Environmental impact assessment
If your proposed exploration, mining or extractive activity could have a significant impact on the environment, you must refer it to the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) for an environmental impact assessment (EIA).
An EIA is regulated under the:
It is only required if the NT EPA decides that the proposal has the potential to have a significant impact on the environment.
The community can make written comments on proposals at various stages of the EIA process.
Referring a proposed mining activity
Once an activity is referred, the NT EPA assesses the risk to the environment and associated significant impacts.
If it is assessed as not having a significant impact, you can proceed to apply for an environmental mining licence.
If the NT EPA decides your activity needs assessment, you can still apply for an environmental mining licence, but it can't be granted until after the Minister for Environment grants environmental approval.
For guidelines, policies and more information on EIAs, go to the NT EPA website.
Matters of national environmental significance
If any proposed exploration, mining or extractive activity is likely to have an impact on a matter of national environmental significance, it must be referred to the Australian Government for assessment.
Matters of national environmental significance are defined by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and include:
- world heritage properties
- national heritage places
- wetlands of international importance (often called Ramsar wetlands after the international treaty under which such wetlands are listed)
- nationally threatened species and ecological communities
- migratory species
- Commonwealth marine areas
- the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
- nuclear actions including uranium mining
- a water resource in relation to coal seam gas development and large coal mining development.
If your proposal is assessed by the Australian Government as likely to have a significant impact on any of the above, it will need further assessment and approval before you can proceed.
To read the guidelines for determining whether an action is likely to have a significant impact, go to the Australian Government's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website.
Contact
For more information, contact the Mines branch.