We are continuing to transition the environmental approvals for our mining operations to more contemporary assessment processes.
We started this in 2020 with the referral of the future Myara North and Holyoake mine regions of our Huntly mine for environmental assessment in accordance with State and Commonwealth regulations.
Both State and Commonwealth regulators play an important role in assessing the identification and management of environmental impacts.
In WA, environmental assessments are managed by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) who makes assessments on matters where there are potential significant environmental impacts.
The Commonwealth will also assess a proposal where it impacts certain nationally significant animals, plants, habitats or places.
Sometimes proposals can be assessed under accredited assessments where the Commonwealth authorises the State authority to assess the proposal and the Commonwealth Minister then uses the State’s report to decide whether to approve it.
Our future Huntly mining and Pinjarra refining activities are being assessed through a combination of accredited assessments and standalone Commonwealth and State approvals processes.
Under the accredited assessment process, the projects will be assessed at the highest level - being a Public Environmental Review. This includes a 12-week public comment period, currently under way.
In 2024 we added the re-entry of a previously accessed mine region known as O’Neil to our future mining plans. The Commonwealth regulator is currently determining the level of assessment for the O’Neil mine region, which will not be assessed under the accredited assessment process.
As part of the assessment process, the regulator seeks to understand our proposed future activities, potential impacts on the environment and the ways we will address them. This is informed by studies, which include:
Surveys to identify and record data on the location, diversity and health of species. This includes conservation significant flora and threatened species such as black cockatoos and chuditch.
Surveys to identify areas of spiritual, historical, scientific, aesthetic and social values – including recreation areas, tracks and trails.
Baseline monitoring and studies to assess and understand water quality, quantity and movements of both surface and groundwater.
Assessment of potential emissions from mining and refining operations.
Below is the process the EPA follows in determining the outcome of an environmental assessment and an indicative timeline for assessment of Alcoa’s proposal.
We are continuing to transition the environmental approvals for our mining operations to more contemporary assessment processes.
We started this in 2020 with the referral of the future Myara North and Holyoake mine regions of our Huntly mine for environmental assessment in accordance with State and Commonwealth regulations.
Both State and Commonwealth regulators play an important role in assessing the identification and management of environmental impacts.
In WA, environmental assessments are managed by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) who makes assessments on matters where there are potential significant environmental impacts.
The Commonwealth will also assess a proposal where it impacts certain nationally significant animals, plants, habitats or places.
Sometimes proposals can be assessed under accredited assessments where the Commonwealth authorises the State authority to assess the proposal and the Commonwealth Minister then uses the State’s report to decide whether to approve it.
Our future Huntly mining and Pinjarra refining activities are being assessed through a combination of accredited assessments and standalone Commonwealth and State approvals processes.
Under the accredited assessment process, the projects will be assessed at the highest level - being a Public Environmental Review. This includes a 12-week public comment period, currently under way.
In 2024 we added the re-entry of a previously accessed mine region known as O’Neil to our future mining plans. The Commonwealth regulator is currently determining the level of assessment for the O’Neil mine region, which will not be assessed under the accredited assessment process.
As part of the assessment process, the regulator seeks to understand our proposed future activities, potential impacts on the environment and the ways we will address them. This is informed by studies, which include:
Surveys to identify and record data on the location, diversity and health of species. This includes conservation significant flora and threatened species such as black cockatoos and chuditch.
Surveys to identify areas of spiritual, historical, scientific, aesthetic and social values – including recreation areas, tracks and trails.
Baseline monitoring and studies to assess and understand water quality, quantity and movements of both surface and groundwater.
Assessment of potential emissions from mining and refining operations.
Below is the process the EPA follows in determining the outcome of an environmental assessment and an indicative timeline for assessment of Alcoa’s proposal.