A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the retirement of environmental bonds since the implementation of the Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF). The response indicates a large number of bonds have been retired, with due diligence, and no current fiscal liability to the state.

AnsweredQoN 3468Legislative Council
Asked
20 October 2015
Portfolio
Mines and Petroleum

QuestionView source ↗

(1) How many environmental bonds have been retired in the State of Western Australia since the implementation of the Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF)? (2) Will the Minister please table: (a) when each of those bonds was retired; (b) which company each of those bonds were retired to; and (c) which project each of those bonds were retired? (3) How many of the companies listed in (2), were in administration at the time those bonds were retired to them? (4) How many of the projects mentioned in (2) have concluded: (a) of those in (4), how many have been fully rehabilitated; and (b) partially rehabilitated? (5) Has due diligence been carried out in every case mentioned in (2)? (6) If no to (5), will the Minister please list every case where due diligence was not carried out? (7) What is the current total fiscal liability to the State as a result of answers to (3) and/or (4)?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
1 December 2015
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
42 days
The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) advises:
1.
4 582
2.
(a)
[See Tabled Paper no.  ]
(b)
The Mining Rehabilitation Fund is tenement and tenement holder based. A list of bonds retired on tenements and the respective tenement holders is provided
[See Tabled Paper no.  ]
(c)
Eligibility for retirement of bonds through the Mining Rehabilitation Fund is tenement based, not grouped by project. A list of bonds retired to tenement holders on respective tenements is provided
[See Tabled Paper no.  ]
3.
Nil
4.
(a)
No tenements listed in the answer to question 2 are associated with projects that have been formally relinquished since the implementation of the Mining Rehabilitation Fund. Similarly, since the introduction of the Mining Rehabilitation Fund, no sites have been declared abandoned, according to the definition of 'abandoned' in DMP's draft Abandoned Mines Policy.
(b)
Not applicable
5.
Yes. Retirement of Unconditional Performance Bonds through the Mining Rehabilitation Fund involves a number of eligibility checks which are consistent with DMP's Administration of Mining Securities Policy.
6.
Not applicable
7.
Nil

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