A huge expansion of the Olympic Dam mine in outback South Australia has been given environmental approval by the Federal Government.
Environment Minister Tony Burke has announced the approval and says it follows a rigorous assessment process.
He says BHP Billiton's proposed mine expansion near Roxby Downs has been approved under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
The minister says the Federal Government will impose strict conditions, both while the mine operates and for many years beyond.
More than 100 environmental conditions will apply to the BHP Billiton copper, gold and uranium mine.
The Government says an offset area of about 140,000 hectares will have to be created for conservation and environment programs, an area eight times the size of the mining operation itself.
ABC News
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