❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses environmental bonds related to mining activities, including amounts paid, usage for rehabilitation, interest accrual, and coverage of remediation costs. The response provides details on bond amounts, holding locations, expenditure, and departmental practices.
AnsweredQoN 2429Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With reference to Environmental Bonds, I ask -
(1) How many bond amounts have been paid to the State Government, as a result of failure of miners to comply with their tenement conditions, or other closure requirements?
(2) What is the breakdown and value of these held payments by year of default?
(3) Where are these cash amounts held, and do they appear in the Budgets?
(4) What proportion of the collected bond revenue has been spent on mine rehabilitation?
(5) Do unspent bonds accrue interest?
(6) If yes to (5), where is the interest accrued too?
(7) What happens to unspent bonds?
(8) Do bonds cover the cost of remediation?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) If no to (8), does the Department of Mines and Petroleum seek reparation from the defaulting mining corporations?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
(12) What is the total amount of current nominated bonds associated with mining projects in the State?
(1) How many bond amounts have been paid to the State Government, as a result of failure of miners to comply with their tenement conditions, or other closure requirements?
(2) What is the breakdown and value of these held payments by year of default?
(3) Where are these cash amounts held, and do they appear in the Budgets?
(4) What proportion of the collected bond revenue has been spent on mine rehabilitation?
(5) Do unspent bonds accrue interest?
(6) If yes to (5), where is the interest accrued too?
(7) What happens to unspent bonds?
(8) Do bonds cover the cost of remediation?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) If no to (8), does the Department of Mines and Petroleum seek reparation from the defaulting mining corporations?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
(12) What is the total amount of current nominated bonds associated with mining projects in the State?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 June 2010
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
29 days
1. There are bond amounts for 70 mining tenements which have been paid to the State Government because rehabilitation requirements have not been completed.
2. The value of these payments and the date when the Minister authorised these payments to be made to the State Government are provided in the attached Table "Bond Amounts on Projects" [see tabled paper ].
3. The cash amounts are held in a Department of Mines and Petroleum's bank account in accordance with the
Mining Act 1978
, the
Financial Management Act 2006
,
Financial Management Regulations 2007
and the Treasurer's Instructions. These cash amounts do not appear in the Budgets.
4. In 2008/2009, approximately $29 000 of the collected bond revenue was spent on mine rehabilitation.
5. Not within the Department of Mines and Petroleum accounts.
6. Bond monies are held in the public bank account and interest earned is credited to the Consolidated Account.
7. Any unspent bond would be refunded to the tenement holder.
8. Bonds do not cover the full cost of remediation.
9. In 2008, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum placed a moratorium on increasing bond rates which is due to expire at the end of 2010. At that time, the moratorium will be reconsidered by the Minister.
10. Where practicable, DMP can seek reparation from the defaulting tenement holders under the provision of section 114B of the
Mining Act 1978
. In addition, DMP encourages tenement holders to progressively rehabilitate to ensure compliance with environmental conditions of approval set under the
Mining Act 1978
. This approach is supported by the recent amendment to the
Mining Act 1978
to require mine closure plans. Further, DMP is reviewing its mine closure guidelines to provide greater clarity and certainty in the rehabilitation and mine closure requirements for programmes of work and mining proposals.
11. See Answer 10 above.
12. As at 28 May 2010, the State holds a total unconditional bond amount of
$765 789 578 associated with 3 779 live mining tenements.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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2. The value of these payments and the date when the Minister authorised these payments to be made to the State Government are provided in the attached Table "Bond Amounts on Projects" [see tabled paper ].
3. The cash amounts are held in a Department of Mines and Petroleum's bank account in accordance with the
Mining Act 1978
, the
Financial Management Act 2006
,
Financial Management Regulations 2007
and the Treasurer's Instructions. These cash amounts do not appear in the Budgets.
4. In 2008/2009, approximately $29 000 of the collected bond revenue was spent on mine rehabilitation.
5. Not within the Department of Mines and Petroleum accounts.
6. Bond monies are held in the public bank account and interest earned is credited to the Consolidated Account.
7. Any unspent bond would be refunded to the tenement holder.
8. Bonds do not cover the full cost of remediation.
9. In 2008, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum placed a moratorium on increasing bond rates which is due to expire at the end of 2010. At that time, the moratorium will be reconsidered by the Minister.
10. Where practicable, DMP can seek reparation from the defaulting tenement holders under the provision of section 114B of the
Mining Act 1978
. In addition, DMP encourages tenement holders to progressively rehabilitate to ensure compliance with environmental conditions of approval set under the
Mining Act 1978
. This approach is supported by the recent amendment to the
Mining Act 1978
to require mine closure plans. Further, DMP is reviewing its mine closure guidelines to provide greater clarity and certainty in the rehabilitation and mine closure requirements for programmes of work and mining proposals.
11. See Answer 10 above.
12. As at 28 May 2010, the State holds a total unconditional bond amount of
$765 789 578 associated with 3 779 live mining tenements.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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