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Browns Range Rare Earth Project

Project
Proponent: 
Northern Minerals Limited
Proposal description: 

A proposed rare earth elements (REE) mine and ore processing facility at Browns Range, approximately 160 kilometres (km) southeast of Halls Creek in the Shire of Halls Creek.

Proposal Content Document: 
PDF icon Proposal Content Document 260824.pdf
Assessment Number: 
1973
Region: 
Kimberley
Referred under EP Act: 
s38
Industry sector: 
Rare earth elements
Last updated: 
August 26, 2024
Current Status: 
Ministerial Statement published
Ministerial Statement published
1. Referral
Comment on this referral: 
Browns Range Project - Mining and Processing of Rare Earth Minerals
Comment period: 
Tuesday, 14 May, 2013 to Monday, 20 May, 2013
Referral documentation: 
PDF icon Referral Form
PDF icon Supporting Information Document
2. Decision on whether to assess this proposal
Chair's Determination: 
Assess - Assessment on Proponent Information - Category A
Extract of determination: 
PDF icon Chairman's Determination - Browns Range Rare Earth Project
Preliminary Environmental Factors: 
Flora and Vegetation
Subterranean Fauna
Terrestrial Fauna
Inland Waters Environmental Quality
Date published: 
Monday, 27 May, 2013
4. EPA Report on assessment
EPA Report Number: 
1523
EPA Report: 
PDF icon Report 1523 - Browns Range Rare Earths Project
Proponent documents: 
PDF icon Browns Range API document
PDF icon Appendix A - Browns Range Environmental Scoping Guideline
PDF icon Appendix B - Baseline hydrogeology report (main report)
PDF icon Appendix B - Baseline hydrogeology report-AppA-figures
PDF icon Appendix B - Baseline hydrogeology report-AppB-drill logs
PDF icon Appendix B - Baseline hydrogeology report-AppC-groundwater quality
PDF icon Appendix B - Baseline hydrogeology report-AppsD-I
PDF icon Appendix C - Waste rock geochemical characterisation
PDF icon Appendix D - Preliminary tailings design report
PDF icon Appendix E - Laboratory report geotechnical testing of Browns Range tailings
PDF icon Appendix F1 - Baseline soil and landform assessment
PDF icon Appendix F2 - Analogue slopes soil and vegetation assessment
PDF icon Appendix G - Preliminary tailings geochemical assessment
PDF icon Appendix H - Water supply model
PDF icon Appendix I - Surface hydrology and flood assessment
PDF icon Appendix J - Flora and vegetation impact assessment
PDF icon Appendix K - Terrestrial vertebrate fauna assessment
PDF icon Appendix L1 - SRE invertebrate baseline survey
PDF icon Appendix L2 - Targeted Mygalomorph spider survey
PDF icon Appendix L3 - SRE invertebrate assessment
PDF icon Appendix M - Subterranean fauna assessment
PDF icon Appendix N1 - Air quality impact assessment
Package icon Appendix N2 - Data from air quality assessment
PDF icon Appendix O - Noise assessment
PDF icon Appendix P1 - Draft Mine Rehabilitation and Closure Plan
PDF icon Appendix P2 - Pit lake assessment
PDF icon Appendix P3 - Preliminary pit lake ecotoxicity assessment
PDF icon Appendix P4 - Pit lake fauna impact assessment
PDF icon Appendix P5 - Preliminary cover assessment
PDF icon Appendix P6 - Preliminary erosion assessment
PDF icon Appendix Q1 - Radiological assessment of tailings
PDF icon Appendix Q2 - Radiation Technical Report
PDF icon Appendix R - Environmental offsets report
Package icon Appendix S1 - Spatial data - Exclusion zone
Package icon Appendix S2 - Spatial data - Footprint
Key Environmental Factors: 
Flora and Vegetation
Terrestrial Fauna
Inland Waters Environmental Quality
Date published: 
Monday, 18 August, 2014
Appeals close: 
Monday, 1 September, 2014
5. Decision on proposal and implementation of proposal
Ministerial Statement
Date of approval: 
Monday, 20 October, 2014
Ministerial Statement: 
PDF icon Ministerial Statement 986.pdf
Post-assessment changes
s. 45C amendments: 

Attachment 1 to Ministerial Statement 986 - Revise the development envelope boundaries; and update Figures and reference to coordinates - change to proposal approved under section 45C on 12 April 2017.

Attachment 2 to Ministerial Statement 986 - Installation and operation of an Ore Sorting Circuit, resulting in higher radionuclide concentrations in sorted ore, intermediate process streams and the long-term storage of low-level radioactive waste (tailings). Change to proposal approved under section 45C on 4 September 2020.

Attachment 3 to Ministerial Statement 986 - Increase the disturbance footprint from 711 ha to 771 ha (8.4% increase) and an increase in the development envelope from 2,590 ha to 4,384 ha. Realignment of the development envelope and expansion of the borefield. Change to proposal approved under section 45C on 26 August 2024.

Attachments: 
PDF icon s. 45c Attachment 3 - Notice and Summary of Reasons.pdf
Date of approval s. 45C: 
Wednesday, 12 April, 2017
Friday, 4 September, 2020
Monday, 26 August, 2024

Source URL:https://www.epa.wa.gov.au/proposals/browns-range-rare-earth-project