Mining
The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) is responsible for the regulation of the environmental management performance of the mining industry in Queensland through the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.
A mining project is prescribed under section 151 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 as either a level 1 mining project or a level 2 mining project, depending on the risk of environmental harm. Mining activities that are part of a mining project are authorised under an environmental authority (mining activities).
For a new mining project an applicant must apply concurrently for an environmental authority (mining activities) under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and a mining tenement under the Mineral Resources Act 1989.
Following a legislative review, the Queensland Government amended the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008. These changes came into effect on 2 December 2011.
The main changes relating to level 2 environmental authorities (mining activities) are:
- the annual fee for an environmental authority is no longer required to be submitted with the application for a new environmental authority.
- the annual fee for an environmental authority will become payable on the first anniversary after granting of at least one mining tenement related to the environmental authority.
- where an environmental authority has been amended to form part of an amalgamated environmental authority—and the application is received on or after 1 March 2011 but before 2 November 2012—all annual fees and late fees paid for the extinguished environmental authority will be refunded back to 1 January 2009. Where annual fees and late fees have not been paid for the extinguished environmental authority, outstanding invoices for the above period will be cancelled. A fact sheet (PDF, 632K)* on amalgamating environmental authorities is available which provides further information.
A fact sheet (PDF, 630K)* about level 2 environmental authorities (mining activities) and a fact sheet (PDF, 629K)* about level 2 environmental authorities (greenhouse gas and petroleum activities) annual returns and fees is available. These fact sheets provide information about where to lodge annual returns and how the annual fee can be paid. If you wish to pay in person please visit a DERM business centre.
Applications for environmental authorities (mining activities) for level 1 and 2 mining projects
Applications for environmental authorities (mining activities) are submitted to the District Mining Registrar, Queensland Mines and Energy, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation.
An application for an environmental authority (mining activities) for a level 1 mining project must be accompanied by a site-specific environmental management plan. Level 1 mining projects are listed in schedule 6, column 1 of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008. Mining activities for level 1 mining projects may be undertaken on exploration permits, mineral development licences and mining leases issued under the Mineral Resources Act 1989.
A level 2 mining project has a lower risk of causing environmental harm and will be authorised by either a code compliant or a non-code compliant environmental authority (mining activities).
An applicant for a code compliant environmental authority (mining activities) for a level 2 mining project must certify that all mining activities proposed to be carried out under the authority can comply with the standard environmental conditions in the relevant code of environmental compliance. An applicant for a non-code compliant environmental authority (mining activities) for a level 2 mining project must supply enough information in support of the application to allow DERM to decide the application.
All mining activities conducted on prospecting permits and mining claims are level 2 mining projects. Other exploration, mineral development and mining activities that meet the criteria for low environmental impact prescribed in sections 30 to 32 of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008 may also be level 2 mining projects.
Application forms, guidelines and other information relating to environmental authorities for mining projects are available.
Pre-design/pre-lodgement meeting
Applicants are encouraged to enter into pre-design/pre-lodgement discussions with DERM before lodging a formal application through the mining registrar. These discussions allow applicants to clarify information that will be required to assess an application and the process for obtaining approvals.
For more details refer to the Pre-design/pre-lodgement meeting page.
This service can be initiated by contacting Permit and Licence Management or by email at palm@derm.qld.gov.au or completing and submitting a Pre-design/pre-lodgement meeting application form.
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Last updated 19 December 2011