Source: http://puttygasbag.blogspot.com/2011/06/mining-and-advocacy-what-you-need-to.html
Timestamp: 2018-09-18 15:39:09
Document Index: 116374856

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 4']

Putty Gasbag: Mining and Advocacy: What you need to know
Presented by the Environmental Defenders Office, a community legal centre specialising in public interest environmental law, on 25 May 2011 at Mudgee.
CSG activities require approval from the Minister for Primary Industries
Petroleum Exploration Licences – PEL – 6 years, renewable, can be granted over any land, including privately owned land. Development consent not required under planning law.
Note: Dart Energy has PEL 460, south of
turn off and AGL has PEL 4 to the north.
Petroleum Assessment Leases – up to 6 years, CSM is specified in lease, all government agencies and local councils must be notified and can object, development consent not required.
The government is to undertake a State-wide audit of exploration licences to:
- review their current status: and
- ensure that the exploration licence holders are adhering to the conditions of their licence
The status of all exploration licences will be publically available to communities.
A precautionary approach will be implemented to consider the appropriateness of an area for future mining when releasing new exploration licence tenders for coal and coal seam gas.
Major fees will now only be paid if the project passes through the assessment process and obtains a mining lease. Companies were paying $100,000 - $300,000 for licences.
The community will be consulted prior to tenders being released for exploration licences.
Exploration/assessment activities cannot be carried out on the surface of land within:
200 metres of a dwelling
50 metres of a garden
on any significant improvements, including sheds, windbreaks and orchards
without landholder consent.
Exploration must not be carried out in an “exempted area” unless the Minister for Primary Industries has granted an exempted area consent.
Exempted areas are lands held for public purposes and includes areas such as State Forests, National Parks and recreation reserves.
Affected landholders have no right to be personally notified of an exploration licence. Applicants for exploration licences are required to advertise that they have lodged an application by publishing a notice in State-wide and district newspapers.
Review of Environmental Factors – preliminary review of environmental impact and (if necessary)
Environmental Impact Statement – more detailed assessment only required where the REF indicates there will be a significant impact; and (if necessary)
Species Impact Statement – assess the impact of the development on threatened species, populations and ecological communities and their habitats. Only required if significant impact is likely.
It is illegal to harm native fauna and flora without a licence
Note: Dart Energy has a Review of Environmental Factors being assessed by the NSW government for exploration at Putty. If this is approved they will be able to drill a test hole at Putty. The location is unknown until the approval is given.
Applicants for petroleum assessment leases must personally notify all landholders whose lands lie within the lease area.
PETROLEUM EXPLORATION LICENCES & ASSESSMENT LEASES
In addition to an exploration licence/assessment lease, exploration activities may also require approvals under other legislation
Permit to clear native vegetation
Permit to harm endangered species
Environment Protection Licence (pollution licence)
Approval under Federal law may also be needed
Exploration Licences and Assessment Leases can be granted subject to conditions such as: rehabilitating land or a requirement to give security to ensure the fulfilment of obligations
You do not have the right to comment on whether an exploration licence or assessment lease should be granted
You do have the power to ensure the licence holder only engages in activities authorised by the licence
You have the right to sue for any unauthorised environmental damage
You have the right to negotiate the terms upon which the licence holder accesses your land
An access agreement defines the terms upon which the exploration licence or assessment lease holder can have access to the land.
The landholder and the mining company have 28 days to reach an agreement which must be in place before exploration/assessment activities can occur.
Don’t sign without getting legal advice first – ask the mining company to pay for it or go to the EDO
You don’t have to agree to the access arrangement but if you can’t agree the matter will go to Arbitration (free)
Either party can appeal to the Land and
from the Arbiters decision. (Pay your own costs)
Golden Rule – the agreement should be as detailed as possible and cover all possible contingencies
Make sure the agreement has a time limit and only applies to exploration activities
Ensure the following are covered – access routes and mining sites, permitted mining activities, notice of access, the times of access ( what times will they be able to access your land, will they have access on Sundays, public holidays, crop harvesting), the parts of land to be accessed, mining company responsibilities, OH&S provisions, environmental protection (include bringing weeds into the area), indemnity provisions, limitation of liability, insurance, legal costs, dispute resolution, duration of agreement (in case of sale or death), the manner of varying the arrangement, compensation to be paid, exclusivity – can you be on the land at the same time, notice – how much notice will you receive.
Negotiate to not sign a confidentiality clause
If the mining company breaches any terms of the agreement then you can lock the gate.
Come up with your own access arrangements and speak to your neighbours and agree on standard terms.
Avoid the mining companies divide and conquer strategies.
Landholders are entitled to compensation for any loss caused by exploration activities
Compensation provisions are usually included in Access Agreement.
A landholder must not unlawfully obstruct or hinder the holder of an exploration licence from undertaking authorised activities (maximum penalty $11,000).
Note: Dart Energy and AGL will probably want to drill more test holes in Putty Valley. A Putty landholder has refused Dart access and was not taken to arbitration. During exploration the mining companies need permission to enter your land. However, once in production you have no rights. SAY NO TO EXPLORATION.
CSG production activities include roads, wells, storage and/or removal of produced water, pipelines.
The new governments proposed strategic land use plans will be an important part of the new planning assessment process
Future developments will be assessed within the context of any relevant strategic land use plan
All developments will need to demonstrate that they are consistent with the outcomes and objectives of the strategic land use plan
There will be winners and losers but you will be compensated
STAGE 1 - DEVELOPMENT CONSENT
The Applicant must obtain development consent before a production lease is granted. Mining companies choose their assessment process and up until now have chosen Part 3A – NSW government approval over Part 4 – local council approval. The notification obligations and the environmental assessment required are more extensive for Part 4 and the council’s decision can be challenged legally.
The Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) http://www.pac.nsw.gov.au/ has recently replaced the Minister for Planning as the decision making authority for all mining Part 3A projects.
Both Part 3A and Part 4 require the following
Development Consent process for Part 3A
1. The mining company prepares an environmental assessment – requirements are tailored to the project. If assess is adequate
2. Environmental assessment advertised and exhibited for 30 days (you can ask for an extension) and relevant parties are notified,
3. Public and government department submissions are received within 30 days unless an extension has been granted. If more than 25 submissions are received it is considered to be controversial. The EDO has challenged assessments and the companies had to rewrite them.
4. Company responds to submissions and if required prepares a Preferred Project Report if changes are proposed.
5. Director General of the Department of Planning prepares an environmental assessment report for the minister and the minister decides whether to approve the project
· All new applications are required to undertake agricultural productivity impact assessments.
· During the transitional period strategic agricultural lands (highly productive lands) approval will not be granted where there will be a detriment effect on the agricultural productivity of the land and associated water resources.
· All new development applications will be required to adhere to the Aquifer Interference Regulation.
· The Aquifer Interference Regulation will provide guidance on the acceptability of impacts on aquifers.
· Statutory timeframes will ensure the NSW Office of Water undertakes assessments and approvals rapidly and concurrently with other requirements.
Get a copy of Environmental Assessment (EA) as soon as possible
Request an extension to submission period
Find scientist to provide advice on technical aspects of EA
Focus on weaknesses in the EA and what conditions would be appropriate
If mines are prohibited in a zone they can be approved by the Minister except if the land is located within an environmentally sensitive area of State significance or a sensitive coastal location. This includes wetlands, National Parks and World Heritage areas. (Zoning will change with strategic plans etc.)
Usually a development will need approvals from other Government Departments but this is unclear until reviewed.
Environment Protection Licence from EPA
Clearing permit under the Native Vegetation Act
Bush fire Safety Authority und Rural Fires Act
STAGE 2 - PRODUCTION LEASES
The minister for Primary Industries grants production leases for up to 21 years (can be renewed) usually in consultation with
Any government agencies that may be ‘materially affected’ by the lease
Director General of Planning
Production leases may be lodged at the same time as the Environmental Assessment but cannot be approved until Development Consent has been given.
Production leases are granted with no transparency, no consistency and no process. In other words once you are at this stage there is little you can do to stop it.
Affected landholders have a right to be notified of an application for a mining/petroleum lease that extends to the surface of the land
The notice should inform you of your rights to object
Notice of application will appear in a state-wide and regional newspaper
Your land can be developed without your consent
You will usually have the right to be notified in advance
You may have a right to object especially if the land is agricultural land or under cultivation – restrictions apply
You have 28 days to object from the day you are notified that a mining lease application has been lodged
The right to object is not available if you have already had a chance to comment on the proposal under the planning system
You may need to negotiate another access arrangement at this stage – dealing with production activities
Access arrangements can be verbal so be careful what you say to any company workers who show up on your propert
You are entitled to compensation for ‘compensable loss:
Damage to the surface of land (including vegetation, crops and buildings)
Deprivation of the possession or use of the surface of land due to fence, roads and pipelines
Severance of land from other land
Harm to or interference with stock
Damage consequential to any matter above
The maximum compensation payable is the market value of the land, including the value of any buildings structures or other works
Work cannot begin under a mining lease until the issue of compensation has been resolved
Where a petroleum production lease is involved compensation is payable to any person whose land is affected by the operation.
Compensation for mine subsidence damage does not apply to CSG
Notes: Usually when the mining companies come to an area all land values drop. The Valuer General’s assessment is used.
A development may require approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Commonwealth approvals are issued by the Federal Minister for the Environment.
Commonwealth assessments and approval process applies to:
Actions on or affecting Commonwealth land that are likely to have a significant impact on the environment
Actions by the commonwealth that are likely to have a significant impact on the environment
Actions that are likely to have a significant impact on ‘matters of national environmental significance such as world heritage values of declared World Heritage area, ecological character of a Rasar wetland, listed threatened species, listed migratory species, nuclear actions, Commonwealth marine areas, listed heritage items and places.
Referral by person taking the action
Referral by state Government or local council
Environment Minister can call in a controlled action
Referral by a Commonwealth agency
Members of the public cannot refer controlled action but they can alert referring bodies to the proposal and ask them to refer it.
Letters & petitions – use the language of your audience
Posters and information sheets
Internet, newspaper, radio and television
Public meetings and information sessions
Protest and non-violent direct action
Address the matters to be taken into account by the decision makers
Under Part 3A the decision maker must consider the DG’s Environmental Assessment Report and any recommendations of the PAC
Under Part 4, the decision maker must consider the matters set out in s79C
Provide evidence to support your view
Use clear, calm language – don’t be abusive
Use tools such as subheadings, numbering and bullet points
Include your name and address and date your submission
Ask for a letter of acknowledgement/receipt so you know your submission was received
Condense your information first
Get involved early – raise awareness and campaign
Encourage decision maker to prioritise other industry in the area over mining
Think about what conditions would make mining acceptable
Mining companies do not like adverse publicity
Get well known people into campaig
Challenge to a decision based on arguments that the decision was a bad decision
Court stands in shoes of original decision maker
Court can uphold or overturn the original decision
Court can attach new conditions
Each party pays their own cost
Court considers the legality of the decision
Grounds of judicial review include failure to follow proper legal procedure, failure to take into account relevant considerations, decision was affected by fraud
Remedy: Court can void the decision but may not grant remedy if the breach is not serious or the impact on the community is not serious
Loser pays winners costs
Court can exercise discretion not to award costs in public interest matters
Other orders include security for costs and protective costs orders – costs capped
The EDO runs a free Environmental Law Advice line Monday to Thursdays from 230 to 5.30pm – 02 9262 6989 or 1800 626 239. Fact sheets are available on the website www.edo.org.au/edonsw
Find Legal Answers http://www.legalanswers.sl.nsw.gov.au/
Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991 No 84 http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/maintop/view/inforce/act+84+1991+cd+0+N