An attempt by an opposition group to access restricted information used in a seabed mining application has been turned down by an Environmental Protection Authority committee.
The information is contained in parts of six reports used in Trans-Tasman Resources' application for the marine consent and discharge consent needed for a proposed iron sand mining operation offshore from Patea.
It's a "relatively small proportion" of the 42 technical reports provided in the application, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) principal communications advisor Helen Corrigan said.
Most of the information relates to sediment, sediment plume modelling and optical effects, with a portion on industry/employment multipliers.
Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR) applied to keep it secret, under section 158 of the Exclusive Economic Zone Act. The act allows for sensitive information to be restricted.