MINE RESIDUE: EIA REGULATIONS TO BE AMENDED

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment has gazetted draft amendments to environmental impact assessment regulations affecting the management and reclamation of residue deposits and stockpiles. The deadline for public comment is 4 February 2025.

Once in force, the changes proposed will ‘have the effect of re-characterising residue deposits and … stockpiles as a resource rather than … waste’ with implications for the reclamation and expansion of historical mine dumps. This is noting:

  • related draft amendments to the list of potentially environmentally detrimental waste management activities gazetted in February 2024 for comment, and
  • yet-to-be commenced provisions in the 2022 Environment Management Laws Amendment Act transferring residue deposit and stockpile management and reclamation from the 2008 National Environmental Management: Waste Act to the 1998 National Environmental Management Act.

Please click the links below for more information:

  • draft regulatory amendments
  • SA Legal Academy report on February 2024 draft regulations

Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch

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