the future, we will be compensated?

I look forward to hearing from you.



Public Response 12

Dear Sir/ Madam

Unfortunately we were unable to attend your consultation event at Sparkwell on the 16th July, therefore am writing to share our concerns and request confirmation that these issues are being considered and mitigated against. We live less than 2 miles from the edge of the proposed waste site and have concerns about the following:
Limited Toxicologic health impact information -there appears to be unknown and incomplete data regarding the health risks from mining and
transporting tungsten as referenced in both South China and
the US. We are a small community with a representation of families, young children, elderly, and of course livestock, some pets and others commercial.

Research in the US suggests that foetal deaths and respiratory issues were linked to tungsten mining, and we must FULLY understand any related health risks BEFORE any mining commences, and ensure they are mitigated against.

Arsenic disturbance/ pollution
-
There are reports of Arsenic contamination and potential health risk
implications at an abandoned tungsten mine in southern China. We MUST
understand more about this BEFORE any mining or waste disposal is permitted.

Dust
-
Impact of tungsten particles in the air again we have little knowledge of the scale of this issue, or how the mine
proposes to address this. However have very recent experience from the local quarries, where we experience high level of dusts in our homes
and on parked vehicles that are directly linked to the quarries. We must understand this issue and ensure mitigating actions are in place to protect our and future generations health.

Noise pollution
-
We understand the mine will be functioning 6 days a week, and need a full understanding of any related noise, from both the mining and transportation. We are situated in a valley at the base of the area and the noise travels extensively.

Light pollution
-
Again we need to full understanding of any light pollution of both the
mining and waste area. The local quarries often use high power flood lights both freestanding and on vehicles through the winter dark hours and this is extremely intrusive and inappropriate for Dartmoor.
Aesthetic impact to an area of outstanding natural beauty
-
The area surrounding the mine is raised and extremely visable, so any change will impact us all, for ever! The waste areas of the local quarries have changed the landscape for ever and left us with a legacy of dry, dusty, wastelands that are not used and an eyesore. We must not allow that to happen to our beautiful moor land. We must understand the aesthetic impact both during and after the mining, and ensure the visual impact is positive.




Public Response 15

Cllr xxxx , Acting Chair of Ermington Parish Council, has asked me to reply on behalf of the Council to advise that whilst members found the Public Engagement Day held at Sparkwell Village Hall very helpful, they have nothing to add in terms of comments on the consultation.

xxxx
xxxxxx
Clerk to Ermington Parish Council




Public Response 20

Dear sir,

We understand that the Hemerdon tungsten mine in Devon is to be re-opened. Whilst in favour of the British production of this valuable metal, we do have some reservations about this site.

# TOXICITY is an obvious worry for the human population. In addition, my family owns several horses which are stabled in the area and we are concerned about poisonous dust arising from the mine caused by arsenic, tungsten (particularly in its anionic form) and other elements. This also is of concern to the local farmers as sheep, cattle and "wild" ponies graze hereabouts. More importantly of course, there is the health of the thousands of local residents!

# ACCESS to the area will be curtailed as spoil is dumped on land which is used extensively by horse riders, including ourselves. Horse access has already been reduced when land to the west of the B3417 was fenced off a couple of years ago.

# Last year, FLOODS ravaged Colebrook several times, with devastating effects for the local population. We are anxious that commercial operations will not exacerbate the flooding potential.

# The increased NOISE and TRAFFIC will lower the quality of life and devalue property






Also try the links below.

The public responses relating to the Hemerdon Mine consultation.

http://www.southhams.gov.uk/article/4804/Public-Register


Drawing of WLF mine waste facility.

http://www.southhams.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=6241&p=0


This link is a good read it’s from WLF to the Environment Agency regarding the application permit for the waste facility at Hemerdon, its 88 pages long and worth the time to read it, it’s a response from WLF to the Environment Agency, requiring further information on the waste facility dated July 2013.

http://www.southhams.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=6226&p=0


Environmental Permit Application.

http://www.southhams.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=6237&p=0


Flood Risk Assessment.

http://www.southhams.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=6239&p=0


Geomorphology Assessment.

http://www.southhams.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=6235&p=0



Good luck to all that hold WLF