Draft document now available for public comment on DMP website
| Date: | Friday, 04 March 2016 |
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Ensuring proper assessment of the environmental risks posed by the exposure and storage of mined materials is the subject of draft guidance released by the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) for public consultation.
The 'Draft Guidance - Materials Characterisation - Baseline Data Requirements for Mining Proposals' document provides information on how materials characterisation baseline data information can be collected.
Materials characterisation identifies the physical and geochemical properties of materials to see if they have the potential to cause environmental harm, or impact on the success of rehabilitation and closure.
This helps ensure that the environmental risk assessment is appropriately informed, and assists in the cost-effective operation and closure of a mine.
Developed in consultation with industry experts, the new 'Draft Guidance - Materials Characterisation Baseline Data Requirements for Mining Proposals' document is now available for public comment for eight weeks.
DMP’s Executive Director Environment Dr Phil Gorey has encouraged people to read the draft guidance document and share their views.
"Effective stakeholder engagement enables better planned and more informed policies, products and services as well as a greater understanding and management of issues and potential risks," Dr Gorey said.
"This guidance is not intended to set specific requirements for sampling, data collection and analysis for every mine site but instead provides examples of how suitable materials characterisation can be achieved."
The Draft Guidance - Materials Characterisation Baseline Data Requirements for Mining Proposals document is now available on DMP’s website.
Information on how stakeholders can provide feedback is also provided.
