Middlemount coal project, stage 2
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 proponent will require an environmental authority under the EP Act before construction and operations as proposed for this project can commence.
The status of the process for the project is as follows:
- Submission of draft TOR
- Public notification of draft TOR
- Final TOR issued—EIS in preparation
- Public notification of EIS
- Proponent responds to submissions
- EIS assessment report
An EIS Assessment Report for the project was issued to the proponent on 10 October 2011, which concludes the EIS process under the EP Act.
Copies of publicly available documents can be obtained electronically by accessing the links below:
For further information about the EIS process for the Middlemount Coal Project, Stage 2 please contact the EIS Co-ordinator.