The Murrin Murrin nickel cobalt project was originally assessed at the level of a Consultative Environmental Review, with the EPA providing its report and recommendations to the Minister for the Environment in May 1996. Approval to implement the project, subject to a number of Environmental Conditions, was issued on 5 June 1996.

In August 1996 Anaconda Nickel referred proposals to the EPA to modify components to the project, and to locate certain project facilities at alternate sites. The Minister for the Environment requested the EPA to assess the proposed modifications under Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986, which provides the mechanism for changing Environmental Conditions applicable to a project. In addition the EPA decided to assess the proposed site alternatives at the level of a Consultative Environmental Review. A combined CER/S46 report was released in September 1996.

This is the s46 inquiry into amending the conditions of Ministerial Statement 418.