The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) is seeking stakeholder feedback on a draft discussion paper on the Eligible Mining Activity Framework.
The Eligible Mining Activity Framework was introduced as a crucial part of the Mining Amendment Bill 2021, which was passed by the Legislative Council on 20 September 2022, to increase the efficiency of mining activity applications and evaluations.
Mining tenement holders will be able to get automatic authorisation under the framework to engage in specified minor ground disturbance operations known as eligible mining activities (EMAs).
The intention is for EMAs to be those that cause little risk to the environment and do not occur in sensitive areas.
DMIRS Resource and Environmental Compliance Division’s Executive Director Karen Caple said that the framework would shorten the time it takes for approvals without sacrificing Western Australia’s stringent environmental regulations.
“We are seeking stakeholder feedback on the proposed draft criteria and standard conditions that would apply to an EMA – which will ultimately be prescribed in the Mining Regulations – so these activities can be fast-tracked with the assurance they carry little environmental risk,” Caple stated.
Feedback submissions close on 10 March 2023.
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