DPI Update (Issue 46)

By on August 17, 2009

JOHN MITAS, DPI Chief Inspector of Mines and Quarries reports on the latest changes to extractive industry regulations.

CHANGES TO MINERALS AND EXTRACTIVES REGULATIONS

New Regulations for Victoria’s extractive industries

The current Extractive Industries Development Regulations 2007 will ‘sunset’ or expire in May 2010. New regulations, the Mineral Resources (Extractive Industries) Regulations 2010, are currently being developed to coincide with the regulation of extractive industries under an amended Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990.

A Regulatory Impact Statement for each of the above sets of Regulations will be prepared and is expected to be released, along with a draft of relevant regulations in late September 2009. There will be a 28 day public consultation period, during which written submissions may be made to DPI.

The Regulatory Impact Statement and draft Regulations will be available at the following websites: www.vcec.vic.gov.au and www.dpi.vic.gov.au

NEW REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR MINERALS AND EXTRACTIVES INDUSTRIES

The new regulations will include some new reporting requirements for all mines and quarries, with additional reporting requirements for ‘declared mines or quarries’. The reporting requirements are being introduced to manage significant risks to public safety, infrastructure and the environment and are part of the Government Response to the Yallourn mine batter collapse.

Reporting requirements for all mines and quarries

All mines and quarries will be required to advise DPI about any reportable events that occur at their worksites. Details of what constitutes a ‘reportable event’ will be contained in the amended minerals and new extractive industries regulations referred to above.

Initial reports must be made to DPI as soon as practicable aft er the event occurs, and a more detailed written report must be provided at a later date. DPI must be advised of the details of the event, the cause of the event and the steps taken to minimise the impact of the event and details of actions taken or proposed to be taken to prevent a recurrence of the event.

Reporting Requirements for declared mines and quarries

Mine and quarries which are found to be a significant risk to public safety, the environment or infrastructure will be able to be declared by the Minister. Declared mines will initially be the three Latrobe Valley coal mines. No quarries are proposed to be declared at this time. Other mines or quarries could be declared in the future if there are geotechnical or hydrogeological factors within the mine or quarry that pose a significant risk to public safety, the environment or infrastructure.

Declared mines or quarries will be subject to additional risk management obligations and reporting requirements in order to manage identifi ed geotechnical and hydrogeological risks. Declared mines or quarries will be required to provide six monthly reports to DPI about mine or quarry stability.

Declared mines or quarries will also be required to include a stability plan as part of their work plan, in order to manage and monitor identifi ed geotechnical and hydrogeological risks.

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