Edition 17 - 16 March 2016

Director’s foreword

Welcome to the first edition of the Department of Mines and Petroleum’s (DMP) Environment eNewsletter for 2016.

This year is already proving to be a busy one for the Environment Division.

As you are no doubt already aware, the Mining Amendment Bill 2015 passed through the Lower House of Parliament in September last year which was a wonderful achievement. I would not only like to thank our staff but also the many industry and community members that have contributed to the development of these amendments. The Upper House of Parliament has since referred the legislation to the Legislative Council Standing Committee for Legislation and have been requested to report back to the Legislative Council by Tuesday 10 May 2016.

This newsletter includes a lot of information in relation to DMP’s initiatives such as the new Programme of Work – Prospecting (POW-P) form which is now available.

There is also information about the requirements for completing Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) submissions, so be sure to check out the ‘MRF update’ page.

If you are not aware, DMP’s new website also includes an area for public consultation and we’ve now included a page for this within our quarterly newsletter as well.

I would also like to remind you that the submissions for the 2016 Golden Gecko Awards for Environmental Excellence have recently opened. I certainly encourage you to consider nominating any projects that you think may be eligible for this very prestigious and important award.

Dr Phil Gorey

Executive Director Environment

2016 Golden Gecko Awards opens for submissions

Entries for the 25th Annual Golden Gecko Awards for Environmental Excellence are now open.

The award recognises best practice and innovative environmental projects in the resources sector.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion will present the 2016 Golden Gecko winner(s) with their award at the Department of Mines and Petroleum's (DMP) Awards for Excellence night in October, which will also incorporate the new Community Partnership Resources Sector Award.

The Golden Gecko is awarded for commitment to environmental excellence, demonstrated excellent environmental outcomes, community engagement and innovation.

To be eligible for the award, the submission must be based in Western Australia (including State waters, but not Commonwealth waters), relate to the mining or petroleum industries and be related to environmental management.

Each entry is reviewed to ensure it is eligible. In June and July an assessment panel will further examine the eligible projects through either a site visit or Perth based presentation.

Last year's Golden Gecko Award was presented to Chevron Australia for its innovative shoreline crossing solution. The Wheatstone micro-tunnel links a 225km long offshore gas pipeline to the onshore processing facilities, protecting the coastal area adjacent to the Ashburton River Delta.

Certificates of Merit were also presented to Pilbara Mesquite Management Committee Inc and St Barbara Limited.

Anyone interested in submitting a project for the 2016 Golden Gecko Awards should visit the website for more details.

For further information about the Golden Gecko Awards please contact Jessica Allen on (08) 9222 3102 or golden.gecko@dmp.wa.gov.au

Materials Characterisation draft guidance

The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) is seeking feedback on its new ‘Draft Guidance – Materials Characterisation – Baseline Data Requirements for Mining Proposals’ document.

Materials characterisation identifies the physical and geochemical properties of materials and classifies them to see whether they have the potential to cause environmental harm or impact on the success of rehabilitation and closure.

Appropriate characterisation of materials helps ensure that the environmental risk assessment is appropriately informed and assists in the cost-effective operation and closure of a mine.

The materials characterisation draft guidance is not intended to mandate set requirements for sampling, data collection and analysis for every mine site but rather provides examples of how adequate materials characterisation can be achieved.

The “Draft Guidance – Materials Characterisation Baseline Data Requirements for Mining Proposals” has been developed in consultation with industry experts and is now available for public comment.

For further information regarding the materials characterisation draft guidance please contact Felicity Huxtable on (08) 9222 3071. To view the draft guidance or provide feedback please visit DMP’s website.

All Stakeholder feedback must be received by Friday 29 April 2016.

New Programme of Work – Prospecting (PoW-P) form

The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) is committed to reforming environmental regulation in the resources industry through the Reforming Environmental Regulation (RER) Program.

One aspect of this has been to update the Programme of Work – Prospecting (POW-P) form. 

During the drafting phase, the document was provided to the Amalgamated Prospectors and Leaseholders Association (APLA) for comment by its members. APLA’s feedback has now been received and integrated into the new form. 

The updates to the form are designed to clarify the information required from proponents such as the types of activities which would and would not be undertaken. 

The new POW-P form can now be accessed via DMP’s website.

Information sharing builds consistency across the country

Last month the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) welcomed visitors from the Northern Territory’s Department of Mines and Energy to discuss environmental regulation.

DMP has been implementing its Reforming Environmental Regulation (RER) program since 2012 in order to introduce a risk-based and best practice regulatory framework to ensure that environmental integrity is maintained. 

The initiative also seeks to reduce the administrative burden on the mineral and energy resources industry, reduce regulatory duplication between DMP and other government agencies and increase transparency among the community and industry.

The Northern Territory Government is currently introducing similar environmental regulations and visited DMP staff to share ideas. This collaboration between jurisdictions is a great step towards assisting in regulatory consistency throughout the country.

By sharing information on policy approaches, different jurisdictions can learn from each other and develop better outcomes for the future.

For more information about DMP’s commitment to reforming environmental regulation in the resources industry visit the RER webpage.

Memorandum of Understanding for Collaborative Arrangements between the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA) and DMP

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for the referral of mineral and petroleum (onshore and offshore) and geothermal proposals has been revised.

Signed in February, the new “MoU for Collaborative Arrangements between the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA) and DMP” replaces the previous agreement signed in 2009.

The revised MoU confirms the principles of a constructive working relationship between OEPA and DMP (the agencies) to continue to engage through consultation, open communication and collaboration at a strategic and operational level to protect and conserve the environment.

Specifically, the revised MoU:

• clarifies the respective roles and responsibilities of the agencies
• identifies principles that will foster a strong working relationship between the agencies
• encourages collaborative working arrangements that support efficient and effective environmental impact assessment processes, implementation of DMP roles, and development of environmental policy.

In implementing the revised MoU, the agencies will take into account the State Government’s focus to improve assessment and approvals of major projects, including mineral, petroleum and geothermal proposals by:

• removing overlap and duplication of environmental assessment processes
• supporting a clear and consistent risk based approach in environmental impact assessment processes.

In an effort to reduce regulatory burden for proponents in Western Australia, the revised MoU has also been amended to remove automatic referral of proposals to the EPA when criteria specified in the Schedules of the MoU are triggered.

Instead, the agencies will now liaise with one another in cases where criteria specified in the Schedules are triggered, or where there is potential for significant environmental impacts.

This will determine if the proposal is likely to have a significant impact on the environment and therefore require formal assessment by the EPA.

Proponents of relevant proposals should undertake consultation with the agencies as early as possible. If you believe a proposal may require referral to the EPA, DMP encourages you to seek advice from OEPA directly.

The “MoU for Collaborative Arrangements between OEPA and DMP”, can now be accessed via the DMP website.

For further information regarding the revised MoU please contact Laura Burns laura.burns@dmp.wa.gov.au

Revised administrative agreement between DMP and the Department of Water (DoW)

A revised administrative agreement to streamline interaction between the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) and the Department of Water (DoW) responsibilities in mineral exploration, mining operations and the management of water resources has been introduced.

Since the implementation of the original agreement in 2012, a number of opportunities have been identified to improve interagency efficiency and reduce any unnecessary referrals. 

The 2016 “Administrative Agreement  between the Department of Mines and Petroleum and Department of Water ” has been finalised and endorsed by each Department’s Director General and published on DMP’s website.

The new protocols provide greater discretion for DMP to decide whether to seek DoW advice on the following:

• the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 proclaimed areas where regulation through water licensing applies
• for minor amendments to mining proposals and closure plans
• in relation to many waterways.

A list of common mining activities which may have negative impacts on water resources has also been written into the administrative agreement, providing better guidance as to when DMP may need to seek DoW advice.  This will aid consistency in interpretation across the regions.

The revised protocols also provide improved safeguards:

• For public drinking water sources, with DMP seeking DoW advice for all proposals in Public Drinking Water Source Areas (PDWSA), and establishing a new condition to control mining in public drinking water wellhead and reservoir protection zones.
• For critical high value waterways such as wild rivers, Ramsar wetlands, Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia (DIWA) and Waterways Conservation Act 1976 areas, with DMP seeking DoW advice in these specific areas.
• For reserves under the Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947 and Land Administration Act 1997 - aligning consultation arrangements more closely, in principle, with requirements under the Mining Act 1978.
• Through inclusion of a protocol to seek DoW advice on mine closure plans.

For further information regarding the revised administrative agreement please contact Danielle Risbey danielle.risbey@dmp.wa.gov.au

DMP sets record for approvals

The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) achieved its best-ever quarter for mineral title approvals in December 2015 and continues to achieve approvals timelines above the published performance targets. 

In published results, the Department approved in the final quarter of 2015:

• 91 per cent of Mining Lease applications within 65 business days
• 92 per cent of Mining Proposal applications within 30 business days
• 100 per cent of Petroleum Environment Plans within 30 calendar days.

The new performance peak is largely due to industry’s increased use of DMP’s online approvals processing system and the department’s efforts to conduct all of its transactions online by July this year. 

Fact file

• DMP received a total of 5629 mineral title, exploration and mining activity applications during 2015.
• 97 per cent of these were finalised within the timeline target of 65 business days.
• The department finalised 2459 Programme of Work and Mining Proposals during this period.
• 95 per cent of these were finalised within the timeline target of 30 business days.
• 100 per cent of Petroleum Exploration Permits were finalised within the target timeline of 120 business days.
• Of the 374 Petroleum Environment Plans and Oil Spill Contingency Plans submitted, 97 per cent were finalised within 30 calendar days.
• The department also finalised 100 per cent of Resource Safety Project Management Plan approvals and 85 per cent of Radiation Management Plans within the 30 business day timeframes.

New leader for Environment Division’s Administration and Reform branch

The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) welcomed Karen Caple to the Environment Division in January as the new General Manager Administration and Reform. 

Karen has extensive executive experience working within both local and State Government sectors over the past 16 years, more recently working in local government at the Cities of Perth and Wanneroo.  Prior to this she was with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet involved in whole of government reform, and also with the Department of Sport and Recreation.

The majority of Karen’s roles have involved leading and driving organisational change and implementing cultural and business reform. Karen has served on several committees and governing bodies and was involved in independent education at both state and national levels prior to entering State Government in 2000.

Karen replaces Dr Marnie Leybourne who has moved into the Environment Division’s role of Director Operations.

Goldfields Environmental Management Group Workshop

Environment Division representatives Dr Marnie Leybourne, Dan Machin and Ian Mitchell attended a workshop hosted by the Goldfields Environmental Management Group (GEMG) in Kalgoorlie last November.

About 30 GEMG members toured mine sites at Norton Gold Fields and Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM), as well as visiting the Kalgoorlie waste water treatment plant where site representatives discussed on the ground examples of environmental management, mine closure challenges and successes specific to the sites.

At Norton’s Paddington site the focus of discussion was on waste landforms and the success of rehabilitation in relation to the quality of the waste materials that companies have to work with.

At KCGM the attendees were given a presentation and shown around the Gidji Roaster site which was decommissioned in 2015 and replaced by a new ultra-fine grinding mill. The new mill has meant the end of mercury and sulphur dioxide emissions being released into the atmosphere.

The Department of Mines and Petroleum wishes to congratulate and thank GEMG members for facilitating the site visit and also the staff who gave up their time on the day. The workshop was a great opportunity for open discussions and the sharing of ideas.

Mining Proposal reform update

Stakeholder Briefing Sessions

Stakeholder briefing sessions were held in Perth and Kalgoorlie to discuss the status of reforms to Mining Proposals and other Reforming Environmental Regulation (RER) projects in November.

The focus of the briefing sessions was to give stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback or comment on the draft Mining Proposal guidelines and the RER program.

Copies of the presentations from these briefing sessions are available on Department of Mines and Petroleum's (DMP) website.

Draft Mining Proposal Guidelines

The draft Mining Proposal Guidelines were made available for public comment on the DMP website in September for a period of eight weeks. This consultation period has now closed however you can still view the draft Mining Proposal Guidelines. 

DMP is reviewing the comments received in a transparent manner and aims to finalise the guidelines by the end of March 2016.

DMP’s response to all submissions will be published on its website.

Mining Proposal Reform Industry Reference Group

The Mining Proposal Reform Industry Reference Group has been an essential partner in drafting the new Mining Proposal Guidelines and DMP wishes to thank its members for their valuable contribution.

The role of this group is to work closely with DMP to develop the shape and content of the new Mining Proposal Guidelines including the proposed risk assessment framework, key environmental factors and associated baseline environmental data.

Membership of the Mining Proposal Reform Industry Reference Group was finalised in November 2014. Since then, four meetings have taken place with stakeholder feedback on the draft Mining Proposal Guidelines being discussed at the last meeting in December.

Membership of the Mining Proposal Reform Industry Reference Group is listed below:

Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) update

The closing date of the 2016 MRF reporting period is fast approaching.  With over 3000 MRF reports still to be started, the MRF team are now encouraging all tenement holders to spring into action and ensure they lodge their 2016 MRF reports early.

You can submit your 2016 MRF report right now. However, if you need to make any changes you can still edit your report at any time before midnight 30 June. 

Tenement holders who do not submit their report in time may receive a $4000 penalty infringement.

More information about the work undertaken by the MRF’s technical team to make the system easier to use as well as an update on the annual MRF audit, news about the Mining Rehabilitation Advisory Panel and more can be found below.

Enhancements to the Environmental Assessment and Regulatory System (EARS2)

Following valuable feedback from industry, the technical team have been working hard to improve system stability and reduce loading times for some of the MRF reporting screens.

Ahead of the busy months before the close of the 2016 reporting period DMP has introduced some changes in the background of the online lodgement systems which will significantly improve user’s experiences, especially if they need to report disturbance information for a large number of tenements.

Early testing has shown impressive improvements to the load time of Step 3, the assessment information and tenement information screens. Improving the speed of these sections will greatly help tenement holders who have a large number of tenements in their MRF reporting group. 

Further performance benefits will also be achieved by introducing a function enabling users to select how many tenements they would like to have displayed in the tenement information screen.  Instead of showing all tenements, users will be able to display groups of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 or all.  The smaller the group the faster step 3 of the wizard will work.  The choice is yours.

Help with your MRF submission

The MRF team want 2016 to be the year where no tenement holder is exposed to the risk of receiving an infringement notice for failure to report.  This means DMP would like to help to ensure that all of Western Australian tenement holders complete their MRF report by midnight on 30 June.

Reports must be submitted before  30 June. However, if you notice any mistakes you can always edit and re-submit the report before we lock the system on 1 July.

We will be working hard to make sure new tenement holders, people that have not registered before and holders that experienced difficulties last year have success with lodging their 2016 MRF reports.

It is important that you know how to access MRF help if you need it.

• Visit the MRF Webpage.  The section here titled ‘MRF documents’ contains links to documents that will help guide you through the process.

• Send an email: MRFEnquiry@dmp.wa.gov.au

• Give the MRF team a call: (08) 9222 3162

Important documents to keep handy are:

• Mining Rehabilitation Fund – Guidance
• Mining Rehabilitation Fund – Verification Code Registration Step by Step Guide
• Mining Rehabilitation Fund – Frequently Asked Questions

Handy EARS2 Features

There are a number of features within the online MRF lodgement system which can help when it comes to completing your MRF report.

Quick Search from the EARS2 home screen

Each MRF report has a unique reference number.  When you start your 2016 MRF report take note of the reference ID.  This will enable you to save and exit your report at any time and come back later to edit it.  Just type the MRF reference ID into the search field, press search and it will take you directly to the report summary page.  Remember to complete step 6 of the wizard when you have finished making changes to ensure the report is successfully submitted.

MRF Reporting Search Screen

If you have a large list of MRF reports in your MRF reporting summary screen, you can save time by searching for the report you need to work on. Use the MRF reporting search screen to search by tenement, tenement holder or reporting year. You can search for reports by accessing the tabs at the top of the EARS2 page, MRF> MRF Reporting> Search.

Manage Levy Users

Do you want another person to help you lodge your MRF report? You can add another user to your MRF reporting group by accessing the tabs at the top of the EARS2 page, Administration> Manage Levy Users.  You can give another person with a DMP username (EX Account) access to complete your report. This means that if you don’t like using computers, you can ask your relative, friend or consultant to complete your report for you.

HELP!

The EARS2 online lodgement system has a useful help section built in to it.  Look for the Help tab at the top of the page for access to some great information to help you with managing user access and completing your MRF report. As our phone lines get busier towards the end of the financial year, you might find a quick answer to any of your problems in the help section.

MRF Annual Audit update

Are you reporting correctly?

Employees of DMP’s Environment Division undertake an annual audit of MRF reports.  Overall, the response from industry has been positive and, as the audits continue, the errors identified appear to be common for various tenement holders. 

The audit program was implemented to ensure that tenement holders consistently submit accurate and reliable disturbance information and have a sound understanding of the reporting requirements of the MRF.

Things to remember:

• You must report all disturbances that have been created during the life of the tenement, not just activities created within the last 12 months. This includes any tenements which have been transferred to you from another holder.

• Make sure you keep records of the activities that occur on any tenement you hold. You are required to keep your records for two years and you may be required to provide this information upon request.

• If the disturbance on your tenement is minor and you believe it will fall under the $50,000 threshold for calculating a levy, you still need to report it.  This includes tracks, pipelines and scrape and detect areas.

• The only disturbances that can be left out of an MRF report are those that have been fully rehabilitated to the standard outlined in closure plans such as Programme of Work commitments, completion criteria in an approved Mine Closure Plan and/or closure obligations in a Mining Proposal that have been verified and approved by an Environmental Officer.

• The ‘Land under Rehabilitation’ category can only be used when mining disturbances have been rehabilitated to the standard outlined within the Mine Closure Plan and/or the Mining Proposal and monitoring of rehabilitation has commenced.

• Your MRF report can be completed at any time during the year, using any assessment date during the reporting period. You must complete your report before 30 June.

If you require further information regarding these tips please contact the MRF team at mrfenquiry@dmp.wa.gov.au .

MRF Yearly Report 2015

The MRF yearly report has been introduced to present a summary of the MRF. The report combines information from the State Budget, the DMP Annual Report and other publicly available information.  As the name suggests the MRF Yearly Report will be prepared and published each year to provide a concise overview of the activities of the MRF.

The 2015 MRF yearly report is an easy to read publication which provides detail on the following topics:

• the activities of the Mining Rehabilitation Advisory Panel
• Unconditional Performance Bonds
• MRF lodgement and reporting
• annual MRF auditing
• annual MRF data
• financial summary
• DMP’s Abandoned Mines Program

To view the recently published  MRF 2015 Yearly Report, please visit the MRF webpage.

MRF webpage

Please make regular visits to the MRF webpage on the DMP website to find information on topics such as frequently asked questions, a guidance document and a step-by-step guide for registering your verification codes. There is also convenient links to the Mining Rehabilitation Fund Act 2012 and the Mining Rehabilitation Fund Regulations 2013.

Abandoned Mines Program update

During 2014 and 2015 the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) commenced planning for the rehabilitation of four abandoned mine sites in Western Australia. These sites were selected based on their history, environmental and safety risks. 

The unplanned closure of the Ellendale Diamond Mine (Ellendale) and the liquidation of its operator Kimberley Diamond Company resulted in a fifth project being added to the Abandoned Mines Program.

Abandoned Mines Projects

• Ellendale Diamond Mine
     Shire of Derby / West Kimberley
• Pro-Force Plant Site
     Shire of Coolgardie
• Black Diamond Coal Mine
     Allanson – Shire of Collie
• Bulong Nickel Tailings Storage Facility
     City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
• Elverdton Tailings
     Shire of Ravensthorpe

The Abandoned Mines team have begun the preliminary engagement and planning stages for managing the Black Diamond Coal Mine and Pro-Force Gold Mine rehabilitation projects, while significant remedial action has already taken place at Ellendale to reduce the risk of environmental contamination.

Ellendale Diamond Mine

Ellendale is located approximately 100km’s northwest of Fitzroy Crossing and 120km’s east of Derby in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Kimberley Diamond Company (KDC) abandoned the mine after going into administration in July 2015. The company then went into liquidation in late July.

In October KDC issued a ‘Notice of Disclaimer of Onerous Property’ under the Corporations Act 2001, which disclaimed the ‘Onerous Property’ related to the Mining Act 1978. 

DMP has subsequently commenced a process of determining the legal options available to minimise the risk to the State Government. Whilst these investigations are ongoing it has been necessary for DMP to ensure that the mine is kept safe, stable and non-polluting, making Ellendale DMPs first pilot site for the Abandoned Mines Program.

The Abandoned Mines team identified a number of risk elements associated with the site that needed to be addressed promptly to prevent environmental contamination.

On ground works commenced in late December 2015 and were completed in early January 2016.  The Abandoned Mines team have now moved focus on to managing access to the site, erecting appropriate signage and liaising with parties who had purchased equipment via the liquidation process.  There is also a strong focus on maintaining communication with stakeholders.

Ellendale will not be fully rehabilitated or closed through the MRF as it remains a viable mineral resource project and DMP intends to ensure that Ellendale remains a sustainable development option for Western Australia and will work with interested parties that will take on ownership of the tenements.

The future  tenement holder will have access to the remaining mineral diamond resource while assuming responsibility for existing and future disturbances.

An Ellendale Diamond Mine fact sheet is available on the Abandoned Mines Project webpage.

Black Diamond Mine

The historical abandoned mine site Black Diamond is located within the Allanson town site boundary in the Shire of Collie, approximately 5km west of Collie.

Black Diamond was mined between the late 1940’s and early 1950’s by Amalgamated Collieries Pty Ltd. The now abandoned mine void has filled with water creating a pit lake of around 700 metres in length.

The site is not recognised as a public recreation area and the community have raised a number of serious safety concerns regarding the way visitors use the area.  A number of environmental issues also exist, including rubbish dumping and degraded water quality.

DMP is planning to reduce the safety and environmental risks associated with the Black Diamond mine as part of the Abandoned Mines Program. 

The Abandoned Mines team have created a publication describing the Black Diamond rehabilitation project called “Improving Community Safety at the Black Diamond Pit Lake”.  This publication is available on the Abandoned Mines webpage and hard copies will be available at DMP’s Collie regional office and the Collie Visitors Centre. 

The focus of the project is to address the safety risks associated with the steep slope on the southern side of the pit.  Other works to make the site safe and stable may be undertaken and will be based on the outcomes of site assessment and stakeholder consultation.

Pro-Force Plant Site

The Pro-Force site is approximately 2km southeast of the Coolgardie town-site on the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway. It is a former gold processing site that has been an ongoing safety concern for the local community.

The site is adjacent to Coolgardie Gorge which is the former reservoir for the old Hampton Town site and is regularly visited by tourists, particularly when it is seasonally full of water.

The Abandoned Mines team visited Coolgardie during February to begin the stakeholder engagement and identification process. The visit provided an opportunity to auction mining equipment.

During this trip, the site was also the focus of a revised environmental site assessment.  The purpose of the assessment was to update information collected in 2014.  The fresh data will assist the Abandoned Mines team with addressing all risks and identifying opportunities to maximise rehabilitation efforts.

Final two Pilot Sites

Information on the final two pilot sites, Bulong Tailings Storage Facility Project and Elverdton Project can be found in the MRF Yearly Report.

Abandoned Mines Policy Published

The consultation period for the draft abandoned mines policy closed in September 2015 with a number of excellent suggestions from a range of interested parties. Overall the policy was well received and supported.

Feedback was consolidated and provided to the Mining Rehabilitation Advisory Panel (MRAP) on 18 November 2015 prior to the release of the final policy.

The final version of the policy, along with a summary of the feedback received during the consultation period, has been published on the Abandoned Mines Program webpage.

If you have any queries about the policy, please send an email to the Abandoned Mines Program Manager Sarah Bellamy or the team via abandonedmines@dmp.wa.gov.au.

More Information

DMP will be providing regular updates on the Abandoned Mines Program on the Abandoned Mines Program webpage. 

Abandoned Mines Project Team

Phone:            08 9222 3162
Email:             abandonedmines@dmp.wa.gov.au

Public consultation

The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) is committed to stakeholder engagement. Effective and ongoing stakeholder engagement enables better planned and more informed policies, projects and services including a greater understanding and management of issues and potential risks. For stakeholders, the benefits of engagement include the opportunity to have their issues heard and contribute to the decision-making process. 

You can always find drafts open for public consultation on the DMP website

The following items are currently open for public consultation. 

1. Draft Guidance – Materials Characterisation Baseline Data Requirements for Mining Proposals – Closes 29 April.
2. Draft Guideline for the Development of Petroleum and Geothermal Environment Plans in Western Australia – Closes on 15 April 2016.

The following items have recently closed for public consultation

1. Draft guideline groundwater monitoring in the onshore petroleum and geothermal industry.
2. Draft guideline for the development of an onshore oil spill contingency plan – Procedure for Declining and Refusing Environmental Applications.

Compliance actions

The Environment Division oversees an Environment Enforcement Panel that considers cases of alleged breaches of tenement conditions under the Mining Act 1978 and provides advice to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum on whether forfeiture or a penalty in lieu of forfeiture should be imposed.

The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) considers it important to raise industry’s awareness of common types of breaches that occur to promote the importance of compliance.

Penalties in lieu of forfeiture imposed by the Minister for Mines and Petroleum

This is a summary of the breaches of tenement conditions that have had a penalty imposed by the Minister for Mines and Petroleum in the fourth quarter of 2015. 

Approvals Performance Report

October - December 2015

Contacts for the Environment Division

Please keep these contact details handy for DMP’s Environment Division.

Minerals assessment or compliance enquiries
The map linked here provides you with the contact details of the DMP Environmental Officers responsible for your inspectorate/mineral field area.

Inspectorate map and responsible Environmental Officers

Petroleum environment operations
General inquires; Notification of commencement or completion of a petroleum activity and Notification of reportable incident environmental incident.

Email:            petroleum.environment@dmp.wa.gov.au

EARS / EARS 2 online system enquiries
General application and compliance reporting enquiries

Email :            EARSManager@dmp.wa.gov.au
Phone :           (08) 9222 3535

MRF enquiries
Mining Rehabilitation Fund enquiries

Email :            mrfenquiry@dmp.wa.gov.au
Phone :           (08) 9222 3162

Abandoned Mines Project Team
Abandoned Mines Program enquiries

Email:             abandonedmines@dmp.wa.gov.au
Phone:            (08) 9222 3162