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Alcoa to pay $39 million after illegally clearing Australian native forest
Alcoa's A$55 million payment funds conservation, rehabilitation, and limits on clearing to protect threatened species in Northern Jarrah Forest, amid ongoing mining operations.
- On Feb 18, the federal environment ministry announced Alcoa, the U.S. aluminium company, will pay A$55 million to remediate native forest it illegally cleared in Western Australia, secured through enforceable undertakings and described as `unprecedented' by the government.
- Earlier this year, the WA EPA received a record 59,000 submissions over Alcoa's proposed 11,500-hectare jarrah clearing amid investigations by the WA environmental regulator.
- The settlement directs money to conservation initiatives such as ecological offsets, programs for endangered black cockatoos and invasive-species management, with $4.2 million additional offsets for Huntly and Willowdale mining operations until 2045.
- Under the deal, Alcoa can keep operating while undergoing an 18-month strategic assessment, with limited clearing allowed under a national interest exemption, angering conservation groups; if breaches are proven, Alcoa could be barred during the EPA assessment after failing 2023 rehabilitation criteria.
- Long-Term stakes include irreversible habitat loss and economic continuity, as research indicates the northern jarrah forest cannot be rehabilitated after bauxite mining, threatening threatened species including Carnaby's cockatoos, while the government said the agreement will help ensure continued bauxite supply for industry and trade partners and supports about 4,000 jobs in WA.
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Alcoa to pay $39 million after illegally clearing Australian native forest
U.S. aluminium company Alcoa will pay A$55 million ($38.9 million) to remediate native forest it illegally cleared in Western Australia in order to mine bauxite, Australia's environment ministry said on Wednesday.
·United Kingdom
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Sydney Morning HeraldReposted by 
WA today
WA todayAlcoa fined $55 million for clearing northern jarrah forest without approvals
Despite maintaining it had met its federal environmental obligations, the miner agreed to pay the fine as part of an enforceable undertaking reached with the federal government on Wednesday.
·Sydney, Australia
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources7
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left, 43% Center
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources are Center
43% Center
L 43%
C 43%
14%
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