Environmental requirements for Mine Rehabilitation and Closure – Mineral Resources
Once a mineral resource is depleted or operational mining is no longer required, the mine site must be decommissioned, all areas rehabilitated, made safe and stable, and be ready for future land uses. This is known as mine rehabilitation and closure, and is a requirement for all mine sites in Western Australia under the Mining Act 1978.
New guidelines for preparing Mine Closure Plans will be released in 2025 and the requirements for lodging a Mine Closure Plan with a mining proposal will also change.
Until these changes are made, the 2020 Statutory Guidelines for preparing Mine Closure Plans still apply. For latest updates on these changes, visit Mine Closure Developments and Proposals.
The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) requires tenement holders to plan for mine rehabilitation and closure, which is demonstrated through preparing and lodging a Mine Closure Plan to the department. Information on how to prepare and lodge a Mine Closure Plan is provided below.
Prepare a Mine Closure Plan
Mine Closure Plans (MCPs) are required for mining operations approved under the Mining Act 1978. Where an MCP is required, this will be stated in tenement conditions or advised in written correspondence sent to the tenement holder and applicant by the DEMIRS.
As of 3 March 2020, all MCPs must be prepared in accordance with the department’s Statutory Guidelines for Mine Closure Plans. The 2020 Guidelines superseded the 2015 Guidelines for Mine Closure Plans.
Please note that rehabilitation of disturbances due to exploration activities approved under a Programme of Work (PoW) are not required to be discussed in MCPs, this rehabilitation is regulated as per the PoW conditions of approval and tenement conditions.
DEMIRS also recommends reading the WA Biodiversity Science Institute publication, A framework for developing mine-site completion criteria in WA, for further guidance on developing completion criteria.
Always check the department’s website for the latest Guidelines for preparing Mine Closure Plans before you prepare the MCP for submission. This will ensure you meet the current regulatory requirements.
The department has templates available for preparing a Mine Closure Plan for Small Mining Operations in accordance with the 2020 Guidelines, available for download below.
ProForma - Mining Closure Plan for Small Mining Operations - March 2020
Proforma to be used for reviewed Mine Closure Plans - as per the Statutory Guidelines for Mine Closure Plans - effective 3 March 2020
Statutory Guideline for Mine Closure Plans - March 2020
Mandatory form and content for Mine Closure Plans under the Mining Act 1978 effective 3 March 2020
Mine Closure Plan Guidance - How to prepare in accordance with Part 1 of the Statutory Guidelines for Mine Closure Plans.
Does your MCP contain confidential information?
If you are preparing an MCP that includes confidential information (e.g. commercially or culturally sensitive, intellectual property), this information should be removed from the MCP document and submitted as a separate document along with the MCP. Any confidential documents should be clearly marked as confidential. DEMIRS will assess both the MCP and confidential information, however marking documents as ‘confidential’ will ensure they are not released outside the department.
Lodge a Mine Closure Plan
Mine Closure Plans are to be lodged online by the due date as per your tenement condition or as otherwise advised by the department in writing. Alternatively, MCPs can also be lodged electronically with a mining proposal.
Revision Mine Closure Plans can be lodged online using the link below.
Submit a Mine Closure Plan online:
Submit MCP
What happens after I lodge an MCP?
Once an MCP is lodged, it will be registered and assessed to ensure it meets DEMIRS requirements as per the Guidance. Where an MCP meets the guidance requirements, it will be accepted and a future submission date for a revision MCP will be set by DEMIRS.
DEMIRS will provide notification in writing of the outcome of all MCP assessments once completed, often with recommendations for improvements to be made in the next submission. If you have not received written confirmation of the outcome of your assessment and would like an update, contact the relevant regional team.
Revision Mine Closure Plans
The Mining Act 1978 requires Mine Closure Plans are periodically revised and resubmitted to DEMIRS. Revision MCPs are prepared and then lodged to DEMIRS for assessment as outlined above.
Always check the department’s website for the latest Guidelines for preparing mine closure plans BEFORE you prepare the MCP for submission. This will ensure you meet the current regulatory requirements.
Implementing rehabilitation and closure for mines
Once an area / disturbance is no longer required, it should be rehabilitated as soon as practicable. Progressive rehabilitation of mining operations is expected to occur in accordance with the latest Mine Closure Plan accepted by the department.
Rehabilitation and closure activities and performance monitoring against completion criteria are reported to DEMIRS as part of environmental reporting for the mine, in accordance with tenement conditions and environmental approvals.
Once rehabilitation has been completed and monitoring indicates the closure outcomes and completion criteria have been met you can prepare and lodge a Mine Closure Completion Report to commence the process of relinquishment to release from environmental obligations.
View an approved Mine Closure Plan
Once accepted, Mine Closure Plans are made publicly available via the DEMIRS website (excluding any information that is clearly marked as confidential). These can be searched for using MINEDEX (Mines and minerals deposits).
Further guidance
The department has additional information available to support developing a Mine Closure Plan. Selected guidance is included below.
Mine Safety Guidelines Directory
Safety guidance – tailings storage facilities
Environmental Objectives Policy for Mining - March 2020 (REC-EC-117D)
A framework for developing mine-site completion criteria in WA
Environmental note Acid Mine Drainage
Environmental Note - Waste Rock Dumps
Safety Bund Walls around open pit mines
