Original EA Amendment

Table 16. Standard Criteria Assessment

Standard Criteria

Application Response

The following principles of environmental policy as set out in the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment- (i) The precautionary principle

The potential impacts to environmental values have been fully identified. Mitigation and management measures for reducing environmental harm for unavoidable impact to some environmental values have been proposed. The precautionary principle has been utlilised when determining the appropriate tailings/water management strategy. The requirement to increase storage capacity through operation of the Upper Mundic Gully TSF provides greater resilience against climatic extremes and reduces potential overtopping risk that may impact on the receiving environment to ALARP. The proposed amendment does not significantly impact intergenerational equity. The Mount Morgan Mine remediation and rehabilitation strategy, administered by the State, relies on latent tailings and waste rock removal and reprocessing. Heritage Minerals have entered into a commercial agreement with the State to undertake the tailings recovery through the Phase 2 agreement. The Mount Morgan Mine site has been discharging mine affected water into receiving environments for decades and removal of contaminant sources by Heritage Minerals is fundamental to the State’s cleanup strategy. Construction of the Upper Mundic Gully TSF provides greater resilience against climatic extremes and reduces potential overtopping risks. The Upper Mundic Gully TSF footprint is highly modified and surrounded by previous authorised mining disturbances that have reduced environmental values. The proposed amendment relating to the Upper Mundic Gully TSF construction in a previously disturbed area will not result in a net increase in disturbance. Unavoidable impact to two flora species will occur however implementation of management plans will reduce environmental impacts. The following legislation and Government documents have been consulted: Environmental Protection Act 1994 Environmental Protection Regulation 2019 Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Eligibility criteria and standard condition for mineral development projects This supporting information report has been provided to the administering authority contains all relevant justifications and technical studies to support Upper Mundic TSF project approvals Acknowledging the long standing and widespread environmental harm at the site as a result of previous mining activities, appropriate mitigation and management measure have been proposed to retain and improve the values of the receiving environment where possible. This application will not be submitted for public notification however the project and associated tailings/water management is discussed at quarterly forums held with stakeholders within the Mount Morgan township and with the DNRMMRRD as the underlying landholder and administrator of the AMLP The Environmental Authority has been considered and most of the existing conditions relating to Air, Water, Noise and Vibration, Waste, Land, Community and Regulated Structures are considered to remain sufficient for the protection of environmental values. Proposed modifications to the EA relate to conditioning for the Upper Mundic Gully TSF and minor administrative changes

(ii) Intergenerational equity

(iii) Conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity; and

Any Commonwealth or State government plans, standards, agreements or requirements about environmental protection of ecologically sustainable development; and

Any relevant environmental impact study, assessment or report; and

The character, resilience and values of the receiving environment; and

All submission made by the applicant and submitters; and

The best practice environmental management for activities under any relevant instrument, or proposed instrument, as follows (i) An environmental authority;

(ii) A transitional environmental program; Not applicable

Wulguru Technical Services Pty Ltd – Supporting Information Report