The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) / Resource Environmental Regulation Directorate / Resource and Environmental Compliance (REC) Division ensures the responsible development of Western Australia's (WA) mineral resources in accordance with the Mining Act 1978.
The Resource and Environmental Compliance (REC) Division assesses exploration and resource development proposals in Western Australia. The REC Division also checks environmental compliance to ensure all activities comply with legislation, regulations, policies, and environmental approval and tenement conditions. Environmental compliance activities are planned and implemented under DEMIRS guidelines and procedures.
The Resource and Environmental Compliance Division has an ISO 9001 certified quality management system and an Environmental Regulatory Strategy to ensure that resource industry activities are designed, operated, closed, decommissioned and rehabilitated in an ecologically sustainable manner. These activities must be consistent with the agreed environmental outcomes and end land uses without unacceptable liability to the State.
Environmental approvals
Environmental approvals for mining activities are required to conduct mineral resource exploration or construct and operate a mine in accordance with the Mining Act 1978. A clearing permit or exemption may be required under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and the Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004. These requirements are summarised below:
• Eligible Mining Activities for exploration and prospecting allow applicants to submit a notification of the work they are conducting in some areas of Western Australia (conditions apply).
• Programme of work – submitted when a company or prospector wants to disturb the ground with mechanised equipment to explore or prospect for minerals.
• Mining proposals – submitted by a company for a proposed mining operation, or for a change to a mining operation. All mining proposals must include a mine closure plan.
• Mine closure plans – reviewed and re-submitted by a company with a mining proposal and covering all aspects of mine decommissioning and rehabilitation.
• Mine closure completion reports can be submitted once mining has ceased and a mine has been successfully closed and rehabilitated in accordance with an approved Mine Closure Plan.
• Native vegetation clearing permit are assessed by DEMIRS under delegation from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation in line with the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and the Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004.
Policies
WA Environmental Offsets Policy - 2011
Environmental Objectives Policy for Mining
Parallel Decision-Making Policy
Approach to Risk-based Environmental Compliance for the Resource Industry
Administrative Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)
Administrative agreement between DEMIRS and DBCA
Administrative Agreement between DEMIRS and DWER
Guidelines and Guidance
Guidance Note on Environmental Non-compliance and Incident Reporting - May 2018
A framework for developing mine-site completion criteria in Western Australia (2019)
Management of dieback disease in mineral exploration (2006)
