A mining proposal must be submitted for written approval by the Executive Director of the Resource and Environmental Compliance Branch of the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) prior to the commencement of mining operations.
As of 3 March 2020, all applications must be submitted in line with Part 1 (risk and outcomes based) or Part 2 (small mining operations) of the Statutory Guidelines. The 2020 Statutory Guidelines supersede the Guidelines for Mining Proposals in Western Australia (2006), Guidelines for Mining Proposals in Western Australia (2016) and Guidelines for Mine Closure Plans (2015). For further information please see the information sheet.
All mining proposals must include a Mine Closure Plan. Please refer to Prepare a mine closure plan for more information.
Approved mining proposals will be made available to the public via the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) website. If a mining proposal includes confidential information e.g. commercially sensitive or intellectual property, this information should be removed from the main mining proposal document and submitted in a separate document that is clearly marked confidential. DEMIRS will assess your mining proposal based on information within both documents but will not make any confidential information publicly available provided it is clearly identified.
Mining proposals must be submitted electronically via EARS Online (Environmental Assessment and Regulatory System).
Approved mining proposals are made publicly available, view them via MINEDEX (Mines and minerals deposits).
Statutory documents
ProForma - Mining Proposal for Small Mining Operations - March 2020
Statutory Guideline for Mining Proposals - March 2020
Environment Group Site Details and Activity Details Form
Policies
Environmental Objectives Policy for Mining - March 2020
Guidelines
Mining Proposal Guidance - how to prepare in accordance with the Statutory Guidelines - March 2020
2020 Mining Proposal Checklist
Mining Proposal Scoping Document
Proforma for Notification of Minor Changes to a Mining Proposal
Technical guidance
Fauna Egress Matting and Ramps - March 2012
Acid Mine Drainage - September 2009
Care and Maintenance - September 2009
Waste Rock Dumps - August 2021
Procedures
Environmental Application Administration Procedures
More Information
Sterilisation report / Backfilling Pits
This report must be completed where any resources are likely to be sterilised by backfilling and submitted to Geological Survey.
Mining Lease Applications
Hard copy Mining Proposals will not be accepted unless submitted in support of a Mining Lease Application (MLA) to the Resources Tenure.
