The Environmental Protection Authority has assessed a proposal to explore for minerals, under prospecting licence 80/1138. The application impinges on an island in Lake Argyle which is part of a national park proposal in Red Book recommendation 7.10.
A prospecting licence (described in Part IV, Sections 40- 56 of the Mining Act 1978) allows the licencee 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 two years and the right to enter the licence area to conduct exploration activity according to conditions placed on the licence.
On grant of licence, the Department of Mines has regulatory power via the licence conditions and requires a security or a bond to ensure that rehabilitation is completed to an acceptable standard. Many of the licence conditions relate to environmental protection issues and the Department of Mines has undertaken with the Environmental Protection Authority to apply a standard set of conditions on tenements, such as this one, which cover environmentally sensitive areas.
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