Vale aerial seeding program starts Tuesday

Vale’s aerial seeding program is set to take flight on Tuesday, and will continue for approximately 10 days.

The company’s aerial seeding program targets barren land requiring reclamation efforts around the company’s operations.

The program, which started in 1990, has treated more than 7,200 acres of land to date. This year’s treatment area will be approximately 700 acres, northeast of Coniston (up from 520 in 2013).

While every effort will be made not to fly over nearby residential areas, local residents may notice low-flying aircraft near Coniston. Everyone is advised that this is part of Vale’s normal land reclamation activities and the low flight paths are necessary for the work to be effective.

Weather permitting, planes will depart from a private airstrip in Coniston and deposit payloads of agricultural limestone, grass seed and fertilizer on the designated treatment areas.