The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) is calling for comment on a new Mine Closure Completion Guideline.
The draft Guideline is intended to provide clarity on the evidence tenement holders are expected to provide to show they have met all the agreed closure obligations and environmental conditions.
Executive Director of Resource and Environmental Compliance at DMIRS, Karen Caple said the Guideline aimed to provide industry with guidance on how to demonstrate all rehabilitation and closure obligations under the Mining Act 1978, and those outlined within their closure plan, had been met.
“It does not relate to disturbances that are the result of exploration and prospecting activities approved under Program of Work applications,” she said.
“For these matters, tenement holders should submit a rehabilitation report form provided on the DMIRS website upon completion of rehabilitation of exploration and prospecting activities.”
She also noted that the Guideline did not relate to acceptance of rehabilitation and closure obligations under any other legislation.
The Guideline will be available for public consultation for 12 weeks with consultation closing 3 May.
Once all submissions are considered, the Department will finalise the content and advise stakeholders.
The Department’s 8-page Guideline can be accessed at this PS News link.
