The Australian state of New South Wales has proposed changing its mining approval process to give greater consideration to environmental concerns, potentially threatening a colliery expansion planned by mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd.(…) „Regardless of these (proposed rule) changes, we believe there is a clear and compelling case to allow mining to continue at Mount Thorley Warkworth,“ Salisbury said in a statement, adding that the extension would add A$1.5 billion ($1.1 billion) to the state economy via wages, royalties and taxes.