Commonly referred to as ‘relinquishment’, the final stage of mine rehabilitation and closure is where a tenement holder seeks the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s (DEMIRS) acceptance that all environmental and closure obligations associated with mining have been met.
DEMIRS has prepared guidance to facilitate this process. The Mine Closure Completion Guideline – For demonstrating completion of mine closure in accordance with an approved Mine Closure Plan provides guidance on the evidence required to receive formal acceptance from the department that rehabilitation and closure obligations identified in an approved Mine Closure Plan have been met. This evidence is provided to the department in the form of a Mine Closure Completion Report.
Prepare a Mine Closure Completion Report
Mine closure completion reports are to be prepared in accordance with the Mine Closure Completion Guideline – For demonstrating completion of mine closure in accordance with an approved Mine Closure Plan
Once a mine has been rehabilitated and closed, and monitoring indicates the closure outcomes and completion criteria have been met, a Mine Closure Completion Report can be prepared and lodged with the department.
Prior to lodging the Mine Closure Completion Report, check you have included the following supporting information:
- Spatial files (e.g. shapefile) of the site;
- Proof of attainment of all completion criteria;
- Reports validating the data contained in the Mine Closure Completion Report;
- Signed agreements for future retention of all infrastructure; and
- Acceptance from post-mining land managers that rehabilitation and closure objectives have been met.
Contact the Resource and Environmental Compliance Division in DEMIRS if you would like to discuss your submission.
Always check the department’s website for the latest version of the Guideline before you prepare the Mine Closure Completion Report to ensure you meet the current requirements.
Does your Mine Closure Completion Report contain confidential information?
If your submission includes confidential information (e.g. commercially or culturally sensitive material, intellectual property), this information should be kept separate from the Mine Closure Completion Report document and included as a separate document that is clearly marked as confidential. DEMIRS will assess the Mine Closure Completion Report and confidential information, however, marking documents as ‘confidential’ will ensure they are not released outside the department.
Lodge a Mine Closure Completion Report
What happens after I lodge a mine closure completion report?
Once a mine closure completion report is lodged, it will be registered, screened, and assessed to ensure it meets DEMIRS requirements.
DEMIRS will provide notification in writing of the assessment outcome, once completed. Where DEMIRS accepts that completion criteria from a Mine Closure Plan have been achieved, steps will be taken to remove any remaining tenement conditions or other environmental obligations associated with the relevant mine.
