Middlemount coal project, stage 2

The EIS process for this project has now concluded.

Project summary

Middlemount Coal Pty Ltd, an incorporated joint venture between Macarthur Coal (70 per cent) and the Noble Group (30 per cent), is the proponent for the Middlemount Coal Project, Stage 2 (the project). The proponent submitted draft Terms of Reference pursuant to section 41 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act).

The department determined that an environmental impact statement (EIS) process for the project was required pursuant to section 246 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act). The department’s assessment of the project followed the EIS process set out in Part 1, Chapter 3 of the EP Act.

The project is a controlled action (EPBC 2010/5394) under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The controlling provisions are ‘listed threatened species and communities’ (sections 18 and 18A). The Commonwealth has accredited the State’s EIS process for the purposes of the EPBC Act assessment. The Commonwealth Environment Minister will separately decide whether to approve or refuse the controlled action under Part 9 of the EPBC Act.

The EIS assessment report was issued to the proponent on 10 October 2011, completing the EIS process under Chapter 3, Part 1 of the EP Act.

Documents

• EIS assessment report (PDF, 584 KB) (October 2011)
• Final terms of reference (PDF, 343.5 KB) (August 2010)
• Draft terms of reference (PDF, 342.9 KB) (June 2010)
• Initial advice statement describing the project (PDF, 551.8 KB) (May 2010)