Queensland Mining Approvals IndexMining Capital Funds

Data as at 14 September 2026 · from the Queensland EP Act public register

Standard conditions · Current

ESR/2016/1985 · Eligibility criteria and standard conditions for exploration and mineral development projects

ESR/2016/1985: Eligibility criteria and standard conditions for exploration and mineral development projects (current). 43 conditions, adopted by reference in 448 live Queensland environmental authorities.

Document
Departmental PDF
Status
Current
Adopted by
448 live authorities

Conditions

  1. A1

    The holder of the environmental authority must submit the required amount of financial assurance to the administering authority prior to carrying out any activities on the mining tenement. If the activities that are being carried out by the holder of the environmental authority are altered so as to cause a change in the category of total area of disturbance shown in Appendix 4 - Form 3: Schedule of Rehabilitation Costs, the holder of the environmental authority must submit an application to amend their financial assurance to the administering authority. If an application is lodged to transfer the environmental authority to another person or company, the proposed transferee must submit the required financial assurance prior to the transfer taking effect. Note 1 - Financial assurance must be calculated in accordance with Form 3: Schedule of Rehabilitation Costs in Appendix 4 of this environmental authority. Note 2 - Chapter 5, Part 12, Division 2 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 requires that the holder of the environmental authority gives the administering authority a financial assurance in a form acceptable to the administering authority. When necessary, the holder of the environmental authority must submit an application to amend their financial assurance under section 302 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994. The holder of the environmental authority must lodge a single financial assurance with the District Mining Registrar, Department of Natural Resources and Mines. The financial assurance will consist of two components: rehabilitating areas disturbed by mining activities should the environmental authority holder failure to do so; and (ii) An amount to cover the potential costs to the Department of Natural Resources and Mines of restoring property improvements disturbed by mining activities and the failure of the tenure holder to pay rents and royalties. Land disturbance

    page 4Rehabilitation
  2. A2

    The holder of the environmental authority must ensure that the area and duration of disturbance to land and vegetation is minimised. Not more than 1000m2 can be disturbed at any one location, excluding campsites. Note 3 - To minimise the area and duration of disturbance to land and vegetation the following measures or similar measures can be used: - avoid disturbing large and/or mature trees; - select specific trees to be cleared and avoid causing damage to surrounding vegetation; - where practical leave the rootstock intact to promote regeneration and regrowth. Note 4 - Before carrying out activities on the tenement refer to the Technical Guideline `Good Relations with Landowners' and the Department of Mines and Energy Code of Conduct, `Procedure for Sound Landholder/Explorer Relations'. Eligibility criteria and standard conditions for exploration and mineral development projects Air quality

    page 4Air, Biodiversity
  3. A3

    The holder of the environmental authority must not cause an unreasonable release of dust. Note 5 - To prevent the unreasonable release of dust, the following measures or similar measures can be used: - altering work practices to avoid or minimise the generation of dust; - scheduling activities for times when they will have least impact; - spraying water on roads and tracks; - revegetating disturbed areas as soon as practicable; - leaving or creating wind breaks or screening; and - installing pollution control equipment (e.g. fitting bag filters or a cyclone to dust generating equipment). Noise emissions

    page 5Air, Noise and vibration
  4. A4

    The holder of the environmental authority must not cause unreasonable noise at a noise sensitive place. Note 6 - To prevent causing unreasonable noise at a noise sensitive place the following measures or similar measures can be used: - construct and maintain noise barriers and enclosures around noisy equipment or along the noise transmission path; - implement noise reduction measures at noise sensitive places; - provide and maintain low noise equipment; - carry out routine maintenance on fans to minimise bearing noise; - repair or replace defective mufflers of vehicles and plant with suitable effective mufflers; and - limit the hours of operation of the project to between the hours of 7am to 6pm Monday to Saturday. Note 7 - If aircraft are being used for mining activities operate them so as to minimise disturbance to livestock (e.g. helicopters). Erosion and Sediment Control

    page 5Noise and vibration, Land and soil
  5. A5

    The holder of the environmental authority must design, install and maintain adequate banks and/or diversion drains to minimise the potential for storm water runoff to enter disturbed areas.

    page 5
  6. A6

    The holder of the environmental authority must design, install and maintain adequate erosion and sediment control structures wherever necessary to prevent or minimise erosion of disturbed areas and the sedimentation of any watercourse, waterway, wetland or lake. Note 8 - When designing and constructing sediment ponds refer to the "Engineering Guidelines for Queensland Construction Sites" Soil Erosion and Sediment Control. Note 9 - Regularly clean out sediment traps, ponds and drains and maintain them in effective working order, until erosion stability has been achieved in disturbed areas. Note 10 - The capacity of sediment traps, ponds, drains and banks should not be reduced below 70% of their design capacity. Eligibility criteria and standard conditions for exploration and mineral development projects Topsoils and overburden management

    page 5Surface water, Land and soil
  7. A7

    The holder of the environmental authority must ensure that topsoil is removed and stockpiled prior to carrying out any mining activity. Prevent or minimise the mixing and erosion of topsoil and overburden stockpiles. Note 11 - To separate topsoil and overburden and to prevent or minimise the erosion of these stockpiles the following measures or similar measures can be used: - identify topsoil and overburden layers before stripping topsoil; - store topsoil and overburden in separate stockpiles; - install silt fences or bunding around the stockpiles; - where practical reuse topsoil stockpiles within 12 months; - establish and maintain a temporary cover crop on stockpiles; and - limit the height of topsoil stockpiles to 2 metres. Hazardous contaminants

    page 6Waste, Land and soil
  8. A8

    The holder of the environmental authority must plan and conduct activities on site to prevent any potential or actual release of a hazardous contaminant. Note 12 - Section 442 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 makes it an offence to release a prescribed contaminant. A prescribed contaminant is a contaminant prescribed by an Environmental Protection Policy. Note 13 - Section 443 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 makes it an offence to cause or allow a contaminant to be placed in a position where it could reasonably be expected to cause serious or material environmental harm or environmental nuisance.

    page 6Waste
  9. A9

    The holder of the environmental authority must ensure that spills of hazardous contaminants are cleaned up as quickly as practicable. Such spillage must not be cleaned up by hosing, sweeping or otherwise releasing such contaminants to any watercourse, waterway, groundwater, wetland or lake. Note 14 - If a mining lease becomes Significantly Disturbed Land because it is contaminated, it ceases to be significantly disturbed land if a Suitability Statement is issued for the land. Refer to Chapter 7, Part 8 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994. Note 15 - A Site Management Plan approved under Chapter 7, Part 8 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 may be required by the administrating authority for sites recorded on the Environmental Management Register or the Contaminated Land Register. Such sites may include acid producing waste rock stockpiles or tailings dams containing acid producing wastes.

    page 6Groundwater, Surface water, Regulated structures, Waste
  10. A10

    The holder of the environmental authority must, where practical, separate acid producing waste rock from benign waste rock.

    page 6Waste
  11. A11

    The holder of the environmental authority must dispose of acid producing waste rock in an excavation or pit and backfill as soon as practical. Backfill the excavation or pit containing acid producing waste rock with benign, low permeability material and seal the excavation or pit with a compacted capping layer at least 1m thick. Eligibility criteria and standard conditions for exploration and mineral development projects Note 16 - The owner or occupier of a mining lease must notify the administering authority if they become aware that a Notifiable Activity listed in Schedule 4 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994, is being carried out on the land within 30 days, by giving notice to the administering authority in the approved form. For example, an exploration or mineral development project that generates waste materials that contain hazardous contaminants must notify the administrating authority that this activity is being carried out. Refer to section 371 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994. Note 17 - For detailed information on the management of acid mine waste material refer to the "Technical Guidelines for the Environmental Management of Exploration and Mining in Queensland", Part B, `Assessment and Management of Acid Drainage' and the `Guidelines for Sampling and Analysis of Lowland Acid Sulfate Soils (ASS) in Queensland'. Nature conservation

    page 6Waste, Land and soil, Monitoring and reporting
  12. A12

    The holder of the environmental authority must prevent the spread of Declared Plants by ensuring that all vehicles and machinery are adequately cleaned before taking the vehicles and machinery out of a Declared Plant Area. Note 18 - Every precaution should be taken to ensure there is no dispersal of Parthenium weed or the seed of any other declared plant within the meaning of the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002 as a result of mining activities or as a result of access to the area of the mining tenement. Note 19 - The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries provided Pest Fact sheets for declared plants in Queensland as well as clean down procedures for vehicles and machinery working in declared plant areas. For advice on declared plant areas contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries or your Local Government.

    page 7
  13. A13

    The holder of the environmental authority must not carry out activities in a category A or B environmentally sensitive area. Activities involving machinery must not be carried out within 1km of a category A environmentally sensitive area or within 500m of category B environmentally sensitive area. Prior to carrying out activities in a category C environmentally sensitive area, consult with the relevant administering authority and the Environmental Protection Agency. If it is determined through the consultation that additional conditions are necessary, the holder must comply with those conditions. Note 20 - Refer to Appendix 3 - Environmentally sensitive areas.

    page 7
  14. A14

    The holder of the environmental authority must not carry out activities within 100m of a Historical, Archaeological or Ethnographic site. Note 21 - Refer to the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Register established under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 and the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. Prior to carrying out any activities on the mining tenement, the holder of the environmental authority should consult with the administrating authority if a site has the potential to be designated as a historical, archaeological or ethnographic site. Prescribed environmentally relevant activities 1. A15: The holder of the environmental authority must not carry out the following prescribed environmentally relevant activities (ERA) on the mining tenement: ERA 61 Waste incineration and thermal treatment at threshold 1 - incinerating waste vegetation, clean paper or cardboard; 2. ERA 52 Battery Recycling - operating a facility for receiving, and recycling or reprocessing, any type of battery; and Eligibility criteria and standard conditions for exploration and mineral development projects 3. ERA 59 Tyre Recycling - operating a facility on a commercial basis for receiving and recycling or receiving and reprocessing 1000 or more equivalent passenger units of tyres, or parts of tyres, in a year. (The relevant activity does not include retreading tyres). Schedule B - Activity based conditions Roads and tracks

    page 7Waste, Biodiversity
  15. B1

    The holder of the environmental authority must consult with the landowner prior to establishing any new roads and tracks. Note 22 - Refer to the Technical Guidelines in appendix 6 when planning and constructing all new roads and tracks. Note 23 - Repair all damage to existing private roads and tracks resulting from mining activities, so that they are as trafficable as they were prior to any damage.

    page 8
  16. B2

    When constructing new roads and tracks, the holder of the environmental authority must ensure that the area and duration of disturbance to land, vegetation and watercourses is minimised. Note 24 - When planning and constructing new roads and tracks the following measures or similar measures can be used to minimise the area and duration of disturbance of land, vegetation and watercourses: - wherever possible use or upgrade existing roads and tracks; - construct roads and tracks along natural grades; - minimise the width of roads and tracks; - minimise the number of crossings in riverine areas; - construct crossings in riverine areas in a stable section of the bed; - avoid constructing roads or tracks that run straight down the bank to the crossing; - do not disadvantage other users of existing public roads & tracks; - construct a bed level causeway, a culvert or a bridge where natural bed conditions within a watercourse will not carry the intended traffic load or where crossing of the bed will generate a significant increase in turbidity; - minimise the number of cuts and fills in riverine areas; - position cuts and fills in riverine areas to minimise risk of erosion from subsequent flood events; - position crossings to prevent flow being directed towards the banks and provide erosion resistance to the bed and banks downstream of a crossing for a distance equal to the width of the normal flow channel; - do not create any downstream or upstream drops at the lip of culverts or causeways; - regularly clean out culverts, bridges and causeways to prevent flow being impeded or redirected; and - construct in-stream crossings outside of main fish migration periods. Eligibility criteria and standard conditions for exploration and mineral development projects Campsites

    page 8Surface water, Land and soil, Biodiversity
  17. B3

    The holder of the environmental authority must consult with the landowner prior to establishing any campsites.

    page 9
  18. B4

    When establishing a campsite, the holder of the environmental authority must ensure that the area and duration of disturbance to land, vegetation and watercourses is minimised. Note 25 - When establishing and maintaining campsites the following measures or similar measures can be used to minimise the area and duration of disturbance to land, vegetation and watercourses: - locate campsites at least 100m from any riverine areas; - only disturb the minimum area necessary for the safe functioning of the campsite; - install an appropriate human waste disposal facility (e.g. portable self-contained toilets, pit toilets, septic tanks); - use absorption trenches, transpiration beds or spray irrigation to dispose of grey water; and - locate all disposal areas at least 100m distance from any watercourse, waterway, groundwater recharge area, wetland or lake. Note 26 - With regard to on site waste water management refer to the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2008. Waste management

    page 9Groundwater, Surface water, Waste, Biodiversity
  19. B5

    The holder of the environmental authority must not directly or indirectly release waste from the project area to any watercourse, waterway, groundwater, wetland or lake. Note 27 - When managing waste materials the following strategy should be adopted: - avoid creating excess waste; - reuse waste materials; - recycle waste; - create and utilise energy from waste; - treat waste; and - dispose of waste (e.g. provide rubbish containers on site). Note 28 - Where practicable take all General Waste to a Licensed General Waste Disposal Facility.

    page 9Groundwater, Surface water, Waste
  20. B6

    The holder of the environmental authority must not dispose of more than 50 tonnes of general waste on the mining tenement per year. Note 29 -The holder of the environmental authority may bury up to 50 tonnes of general waste on the mining tenement per year. When burying general waste the following measures or similar measures should be used: - locate the waste pit so as to ensure that the waste will not contaminate any watercourse, waterway, groundwater, wetland or lake; - divert stormwater runoff from entering the pit; - crush drums and other containers to reduce the volume of waste; Eligibility criteria and standard conditions for exploration and mineral development projects - make the pit safe and protect it from scavengers; - backfill the pit when the level of rubbish in the pit is not less than 1m below the surface; and - sufficiently overfill the pit to allow for settlement. Note 30 - The holder of the environmental authority may dispose of limited regulated waste to a licensed general waste disposal facility provided the annual volume of limited regulated waste does not exceed 10% of the annual volume of general waste (e.g. tyres). Service, Maintenance and Storage Areas

    page 9Groundwater, Surface water, Waste
  21. B7

    The holder of the environmental authority must not directly or indirectly release fuels, oils, lubricants or other contaminants to any watercourse, waterway, groundwater, wetland or lake. Note 31 - To prevent the direct or indirect release of fuels, lubricants or other contaminants to any watercourse, waterway, groundwater, wetland or lake the following measures or similar measures can be used: - maintain all refuelling equipment in good working order; - use groundsheets or drip trays to capture spillage during maintenance of machinery and vehicles; - locate all fuel storages within an impermeable bund; - ensure all liquid containment, including fuel tank bunds and process water ponds, have a volume at least equal to the design volume plus an additional 10% of that volume; and - where practical, undertake all refuelling and routine maintenance of vehicles within designated service areas.

    page 10Groundwater, Surface water
  22. B10

    The holder of the environmental authority must ensure that all chemical, fuel and oil storage facilities less than 10 000L on a mining tenement, must be designed and operated in accordance with Australian Standard 1940 - `The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids', Section 2, Minor Storage.

    page 10
  23. B11

    The holder of the environmental authority must ensure that: 1. all chemical, fuel and oil storage facilities of more than 10 000L on a mining tenement, must be bunded to contain at least one hundred percent of the volume of the largest container, plus twenty-five percent of the storage capacity of the largest container up to a maximum of 10,000L, together with ten percent of the storage capacity beyond 10,000L; and 2. the facility must be operated and maintained in accordance with the Australian Standard 1940 - "The Storage and Handling of flammable and combustible liquids". Drilling, Excavating and Sampling

    page 10
  24. B12

    The holder of the environmental authority must ensure: 1. all marker pegs are marked with contrasting colour so as to be clearly visible; 2. all marker pegs are removed from the tenement at the completion of exploration activities; 3. all permanent markers (example, concrete plugs or steel plates) are installed at ground level and made safe.

    page 10
  25. B13

    When drilling, excavating or sampling, the holder of the environmental authority must ensure that the area and duration of disturbance to land and vegetation is minimised. Eligibility criteria and standard conditions for exploration and mineral development projects Note 32 - When drilling, excavating or sampling the following measures or similar measures can be used to minimise the area and duration of disturbance to land and vegetation: - consider seasonal influences, such as rainfall before excavating or establishing a drill site; - construct drill pads no larger than necessary to safely accommodate the drilling rigs and ancillary equipment; - use excavators or backhoes wherever possible in preference to bulldozers; and - use drilling fluids and other process fluids which are non-toxic. Note 33 - Prior to working in riverine areas refer to the "Technical Guidelines for the Environmental Management of Mining and Exploration in Queensland", Part B, "Exploration and Mining in Watercourses". Note 34 - Install and maintain adequate warning signs, fences and rock bunds to exclude people, livestock and native animals from excavations and shafts. Note 35 - Provide safe access to water for livestock and native animals by: - providing hard surfaces around water storage areas; and - fencing off any soft areas around the edge of water storage areas.

    page 10Surface water, Biodiversity
  26. B14

    The holder of the environmental authority must not drill, excavate or clear vegetation: 1. in standing waters, wetlands or lakes; or 2. on the sloped banks or within 3m of the top of the bank or 5m of the toe of the bank; or 3. within, or on the levee banks of the normal flow channel. Note 36 - For representative diagrams that define the different landform elements that make up a watercourse refer to Figure 1 - Cross Section Through a Watercourse and Figure 2 - Plan View of a Watercourse.

    page 11Surface water, Regulated structures, Biodiversity
  27. B15

    The holder of the environmental authority must not directly or indirectly release wastewater to any watercourse, waterway, groundwater, wetland or lake. Note 37 - To prevent the direct or indirect release of waste water to any watercourse, waterway or groundwater, wetland or lake the following measures or similar measures can be used: - where practical recycle all waste water (e.g. recycle waste water for drilling water); - use waste water for dust suppression; - discharge waste water onto benign overburden or waste rock heaps for absorption; and - discharge wastewater to an evaporation pond. Note 38 - With regard to the on site management of water refer to the Environmental Protection (Water) Policy 2008. Eligibility criteria and standard conditions for exploration and mineral development projects Exploration drill holes

    page 11Groundwater, Surface water, Air, Waste
  28. B16

    The holder of the environmental authority must decommission all non-artesian drill holes, apart from those still required for monitoring purposes as soon as practical, but no later than 6 months after the hole was drilled by undertaking the following actions: 1. where practical dispose of all unused drill chips to the hole or to a sump pit and; 2. cap the hole at a depth that is appropriate for the previous land use of the area (unless the land owner stipulates a future use which requires the cap to be placed deeper); and 3. backfill the hole above the cap with soil or material similar to the surrounding soil or material. Note 39 - The following depths are considered as appropriate for capping: - surface level in rock outcrops; and - at least 1m below the surface on land used for cropping; and - at least 300 mm below the surface on other land.

    page 12Land and soil, Monitoring and reporting
  29. B17

    The holder of the environmental authority must isolate non-artesian aquifers where a drill hole intersects more than one water bearing strata by casing or plugging the hole as soon as practical after the hole is no longer required, but no later than 2 months after the hole was drilled, apart from those holes that are still required for monitoring purposes if: 1. the flow difference between aquifers exceeds 500 L/hour; and 2. the difference in electrical conductivity of water is greater than 10% of the lower value.

    page 12Groundwater, Monitoring and reporting
  30. B18

    Conditions 16 and 17 do not apply to a non-artesian exploration drill hole if: 1. the land owner and the explorer have agreed that it should be left for conversion to a water bore; and 2. the landowner gives a written undertaking to accept responsibility for the hole; and 3. the details of the agreement and the drill hole (such as its GPS location and the drill logs showing the water bearing strata and flow rates) are provided to the Department of Natural Resources and Mines within 30 days of the land owner giving the undertaking; and 4. the hole is temporarily capped so as to prevent possible ingress of surface waters and associated sediments and pollutants. Note 40 - Drill holes that are to be converted to a water bore must be done so by a licensed water bore driller.

    page 12Groundwater, Surface water, Land and soil
  31. B19

    The holder of the environmental authority must ensure that exploration drill holes that strike artesian flows of water that exceeds 500 L/hour for seven days must be either: 1. decommissioned as soon as practical, but no later than 1 month after the hole was drilled, apart from holes that are still required for monitoring or evaluation purposes. Refer to Report No. SW4 - "Minimum Construction Requirements for Water Bores in Australia", (ARMCANZ 1997); or 2. capped to allow for future conversion into a controlled artesian bore by a licensed water bore driller; or 3. converted into a controlled artesian bore by a licensed water bore driller, provided that: (a) the land owner has undertaken in writing to accept responsibility for the drill hole; and (b) the explorer provides details of the agreement and the drill hole to the Department of Natural Eligibility criteria and standard conditions for exploration and mineral development projects Resources and Mines within 30 days of obtaining the landowner's agreement. Note 41 - Provisions apply under the Water Act 2000 with respect to the utilisation of ground water from boreholes in Proclaimed Areas (which include all Artesian Basin areas) and the rehabilitation of boreholes.

    page 12Rehabilitation, Groundwater, Monitoring and reporting
  32. B20

    The holder of the environmental authority must ensure that exploration drill holes that are to be retained for future mineral resource evaluation purposes are cased and capped. Holes to be retained for more than three years must be capped with steel casing and appropriately identified. Gridlines and Geophysical Surveys

    page 13
  33. B21

    The holder of the environmental authority must plan and determine the final position of gridlines and geophysical lines in consultation with the landowner.

    page 13
  34. B22

    When constructing gridlines and geophysical lines, the holder of the environmental authority must ensure that the area and duration of disturbance to land and vegetation is minimised. Note 42 - When constructing gridlines and geophysical lines the following measures or similar measures can be used to ensure that the area and duration of disturbance to land and vegetation is minimised: - conduct surveying of gridlines on foot; - use existing gates, tracks, roads and seismic lines; - before deciding on the location of new seismic lines, record the location of all underground or surface pipelines, cables, power lines, etc. and avoid these areas; - in planning for drilling and sampling activities, where possible, ensure the activities occur at least 100m from riverine areas; - construct seismic lines that do not exceed the width necessary to safely undertake the survey; - use Global Positioning Systems (GPS), or other techniques, to reduce the need for line of sight clearing; - maintain buffer widths of at least 25m between all disturbed areas; - minimise the use of bulldozers and excavators when cutting gridlines and/or seismic lines; and - notify landowners at least 24 hours prior to detonating seismic explosives. Monitoring, reporting and emergency response procedures

    page 13Biodiversity, Monitoring and reporting
  35. B23

    The holder of the environmental authority must record and notify the administering authority of any emergency or incident which demonstrates non-compliance with the standard environmental conditions. Note 43 - A notification of any emergency or incident which demonstrates non-compliance to the standard environmental conditions cannot be used in evidence in any further action taken by the administrating authority as a result of the notification. Note 44 - To demonstrate ongoing compliance with the standard environmental conditions, the holder complete Form 1, `Monitoring and Record Keeping Summary' and establish programs to monitor project activities and maintain monitoring records for review by the administrating authority. Note 45 - To demonstrate compliance complete Form 2, `Emergency Response Table'. Provide and maintain appropriate emergency response equipment and inform all operational personnel, contractors and visitors of emergency procedures Eligibility criteria and standard conditions for exploration and mineral development projects Note 46 - Observe the provisions and regulations under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 and the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999. Rehabilitation

    page 13Rehabilitation, Monitoring and reporting
  36. B24

    In Riverine Areas, the holder of the environmental authority must complete the Rehabilitation Processes on all areas disturbed by mining activities, apart from those areas currently being utilised for mining activities, as soon as practical and prior to the onset of the wet season. Note 47 - Condition B24 is to ensure that there is adequate erosion protection in riverine areas prior to the onset of the wet season. In Queensland the wet season is generally considered to be from November to April each year.

    page 14Rehabilitation, Land and soil
  37. B25

    For all other areas on the mining tenement, the holder of the environmental authority must complete the rehabilitation processes on all areas disturbed by mining activities, apart from those areas currently being utilised for mining activities, as soon as practical and at least within six months of the completion of works in those areas. Note 48 - Where practical undertake progressive rehabilitation of disturbed areas.

    page 14Rehabilitation
  38. B26

    The holder of the environmental authority must backfill all excavations, drill holes or sampling sites as soon as practical following the completion of exploration activities.

    page 14
  39. B27

    Condition B26 does not apply to any excavations, drill holes or sampling sites that are to remain after the completion of exploration activities, by agreement with the land owner.

    page 14
  40. B28

    The holder of the environmental authority must rehabilitate areas disturbed by mining activities to a stable landform similar to that of surrounding undisturbed areas. Note 49 - When rehabilitating disturbed areas refer to the "Technical Guidelines for the Environmental Management of Mining and Exploration in Queensland", Part D, `Geo-technical Slope Stability'.

    page 14Rehabilitation
  41. B29

    The holder of the environmental authority must spread seeds or plant species that will promote vegetation of a similar species and density of cover to that of the surrounding undisturbed areas or vegetation that is appropriate for providing erosion control and stabilisation of the disturbed areas. Note 50 - To revegetate disturbed areas the following measures or similar measures can be used: - for areas which have become compacted during the project, break up the soil surface to a depth - that is suitable for establishing vegetation; and - spread stockpiled topsoil over disturbed areas to a depth that is suitable as a rooting medium for - the revegetation process; and - provide suitable nutrient conditions for planting by using fertiliser if necessary; and - collect and store native seeds to be used in rehabilitation. Note 51 - When revegetating disturbed areas, the holder of the environmental authority should plant native species endemic to the area and location in the landscape (e.g. if clearing has occurred in a riverine area, revegetate the disturbed area using local riverine species). Note 52 - Vegetation used to provide erosion protection and stabilise disturbed areas in the short term should be comprised of sterile, short-lived species (e.g. a cover crop). However, the long term aim of revegetating any Eligibility criteria and standard conditions for exploration and mineral development projects disturbed area is to establish a stable vegetation community that is similar to that of the surrounding undisturbed areas or endemic species. Note 53 - The environmental authority holder is not liable for rehabilitating disturbed areas that existed prior to the grant of the tenure unless those areas are disturbed during the term of the tenure.

    page 14Rehabilitation, Land and soil, Biodiversity
  42. B30

    For any Mine Infrastructure to remain after all mining activities have ceased, the holder of the environmental authority must obtain the written agreement of the land owner stating they will take over responsibility for that infrastructure.

    page 15
  43. B31

    The holder of the environmental authority must complete rehabilitation of disturbed areas to the satisfaction of the administrating authority. Note 54 - Condition B31 is a requirement of the Environmental Protection Act 1994. The environmental authority holder must submit a Final Rehabilitation Report (FRR) and a compliance statement prior to the cancellation or expiry of the mining tenement. The surrender of the environmental authority will not be granted until the administrating authority has accepted the FRR and the compliance statement. Eligibility criteria and standard conditions for exploration and mineral development projects Appendix 1: General obligations under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 Responsibilities under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 Separate to the requirements of standard conditions, the holder of the environmental authority must also meet their obligations under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, and the regulations made under that Act. For example, the holder must be aware of the following provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1994. General environmental duty Section 319 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 states that we all have a general environmental duty. This means that we are all responsible for the actions we take that affect the environment. We must not carry out any activity that causes or is likely to cause environmental harm unless we take all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent or minimise the harm. To decide what meets your general environmental duty, you need to think about these issues: - the nature of the harm or potential harm - the sensitivity of the receiving environment - the current state of technical knowledge for the activity - the likelihood of the successful application of the different measures to prevent or minimise environmental harm that might be taken - the financial implications of the different measures as they would relate to the type of activity. It is not an offence not to comply with the general environmental duty, however maintaining your general environmental duty is a defence against the following acts: (a) an act that causes serious or material environmental harm or an environmental nuisance (b) an act that contravenes a noise standard (c) a deposit of a contaminant, or release of stormwater run-off, mentioned in section 440ZG. More information Duty to notify Section 320 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 explains the duty to notify. The duty to notify applies to all persons and requires a person or company to give notice where serious or material environmental harm is caused or threatened. Notice must be given of the event, its nature and the circumstances in which the event happened. Notification can be verbal, written or by public notice depending on who is notifying and being notified. The duty to notify arises where: - a person carries out activities or becomes aware of an act of another person arising from or connected to

    page 15Rehabilitation, Surface water, Noise and vibration, Biodiversity, Monitoring and reporting

Authorities adopting these conditions