The Environmental Protection Authority has assessed a proposal to grant exploration licences 69/163 and 69/164 over an area from Point Malcolm, east of Esperance, eastwards past Israelite Bay along the Great Australian Bight. Both applications impinge on the A Class Nuytsland Nature Reserve. An exploration licence (described in Part IV, Sections 57- 70 of the Mining Act 1978) allows the licensee to explore for all minerals in or under the land. The granting of the licence by the Minister for Mines provides the holder of the licence with security of tenure for five years and the right to enter the licence area to conduct exploration activity according to conditions placed on the licence. The licence area must be halved at the end of the third and fourth years and there are obligatory expenditure commitments.