Geoscience Australia developed the guide with the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and state and territory governments. There were several rounds of public consultation including international consideration by the International Atomic Energy Agency and United States regulators.
The guide outlines the best practice principles and approaches that apply generally to mining in Australia, before giving more detailed consideration to best practice environmental protection and regulation for in situ recovery (ISR) mining. It draws on guidelines and regulatory practices applying to uranium mining in South Australia - the only jurisdiction currently with experience of approval and regulation of ISR projects.
This guide is not a regulatory document and it should be considered within existing Australian legal and governance frameworks relevant to the mining sector. Its purpose is to set out expectations for approval and regulation of in situ recovery uranium mining (ISR), in line with the Australian Government's policy to ensure that uranium mining, milling and rehabilitation is based on world best practice standards.