Mineral

The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) carries prime responsibility for regulating mineral and petroleum exploration and development activities in Western Australia. In addition to administering titles systems and regulating for worker safety and management of dangerous goods, the role of DMP also includes regulating the environmental impacts and responsible closure of mining, petroleum and geothermal activities. The resources sector in Western Australia has demonstrated its capacity to evolve and develop. At the same time, DMP has maintained a focus on ensuring that its regulatory framework, and the administrative practices it employs, are contemporary and in keeping with the principles of best practice regulations. DMP has a targeted strategy to implement best practice for each regulatory activity. The Department has dedicated resources to research and work with stakeholders to identify the procedures, systems and legislative changes that may be required to deliver on this strategy. The proposed reforms to Mining Proposals discussed within this paper are one aspect of this strategy – assisting DMP to implement an objective and risk-based regulatory framework, improve regulatory effectiveness and remove unnecessary duplication from the approval processes. The proposed changes will provide certainty to the mining industry and reassure the broader community that the environment is being appropriately managed by the resource sector of Western Australia. This consultation paper is open for public comment until 5:00pm, 31 October 2014. I encourage you to read this paper and to submit your comments on the proposed reforms to Mining Proposals