Tarkine National Coalition to fight Venture Minerals' Riley permit

The EPA recently gave Venture Minerals the go ahead to begin trucking iron ore from their Riley Mine project at night.

A spokesperson said the decision was made by the director of the EPA on June 16, and was a discretionary variation to the company's mine permit made following assessment.

"The director has made these changes in accordance with the objectives of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act which includes facilitation of economic development and maintenance of genetic diversity of Tasmania's wildlife populations," the spokesperson said.

They said the permit conditions will reduce the risk of night-time transport related road-kill and impose monitoring and reporting requirements on roadkill events and require that night-time transport noise is managed.

On Wednesday, the Environmental Defenders Office announced it was seeking a judicial review of the decision on behalf of the Tarkine National Coalition.

TNC coordinator Patrick Johnson said the conservation group believed the decision would directly impact the region's devil population.

"The treasured Tasmanian devil is threatened with extinction, and this decision only puts further strain on an already endangered population," Mr Johnson said.

"The risk to the species is much greater if night-time trucking from the mine is allowed along the highway, given that roadkill is an additional pressure to the mortality from devil facial tumour disease."

Lawyer for the EDO Claire Bookless said the organisation made a submission to the EPA outlining its concerns about the proposal.

"Our client will be arguing that the EPA Director's decision does not take into account the flaws in the roadkill assessment submitted on behalf of the mine," Ms Bookless said.

Mr Johnson said the decision was "further proof of facilitating economic growth at the cost of the environment and wildlife".

"Decisions to alter mine permits that directly impact threatened species should not be made without community consultation, which on this occasion has not occurred," he said.

The EPA did not comment on whether they intended to dispute the TNC's claims when the matter goes before the Supreme Court.