The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change has granted Vale a 10-year extension to continue to release emissions and create industrial noise at its nickel refinery in Copper Cliff.
The extension was part of a routine process for large industrial producers in Ontario.
Vale will need to make another application, if necessary, before the 10-year deadline to continue its operations at the Copper Cliff refinery.
The ministry said there was a public consultation period from Dec. 17, 2015 to Jan. 31, 2016, where interested parties could comment on Vale's application for an extension to continue running equipment that creates emissions and noise.
During that period the ministry said it received only one comment that “was reviewed and found to have no direct impact on the decision whether or not to proceed with this proposal.”
