Webinar on Thursday 8 September 

We are holding a webinar on Thursday 8 September to assist industry with the submission of forecast disturbance and rehabilitation data.

The purpose of this webinar is to discuss these issues with industry and explain the solutions that need to be implemented to ensure that spatial data is submitted correctly and that rehabilitation statistics accurately reflect what is forecast for each mine.
  
We've been reviewing spatial data that has been submitted by mining companies under the new provisions of Schedule 8A of the Mining Regulation 2016. As part of its review, the Regulator has identified issues with the submission of forecast data that has implications for the progressive mining and rehabilitation statistics that are being calculated in the Forward Program (including the rehabilitation key performance indicators).

The webinar will be held on Thursday 8 September from 10am to 11.30am. Register here. 

Forecast data update 

What if there is no forecast data (spatial data) to submit for a particular year(s) required as part of the Forward Program submission?

There may be instances depending on the type of mining operation where there will be no forecast spatial data in terms of disturbance and or rehabilitation for a part of or entire three year Forward Program period. Where this is the case, there is no requirement to submit spatial data for the Forward Program into the Mine Rehabilitation Portal.
To enable the Forward Program to be submitted via the Resources Regulator’s Portal where no spatial data is submitted into the Mine Rehabilitation Portal, titleholders are required to send an email to nswresourcesregulator@service-now.com with the following information:

• Name of mine
• Forward Program number
• Details of which year(s) of the Forward Program will have no proposed disturbance and or rehabilitation data submitted into the Mine Rehabilitation Portal

Furthermore, the titleholder will be required to provide details in the Forward Program on-line form to justify why there are no disturbance or rehabilitation activities proposed.

Once the title holder (or authorised representative) has sent the email with the required information as outlined above, the Regulator will turn off the functionality within the Forward Program on-line form that prevents the form being submitted until the spatial data has been submitted via the Mine Rehabilitation Portal.

Once the Regulator has turned off this functionality, the title holder will be informed that the Forward Program on-line form can be submitted once all other mandatory sections have been completed.

Portal updates

The Resources Regulator Portal has been updated with new online forms to assist with the implementation of the standard conditions on mining leases introduced on 1 July 2022 through Schedule 8A of the Mining Regulation 2016. Holders of mining leases can use the Regulator Portal to lodge, monitor and track progress all Mining Act applications.  Using the Portal will reduce administrative burden leading to enhanced efficiencies and assessment timeframes.  The following new online forms relating to the new standard conditions for mining leases have been developed:

• NEW - Register mine / multiple leases (TICON)  
• NEW - Nominate contact person (NCP)
• NEW - Amending Reporting / Submission Dates and Extension Request (ARD)
• NEW - Submit Forward Program (FWP)
• NEW - Annual Rehabilitation Report (ARR)
• NEW - Rehabilitation Objectives (ROBJ)
• NEW - Rehabilitation Completion Criteria (RCC)

• Assessable Prospecting Operation (APO) applications, including the required Rehabilitation Cost Estimate (previously Form ESF4)
• Rehabilitation Completion / Annual Report (REH) form. Using this form explorers can now:
  • lodge Rehabilitation Completion applications (with or without a change to the rehabilitation security)
  • submit annual Environmental and Rehabilitation Compliance Reports (ERCR)
  • lodge Rehabilitation Completion applications for expired exploration titles where there has been no surface disturbance.
• Rehabilitation Cost Estimate (RCE) submissions (which are not part of an APO or REH application).

• Statements of Compliance, Environmental Performance and Financial History (SOCH) forms to accompany exploration and mining title applications.
• Reporting non-compliances with regard to exploration and/or mining operations

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions on implementation of the New Standard Rehabilitation Conditions on Mining Leases for Large Mines.

Click here for information about Exploration in NSW, including what relevant forms are available via the Portal such as exploration activity approvals, exploration rehabilitation completion and exploration reporting.

If you do not have your Titleholder’s QR code to access the Regulator Portal or require any assistance, please contact us by emailing nswresourcesregulator@service-now.com or calling 1300 814 609 (option 2, then 5).

Suspension of Exploration Licence No. 9155 – Shree Minerals Ltd

The Resources Regulator issued a direction dated 28 June 2022 to Shree Minerals Ltd (SML) to immediately suspend all operations under Exploration Licence No. 9155, with the exception of those activities required to maintain a safe workplace. The grounds for suspension related to a failure to comply with the exploration activity approval (Activity Approval) granted by the Resources Regulator and included the following:

• Failure to comply with safeguards – Aboriginal heritage sites;
• Unapproved clearing of vegetation; and
• Failure to have sediment and erosion controls.

A copy of the suspension notice is available on our website.
 
Consideration will be given to revoking the suspension notice once SML has:

• Commissioned a suitably qualified independent person to conduct a review of the licence holder’s systems and processes for meeting its compliance obligations under the Mining Act 1992
• Commissioned a suitably qualified independent person to conduct an ecological review and assessment of the vegetation community within Project Area 1 identified in the application, with particular emphasis on the significance of the site in terms of the floral and faunal components.
• Submitted a detailed report, to the satisfaction of the NSW Resources Regulator, that details the key findings, recommendations and corrective actions required by SML arising from the reviews undertaken at points a) and b) above.
• Submitted a detailed report, to the satisfaction of the Regulator, that details SML’s intended responses to the sediment and erosion issued and rehabilitation requirements resulting from the works undertaken under the Activity Approval.
• Applied for and been granted from Heritage NSW, an Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP) in response to the work already undertaken, the remaining work approved under the Activity Approval, and any other work otherwise required to be undertaken under the Activity Approval, including rehabilitation.